Ran the full 5k but nearly last

[FlossnCharlie]

I graduated on Tuesday and did my first parkrun last Saturday, but include the warm up 5 mins in it. Today I did the park run again and I ran the whole 5k, I was struggling at the end but was determined to run it all. My time was not fast 37:45 (but 1:20 faster than last week) and I was 156th out of 172. But I guess I will get quicker, really pleased to have run it, but knowing I was nearly last has bothered me ☹️

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Nearly a tenth of the runners were behind you.

We all have to accept where we are, performance wise, not get bothered about it. You are a very, very new runner. Look at the number of parkruns that others have done and remember that many have been running all their lives.

You got a new PB, you should be proud and see that improvement as a massive step forward. You will get faster but will have to come to terms with the fact that you may never be the first one to finish at parkrun.

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you, I do know I will never be fast, guess I am just expecting too much of myself. I will stop feeling slow and just enjoy being in a wonderful forest and the fresh air in s national park which I am very lucky to live near

[Bluerockdragon Graduate]

If you were nearly last with that time then you must have a whole lot of professional runners at your ParkRun! Yes, you'll get quicker, and 5km will get a whole lot easier too. Think about the positives, you can run 5km without stopping, and that's a brilliant achievement!

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Bluerockdragon]

There are, they are from clubs etc. It’s on forestry commission land and is quite hilly so I think they use it as training for longer runs.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Well done FlossnCharlie 😊

Do not feel disheartened, your 5k time is much faster than I can run, and as lannodatruffe says, there were plenty of runners behind you, and you have already beaten your own pb.

Enjoy your Parkruns, I think you are competing at a very respectable time.

Remember Speed is not the be all and end all, going for a nice slow, steady run will build stamina.😊xx

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you, I do need to work on stamina so that’s the new focus

[Hidden]

That is a very respectable time. There were a dozen people behind you and that's a fast park run although seems to me they get faster in the winter as only the hard core continue. so you should feel proud to have done it and not stayed at home.

I was beaten today by my 8 year old nephew!!

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you - I so nearly did stay at home

[davelinks Graduate]

Why the rush to speedup! Considering where you've come from you've done bloomin well after a few Parkruns, and you'll never be last anyway, the tailwalker always is!.....I always get beaten by my nephew and 7 year old Great nephew!

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thank you, I’m not sure why I feel the need to be faster!

[PetrinaB Graduate]

Hey, your emoji is the wrong way up! You completed a park run!! Well done!!!!

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to PetrinaB]

🙂

[scubasmiff Graduate]

It's my aim to run an entire parkrun, so im full of admiration for you.

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to scubasmiff]

Thank you, I guess I am just not use to running with lots of other people

[rolysmate Graduate]

well done that's a great achievement, having only just graduated you're still very new to running and your muscles have still got some strengthening to do

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to rolysmate]

I never thought of my muscles needing to carry on strengthening. Thank you

[Hidden]

Hey I joined the Park Run community today for the first time... yup I was almost swept up by the tail walker. Interestingly my pace was actually slower than my usual 5k pace and slower than my 10km pace too!

So I think maybe Park Runs take you in a slightly différent mind set and we probably need to adapt to a Park Run 5k, which may well be different to our own normal ones

But you were faster and you got out.... so blooming well done

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Well I am filled with admiration. 👏👏👏👏

I am slower than you and haven't plucked up the courage to do a park run yet. It will be my next thing to aim for when I have graduated.

Maybe concentrate on enjoying the run and not worry about the time for a few sessions? Good luck 😄

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

I have done all my running alone so it feels strange being ranked. I have enjoyed them though. Good luck when you go to yours x

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to FlossnCharlie]

Hmmm yes, I think I might find being ranked an unwelcome experience. However I presume that I could not look! I would be interested to see how my time on park run 1 compares with no. 5 etc - but really I just want to enjoy the run - people post that the atmosphere is encouraging and it would give me a weekly focus for one of my 3 runs.

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Elfe5]

You get a text sent to you with your time and position! Then you can log on to see the full results. There is also a man who “kindly “ takes your photo and puts it on a Facebook page.

[Elfe5 Graduate in reply to FlossnCharlie]

Uh oh to the first bit and OH NO to the photo!

There must be a way to block the photo???? I have a friend on Facebook who does park runs and I have never seen an end of run photo.

[TJMazz Graduate]

Well done you 😀Not sure I’ll ever have the guts to do a park run 🎉😊

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to TJMazz]

I have a couple of friends who do it and thought that would help, but they are fast! Everyone is very friendly and encourages you so give it a go 😀

[TJMazz Graduate in reply to FlossnCharlie]

I’m trying to pluck up the courage 🤦🏻‍♀️

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to TJMazz]

Do it, I am going again on Saturday, maybe I will be 155 this week 😀

[hicorrie]

Wow, 37:45 is an awesome time for a newbie! I’m going to do a 5K in Chicago next week and am hoping I get under 39 min. I’d be thrilled with your time. I checked times from last year’s run and if I get under 39, I’ll be sort of middle/back of the pack. Not great, but not close to last. So your park runs are much faster than those in Chicago! Congrats on continuing to get out there.

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to hicorrie]

Thank you for the lovely comment. Good luck with your 5k. 😀

[Cliff_H Graduate]

That’s a respectable time, especially for a first run so don’t be hard on yourself, on the contrary you should be proud... don’t forget apart from one very dedicated person that everyone in the lineup is coming in behind somebody whether that’s second or 200th it doesn’t matter so long as they all were happy with what they accomplished. Well done you!!

[FlossnCharlie Graduate in reply to Cliff_H]

Thank you

[Nikongirl Graduate]

Very well done FlossnCharlie! You should be very, very proud of your achievement. Don't measure yourself against others, measure yourself against you. You got a PB and completed the run. What you don't know is how many people that didn't finish but would love to. They haven't got to where you have got to, but they aspire to. Maybe they were walking the dog through the park and wishing that they could do what you did. Maybe they were at home thinking 'if only I could do that". Maybe they are just starting the programme with the aim of doing a park run by Christmas or wondering if they will ever do it. Be pleased with yourself, knowing that YOU got off that couch, time and time again and built up to this moment. Also, remember that now you have done your park run, it isn't the end of the journey, it is a massive achievement in wherever the journey takes you.