W2R1 and first Parkrun.

[Sigered]

Hi all, after having to give up my first attempt at C25K at week 5 during the summer, last week I decided to get the running shoes on and try again. Week 1 went well so I decided that for my first run of week 2 I would try a Parkrun for the first time. This seemed like a great idea until I stepped out of the house and had to scrape the frost off the car.

What a great experience! As a Parkrun virgin I was made to feel welcome and the volunteers around the course were great. The intention was to follow the week 2 podcast and then continue walking to the finish, but I was feeling good so added a couple of extra short runs and finished with a jog (it somehow didn’t feel right to walk across the finish line).

I am now the proud owner of a time for 5K, and can’t wait to do it again!

[Bridget007 Graduate]

That is so good! Well done! I’m also on week 2 but not confident enough to do a park run yet but that is my aim 😃

[Sigered Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

I would definitely recommend it, even at this stage. Everyone was so encouraging.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

A bit too soon for Park runs... they will be there at the end.... check out Realfoodieclub 's post.... all too easy to cause injuries

healthunlocked.com/couchto5....

[Bridget007 Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you for these links they are really helpful 😀

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well... I would say well done..but I think this is too much too soon... hopefully you are going to be fine...not a great plan to hit 5K in the 2nd week of a nine week programme.. but... there you go

[peaplodder in reply to Oldfloss]

I am not a mentor on this forum but I am a big fan of parkrun ,with nearly 50 parkrun volunteers under my belt 13 of them as tail walker, and I would only say that parkrun is for EVERYONE, whether you run all of it, some of it, or walk the whole way round , it's fine. Nobody should be discouraged from giving it a go and all are welcome, every week.

[Sigered Graduate in reply to peaplodder]

That was exactly my point, it is an inclusive event, and the fact that I felt comfortable being able to walk for large parts of the course without feeling the pressure to run was great. I could understand others concerns if I had attempted to run the entire 5K this early in the program, as that would be crazy.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Sigered]

See my reply to peaplodder; it is great that you are doing it, sensibly and enjoying.

[Realfoodieclub Graduate in reply to peaplodder]

I think the point Oldfloss was making was not against Parkrun at all it is the fact running a 5km before you are ready can be counter productive. Doing the program week you are on and walking the rest is great and because of the inclusive nature of Parkrun and volunteers like you who give their time it makes it an enjoyable experience. We just worry that getting carried away and doing extra before you are ready can sometimes be detrimental. After four years of doing this I have seen many people who think the program can be tweaked with running extra before they are ready and it doesn’t always end well. So like you when you encourage and welcome everyone because of your passion for the sport, it is ours responsibility to urge caution when running outside the program. Like you, we are great advocates of Parkrun.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to peaplodder]

As Realfoodieclub said... we are not discouraging anyone at all

Park runs are inclusive and are for everyone...all I was trying to do was give the message that urges caution; as there are a few folk, ( clearly not you :)) who may get carried away with the excitement and atmosphere and try too hard We have had a lot of posts from folk who have got swept up in the first rush and ended up very discouraged

[Madge50 Graduate]

Yeah, yeah, yeah! You are absolutely right peaplodder , parkrun is for everyone, no matter how or when you use it, just because you have chosen to use the C25K programme doesn’t mean you must only use the programme, it’s only a guide, we are all different. As you say, walk, jog,run, skip, hop, do whatever you like, but parkrun is a way to get regularly active (with a very friendly, welcoming bunch of people who give up their time to do so) - that’s the point.......

C25K can be done at parkrun....(and regularly is - we have C25K groups come to ours) if anyone reading this is unsure about parkrun and whether it’s for them , go along, just watch, or volunteer, you’ll soon work it out if it’s for you, for yourself...😊

Mx

[Hidden]

Hi there. Congratulations on your 1st park run and also for doing this programme. I'm on week 8 at the moment and the thought of doing a park run sends shivers down my spine. I think that's because I'm so used to just running by myself now.

But hats off to you. Keep it slow and steady and don't push yourself too much and you'll do greatly.

Good thing about the park runs that I like is that you are not looked down upon because you have walked. At the end of the day walking is good for you, so even if you walked the entire route, (which you didn't), still hats off to you for getting out there.

Don't forget to take your day of rest in between running though and I wish you luck. ☺