1st Parkrun this morning!

[Sandyscroll]

Well, I thought I'd give it a go. It's taken me this long to get over the fact that I wasn't last! I wasn't sure when to do the warm up and cool down because it's always just part of what I do when I leave the house. So, I decided to just walk the first 5 minutes of the Parkrun, which left me at the back (all but one). I used the W9R3 podcast to keep me on the straight and narrow and just let the gap open in front of me. When Laura said my 5 minutes were up, I started at my usual pace. There were 183 runners this morning, and all of them were running, but after a while I went past someone, then another person, then another. I enjoyed having to jump over the old track for the disused railway line, and was relieved to find the slight climb through the woods wasn't too steep (but more than enough to leave me gasping for air!). Towards the end I have to admit, I was getting really tired and Laura commanded me to walk about 30 or 40 yards from the finish line. I followed the instruction without a second thought, because that's what I've always done, but then I gave myself a talking to (out loud - they all must have thought I'd lost the plot 🙊) and picked up again with the running until after I'd crossed the finish line. I came 157th out of 183 with a time of 36.44...but most importantly, I went, I did it, I wasn't entirely a disgrace to the C25k plan, and it was so nice to be around complete strangers who were all clapping and cheering each other on, regardless of age, gender, background or ability. What a great morning!

[Wantorun2013 Graduate]

Wow that should have come with a mascara alert 👏👏👏👏👏well done you congratulations x

[Sandyscroll in reply to Wantorun2013]

Lol! Sorry 😉 It was just so lovely. ☺

[Sarahb18 Graduate]

Exactly!

Sounds like you had a great time and a great result !!!

I did only my second ever parkrun today and like you was glad not to be last 😂

I had 22 slower than me !

Similar time to you 36.06

Well done to you ! You did it 😁

[Glossy Graduate in reply to Sarahb18]

It was my second park run today too. 37.47 and I was very nearly last bit had four behind me! When I went to the new runners talk they advised that you'll never be last as that's the tail runner's job so not to worry. It's still always that worry though isn't it!

Well done Sandy and Sarah! I am so pleased I braved the Parkrun and hope to keep going.

[J9_54 Graduate]

Sounds fab, well done great time, I can't wait to try one but want to finish the C25K first, 2 more runs to go....

[Sandyscroll in reply to J9_54]

Yay, keep going, you're so close! I was going to do the Parkrun as my graduation run, but I'm glad I waited until I'd graduated. For me, it marks the beginning of a new part of the journey. You're sure to love it when you get there!

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

That's fabulous well done runner

[Sandyscroll in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

Thank you! I still feel a bit of a fraud. It doesn't matter though.

[Wizziewood]

Well done you! ... and a brilliant time.

Parkrun's are great aren't they?

Oldfloss' words are always in my mind when I'm running at my own (v. slow) pace and inevitably I overtake those who have started off faster than they should!

Will be thinking of you next Saturday morning, I assume that now you've done one Parkrun you'll be doing more!

Good luck and happy running

[Sandyscroll in reply to Wizziewood]

Thank you! Oldfloss' words are my mantra, especially when I'm getting tired! I'll definitely be doing more Parkruns. I have family commitments next weekend, but after that, I've a diary full of Saturday morning Parkruns!!!

[Renidragas]

Love Parkrun! Well done you!

[Sandyscroll in reply to Renidragas]

Thank you! I think I'm the latest Parkrun convert!!

[Gwibiwyr51 Graduate]

Awesome, excellent keep doing your own thing and enjoy the journey; you will surprise yourself with your achievements as the weeks go by.

[Hidden]

Lovely the Park Run movement is such a wonderful thing and its a life changer I think, so many of us graduates love it and its amazing just how many folk actually do the park runs or volunteer at them.