To park run or not to park run?

[ChrisAllen1]

I'm tempted to try a park run within the next couple of weeks but I am just at Week 6 Run 2 completed today, advice please as I think that may be overstretching a bit at the moment?

[AnnieW55]

If you really want to do it, then do it but be prepared to walk and not be disappointed in doing so. Also don't get caught up in the start and go too fast. I would suggest making sure your are warmed up (you could even do that by walking for the first 5mins) run your wk/days run 20-25mins and walk or walk run the rest of it. Lots of people do a pr before graduating but be sensible so that stay off the injury couch. There are lots of people who walk all the way round the course, speed is not of particular importance, so, whatever you decide just do it sensibly and enjoy it 😀

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to AnnieW55]

Hmmmm I might get the week 7 runs done then do it as part of week 8 and just take it very easy.

[misswobble Graduate in reply to ChrisAllen1]

It’s very interesting is parkrun. By all means do your C25k session as usual and then walk the rest as your cool down

It will give you an idea of how it works and see how everyone runs along together 🙂

[Elfe5 Graduate]

I am one week ahead of you and planning to get started on our local park run as soon as I am ready. I am most definitely going to tiptoe down there and give myself a practice run of the route before doing it for real! I am going to wait until I have graduated & then see how I am doing.

[Neverrunbefore64 Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

I just completed week 6 and am also going to wait till I graduate before doing a park run but PR definitely a must do for me

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Go to parkrun and just follow your C25K run instructions, which will mean you will cover most of the course, I suspect.

Just don't get carried away!!!!

When you register online you can register your club as NHS C25K, just to help advertise this amazing programme.

Enjoy it.

[Gwibiwyr51 Graduate]

My advice would be ; complete and enjoy the journey you’ve embarked on. Why tempt the disappointment of sustaining an injury by being to adventreous . Once you have reached your goal, cosplidate the 30 min runs until you will feel that you will successfully complete the 5K comfortably.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

If you do... use it as a run ... just do not be tempted to go too fast If you start at the start line with your warm up walk and then do the next run.. you should be fine..! You are sensible... ( gulp)

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate]

I am sensible, most of the time 😀

[davelinks Graduate]

It's fine to start Parkrun at where you are, I started at w6, but ignore any competition, just carry on doing c25k on it slow and steady and walk the rest, you'll do great!😊

[DawnRun]

Good advice here, be sensible with park run if you do it. I found it better to hold off and wait till I finished week 9 run 3 but it doesn't matter. I find that the pace is pretty fast, although you will get stragglers at the back, it is competitive ( or the people who do it are very sporty judging by their times)

[runswithdogs Graduate]

If you think you're at risk from pushing too hard, consider doing Parkrun with one of the earlier weeks of the program with run-walk intervals. You could even play the program twice back-to-back That way you probably won't be running any longer than you currently are, but it'll go by quickly with the walk breaks and you won't be tempted to run more than is sensible. Also, running and walking you go pretty quick.

[nhs2015 Graduate]

Go for it Chris, start at the end of the queue, run, walk, run, walk.... you will love it. It is magic. It is only 5k and you could be faster than the walkers, so it will make you feel good. You will have achieved something. Make sure you don’t run Friday so you will be in good form for Saturday. And if you are tired, just walk it. The tail runner will walk with you and everyone will encourage you. Go for it Chris. The pleasure you will get out of it is worth a million dollars.

[lyndamorag Graduate]

Please everyone , don't wait to go to parkrun, you will not regret it. It is not a race , just treat it as your normal jog, run ,walk but there are others doing the same . If you have your barcode you get a time at the end of 5k. Your results are emailed to you and go on the parkrun site too. If you end up being competitive all well and good , but there is no pressure by anyone , you decide how fast to run, if you walk a little or all of it , or even if you do not finish the 5k. I started going on my own after a comment on here and did my 50th parkrun this weekend . I am not very fast and did it in 44.44 this week as I was savouring the moment ,Runners passing me calling well done to me , from knowing no one ,now I have 200 parkrun friends.

At the age of 65 never thought I could run outside with strangers let alone enjoy it . Can not wait to get my red parkrun t shiirt with a big 50 on the back .

[MrsBeario Graduate in reply to lyndamorag]

Inspirational response and agree 100%. I have only done 5 parkruns and have just started wk6 but it is truly for everyone and anyone. I think it’s fair to say I would have struggled with motivation without my weekly fix- it has taught me so much about pacing myself and the sense of achievement when I ran the whole course last week was amazing!

To anyone who is not sure, just get your barcode and do it 🏃🏻‍♀️

[ArthurJG Graduate]

Basically do you trust yourself to run only the time specified for your next C25k and not get carried away and try to run the whole 5k? If you do, then go for it. You don’t even need tha app once you’re in to the continuous runs: you can just tone the 25 minutes (or whatever) on a watch if you prefer.

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Do you realise this post was well over a year ago?

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to ChrisAllen1]

Oops! I’m normally careful with that but clearly missed this one. The forum does seem to offer ‘related posts’ based only on title with no allowance for age.

[mrrun Graduate in reply to ChrisAllen1]

So, how was the park run then?

[ChrisAllen1 Graduate in reply to mrrun]

Erm.... cant remember