Okay, having been encouraged by all the Park Run write-ups and persuaded by a friend Hannah to do a Park Run in London, I duly lined up yesterday at Finsbury Park. Three months more or less post graduation, I finally worked up the courage to go.
OMG, mentally it was like the psyching up for W5R3, I don't know why, but I was definitely affected by pre-run collywobbles. Couldn't sleep easily the night before, had a major attack of the faffs on run day, and basically was out of sorts in my mental and physical set up. The gruesome details are here:-
Looking back after a good night's sleep, I think that I need a different mind-set for Park Runs, for me they are a different kind of running and one that I'd never tried before. So just like the C25K programme, I'm going to have to work at it, to find my own Park Run recipe.
Upside, who knew you could find 300+ friendly people in London
Who also knew that there's a team of volunteers willing to stand in the cold weather and cheer on perfect strangers?
Finally, who knew when it is only 5 or 6 degrees, that there are runners in shorts and vests - I was almost wearing a duvet by comparison!
Temperature wise somewhat different to your Italiano runs, now I have only done 1 park run and to honest not sure about the whole experience'
Suppose I'm a bit more of the loneliness of the long distance (I use that phrase loosely) runner type of runner just me and my thoughts (usually am I nearly there yet).
there are a few people that I'm sure I could enjoy the company of whilst trotting out but I'm really not sure on the whole park run thing though I find the concept wonderful
Well done you. I'm with Roly though, I do find the throng of Parkrun a little unnerving, although at the moment I seem to be finding all running unnerving. I am determined that, come hell or high water (or even no mojo) I will get out and run tomorrow...
I just read your full blog and it all sounds so reminiscent of my first Parkrun, especially the multiple visits to the loo 🚽 due to nerves. The speedy Gonzales are also rather off putting at my local as they are very unforgiving of us slowmos .
But you’ve made me think that perhaps I should get myself down there again - although it won’t be this Saturday as Mr Razouski is taking me to the Railway Industry Ball at the Intercontinental Hotel by the O2. It may sound boring, but it’s s usually a good do: DJ and posh frock; cocktails on arrival; plenty of wine with dinner, entertainment and a good ole boogie till late; then tottering (or crawling) to our room to sleep off the excesses; before topping it all off with a sumptuous hotel breakfast. So I probably won’t be in a fit state for running. 😂😂😂
The Speedies were actually fine they gave us slow coaches a wide berth, but 16 minutes to do 5k in shorts!!!! But I will give it another go, because it could be a grower in my affections, certainly all the volunteers and runners I spoke with, were really nice.
Aha - well if you were up for a slow gentle run later on the Sunday, we could meet up?
I would love to have met up, but on Sunday I have several friends coming to mine for afternoon tea, which means I need to be cooking little cakes, scones, tarts etc and making silly sandwiches.
How long are you in London for? I live in Luton, but London’s not so far away. 🤓
Hi razouski I’m planning my first park run at wardown park on Christmas Adam (the day before eve). Naively I’ve been thinking I just turn up and run with my headphones ion and get through it in my own sweet (ie slow) time. Is this going to be a bad experience. Any tips?
If you register on the Parkrun website you will then get a barcode to print off. Bring that with you.
Turn up about 10minutes beforehand so you are there for the briefings - just by the boathouse, you’ll see people gathering.
Then after the briefings and welcome to new comers everyone walks to the start and waits for the volunteer to get the run started. It’s three and a half times round the park. When you run through the finish you’ll be given a little plastic chip card. Take that with your printed barcode to one of the volunteers with the chip reader. They’ll be easy to spot as others will be queuing for them. They will take the plata and scan it and scan you bar code. Later in the morning all the results are posted online and you’ll receive an email. That will give you stats about your time and your position relative to other runners in your category (age/gender).
The run before Christmas is usually quite fun and very popular, with lots of runners in festive fancy dress. I just wore a Santa hat last year, so you don’t have to dress up.
Good luck. Remind me nearer the time, and if I’m going we can meet up. 🤓
Sorry I didn’t get back to you -busy week. Thanks for the info it takes some of the stress out of it when you know what to expect. Just got to get 5k ready. Hopefully see you at Christmas
Your posts always make me smile, & often make me laugh out loud! I have yet to do my first park run (bat code was printed so long ago, not even sure where I put it!), but think now I will wait till warmer weather... I will definitely heed all the comments here tho when I do... till then I shall enjoy my own, slow, company...
So most helpful hint - stock up on the loo roll before going! Honestly what a stupid tart I was, and I still don't know why I was nervous - it's just running!!!
But I do like the freedom of 'running' straight out of the door - having to 'travel' to run, seemed odd, that's why I have to have another go, where all these 'new' experiences are just part of me doing a Park Run and just become a different run set-up.
But just goes to show, the nerves can assail you, when you think you're beyond them
We have an annual 10K in my 'village' (it's a village, but not the quaint kind... loads of new building in the last few years) & that I could just walk up to... the first year it was held was just after I'd first graduated C25K... stupidly I signed up, ran too fast, got injuries.... & stopped running... a year later (2017), I started C25K too late to get tempted by the 10K... but next year... I'll try a few Park Runs in early spring & then hopefully increase my distance w/Sammi or JuJu... & will def heed all the advice from here about not getting caught up with the race crowd & running too fast! I did love all the comradery, etc though, in spite of enjoying the quiet & my own thoughts most runs...
I think it's really hard to go from solo to group and I am sorry now that I hadn't thought about that aspect of it, as part of my 'prep'. But and this was the big thing for me - it's all in my head...., the other folk weren't actually racing, well maybe the Speedies were, but when I met Sophie on the run, she wasn't racing and in fact was doing her own thing. But solo running helps me sort my life out from stupid things like creating the shopping list for groceries, to thinking about the big things... So now I think Park Runs will be the occasional option, with the solo running always being my main course
I'm thinking of doing a park run post-grad, but I couldn't help noticing that your autocorrect has given you a "bat code", which sounds way more exciting than a bar code!
Well done for getting out there with the throng..!!
I have to say I'm probably more like rolysmate and Razouski ... I'd be a bit unnerved by it all. I'm happy plodding alone, but would imagine that the camaraderie is quite uplifting.
You did it and you have some real positives to take away from it 🤗
Loved reading your report, thanks Jan. I have yet to muster up the park run courage...feel so good about my running right now, worry it would demoralise me. But your time was good, no?! I would be pleased with that. 😀
My time was okay, but on my own I run faster normally, but yes it's a good time - I think reading the league table was the mistake! This was when I went from 'well done JCR you didn't mess up' to 'OMG how slow are you?????'
Hi I think I sort of expected a Damascene conversion moment you know a flash of thunder and the running gods giving me wings, that kind of thing! And of course if you have only ever run alone, it's a big change and I just hadn't thought about running with loads of folk, even though 311 of them were ahead of me! I do think I shouldn't say 'never' without trying it and now I've tried it, it's definitely worth another try as now I know what to expect, so I think next time will probably be better, even if it's not faster...
I have decided that I need a practice run of the route on my own first. At The moment my 30 minute run with the five minute warmup and cooldown walk at either end has me covering about 4 .7km. I could just walk the rest of the way, but I know my husband (who will run it in about 24 minutes) will leap around shouting encouragement to run to the finish whether I want it or not! Maybe I should sneak off to a different park run!😂
Well if it's any consolation you would have beaten me by about 8 minutes! but your report is more or less what I fear about Park Runs, there's not much appeal for me there. I hope though that if you want to do it you find a way!
I'd hate to think I am putting someone off doing it, I just wanted to be honest about my own feelings... I do think I'm a bit of a curmudgeon at times and prefer my own company. Maybe it's a bit like the treadmill vs outdoor running thing, we all have our preferences, and I loved the encouraging atmosphere there, I just need to work out how to run in crowds - maybe I sharpen my elbows (oops that's not very friendly at all!)
I've enjoyed the 2 park runs that I did but they are very different from most of the running I do which is straight out the back door and off into the county side. I quite like the contrast although I think on balance I prefer my solo runs where I can pick and chose my times and my distances.
However, first park run was my graduation run and I had all the same thoughts as you and did all the faffing around before I left home. Whilst I was a bit unsure of what to do, once I started to be honest I'm not sure I noticed that anyone else was running because I was so focused on my own run and the fact that my lovely husband was waiting at the finish line to take my picture.
I did my second one yesterday. Rocked up in the car and headed to the start, doing my 5 min warm up walk on the way and feeling like an old hand lol. I was overtaken by a lot of people and overtook one or two myself. I was even overtaken by a man pushing a pram - although I'm sure there was a power unit underneath it somewhere. However, I had a new playlist to sing along to (in my head at least) and was delighted that I was 18 seconds faster than the first time so got a new PB by my name which I'm still grinning about. I'm delighted that my name appears in a table of runners, no matter where it is. I was the second fastest lady of my age group yesterday. That might also mean I was the slowest, but so what, 10 weeks ago I would never had believed anyone that said I would be able to go out and run 5k - wish I had taken that bet lol
My local park run is quite small, probably only about 120 people and only 1 loop so no one laps you as you are running. I can understand why people can get a bit anxious or demoralized when its a really big group but I like the fact that I don't have to think where to run for once and its all organized for me. I also like challenging myself to try to go just a wee bit faster than I did before and the only person I feel that I am comparing my result against is me.
Maybe doing a second one will give you a bit of a boost. Maybe not, but either way you are out there running so I think you are awesome!
I think you make valid points, I am also running in London and of course predominantly the other runners tend to be substantially younger and as a consequence a little more competitive I think. In the cafe afterwards there was a lot of talk about negative splits, p.bs and comparisons with other runners...
I am going to do a second one, because I really think first park run nerves and faffing got in the way....
My first parkrun was when I did Week1 Day3 of C25K - I have now done 109 parkruns and consider it to be one of the best things of my life. I did once run a pr of sub-30 mins - but right now I am flat out walking it in 50 minutes (with a busted foot!) I still get cheered across the line at the finish though! I guess it is because there are not too many 71 year olds with a fractured foot walking 5 klms every Saturday ( that is probably why the fracture won't heal!! )
Blimey well done you - I also met at the park run an ex Commonwealth Games medallist, who was a speed walker and he still does the park runs, so it seems if you get the bug, you really get the bug!
I am so pleased you tried it. I am even more relieved you found your crowd friendly. My ParkRun was over 400 strong this week and i also admired the speedies as they lapped me in their shorts and knee high socks and got a big cheer as I finished which was lovely.
Never having done a park run (none within an hours drive near me) but good for you for trying it out. Its brave to try. I run alone most of the time too. Kind of my own inexpensive therapy. 😊So much seems to come down to the chemistry of the day and the people you happen to meet. My 2nd 5k was in my old hometown and it was strange to be there alone and not know anyone at first, but I spoke to a few nice people and realized they are also there to just get out and about like me and then I began to relax a bit. Chatting with a couple of folks I saw the reasons they run are similar to mine. Its really something to celebrate. We are not that different, really. Most people seem to be more worried about how they are fitting in than to think about how anyone else is doing. Having said that, I still get a bit jittery at big events 😁
I feel quite ... glad in a way to know that it isn't the light-shining-down-from-heaven experience for everyone, every time. The thought of a Parkrun, not for any particular reason, doesn't seem as appealing to me as it seems to others - but now I feel that I could try one out without the expectation that I would unreservedly enjoy it. At least everyone has consistently talked about friendliness!
Hi icklegui, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, i think i probably expected to love it and afterwards was surprised when I didn’t, and that’s a very personal thing it was not that I didn’t like it, it just wasn’t for me the most amazing running I have ever done. The friendliness there though, seriously beyond measure....
Great blog Jan - and well done on your first Parkrun! Seriously, your time was very respectable and in most runs you would finish a lot further up the field with that time!🙂🏃🏽♀️ Finsbury Park must be one for the speedsters!! I too, prefer my lone runs, although I do like to run with the masses occasionally (especially if there's bling involved!😉) Am slightly nervous about a 10k I am running next weekend actually. It is fast and flat and I know there will be a lot of 'running club types' there who will leave me in their dust! I am still down on my old pace following an injury earlier in the summer and suspect I will end up nearer the back of the field than I would like! Ho hum! I will just run and be grateful that I can - there are so many who can't. And of course, there will be bling. I will think of the bling!🙂 Have a good week!
Thanks Sandra, the London demographic is likely to be much younger than me, I hadn’t thought of that and with youth comes speed! But you’re right of course, I can run and it is a great thing to do, with or without others. Happy running
I reckon the shorts are for the chaps with a natural layer of thermal protection! My hairy limbs plodding along the seafront with a stiff sea breeze would prove that, odd that I wear gloves....
Once you find a good rhythm and manage to ignore the pace of the other runners you'll be tickety boo! Like you I'm a solo runner so found it tough for a few weeks.
It can be a little demoralising to slog your guts out and finish in a low position, I finished 186 out of 273 yesterday with a 30:00, I was 40 places higher with a slower time not so long ago!
Love that playlist, Einstein a go go is definitely getting onto my list! 👍🤘
Okay now I understand the shorts thing... and my conclusion for Park Runs is that I add them into my routine as a different run, where I learn to run alongside people, but not get caught up in a competitive sense... and you make a great point it depends who turns up on the day, maybe I just got gazelle Saturday this time!
Well done for getting through that, I'd have been pooing my pants just at the thought. Your time is brilliant, don't be downhearted, if you stick at Parkrun you may find the competitive nature improves your time, if that's what you are after. They've all probably been doing it for years, we are still very new to it all. They all sound very friendly, I'm sure after a few weeks you'll be flying round with the rest of them!
I think the competition element may pull me up a bit, it was a bit disheartening to be so rubbish. But then as lardofale says your position can vary a lot depending on who is there. I didn’t actually compare myself to the newbies though and maybe that’s a better idea...
flying whilst running, I love the thought of doing that..
Yey....well done Hidden ....I know how worried you were about this!! When I did my first parkrun, I took me yonks to pluck up the courage....& when I did it the first time it was ok...not as bad as I thought but I must say that I too, have to find my own parkrun recipe because I haven’t been for a good few weeks & ive purposely worked it that sat is a rest day..& then when I see them all lining up from my window, I want to join in!!! Hope you find your recipe though coz how lovely are the people there??!! They deserve as many people to join in as possible...people le just like you 😊
Hi Mummycav I am going to go either this Saturday or the next one, as I’d like to give it a go again, just to see if the nerves thing can be overcome. And I got a really lovely message from my friend Hannah about the day too. And she is lovely, as were all the others. Knowing what to expect I am hoping is half the battle! Good luck finding your own recipe...as they will be lucky to have you running with them
Thank you Jan! You have totally summed up my own Parkrun feelings! I‘ve done 2, and have yet to come away buzzing. The first was incredibly windy, and I had to walk more than I would have liked; - time 40min. The 2nd, I definitely ran for a greater proportion, and came in at 42mins!! The only people behind me were the walkers (and a few of those had overtaken me!). A bit demoralised to say the least. I think I’ve decided to stick with the half hour runs (Wk9R3 etc) and get better at those, then give Parkrun another go in the spring.
I must admit to feeling guilty about admitting it in public, because I feel as though I am letting the side down! But my overwhelming feeling is it’s a friendly place, with lovely people there, it’s whether or not I can hack the thought of running with or in my case behind lots of people... and for what it’s worth I think your plan is a good one. lardofale made the same point that your positions can be determined by who is there, and it’s not always a reflection of your own performance. I had originally thought I may just be a Park Run tourist but now I think if I stick at it by settling on one course, then that gives me a benchmark. Good luck with your consolidation runs...
You wouldn't need that duvet, Hidden if you ran faster ... LOL LOL LOL
Some good observations there though, I am amazed by the number of people that turn up at Pontefract, and they seem to come from miles away, even though you can't throw a stone around here without hitting a Park Run, and the volunteers are great, proper unsung heroes ... we have an elderly chap, called Ken, he mans 'Kens Corner', and most people leave their jackets and stuff with him as he's the first and last official that you meet ...
If only I could crack that running faster malarkey! It is a fab movement at Finsbury they don’t have a Ken’s corner, but they do have a tree- the cloakroom chestnut perhaps?
So interesting to see what you thought of Parkrun. I’d like to try it but it’s a long way off for me as yet and suspect I may prefer being solo and only competing against myself - though not doing so well on that front at the mo 🤣. You made me laugh out loud at the description of yourself wearing a duvet in comparison to others - that would be me! Loving the sweets inspired playlist too.
Yup, I think I am going back Saturday with no pressure on, as I ran 11.5k today, so I have no expectations of being speedier, but I want to return, to see if I get that magical Park Run feeling that so many folk talk about, but if I don't I won't fret. And good luck for your running, it is an up and down thing....
As I understand the purpose of a parkrun it is a runners time trial. Its a fitness test. You are racing YOU and not the person next to you😂😉😉 Okay that true most of the time. I have twice had full sprints to the finish line with a 14 year old girl with a heart rate over 180. Parkrunning is more dangerous than you think. 😂😂😂
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Park Run Number 1 - Done
💪🏻💪🏻1st park run done 😊😊
First park run done!
Park Run and 5.4K done! 
First Park Run done ✅ 
