Hello lovely runners. Plucked up the courage to sign up for my local parkrun as my first run since completing wk9r3 last week. This is a scenic double lap around the lakes (disused gravel pits) of the country park nearby and a largely flat, although uneven, surface. Saturday dawned as a beautiful, though freezing, morning so I had no excuse to back out. I was more nervous than I'd expected and felt rather intimidated by all the running club members wearing their 'Harriers', etc., shirts and the fact that they all seemed to know each other in their various groups. What was I doing here? However, volunteers were lovely and very encouraging when, in the briefing for 'first timers', I said I'd just completed C25K. I held back at the start as I didn't want to get in the way of the fast runners or set off at a pace that I wouldn't be able to keep up. At the half-way mark at the end of the first lap the volunteers were shouting encouragements, which was kind and unexpectedly nice. This was my first run without the podcast and and it seemed to be over sooner than the wk9 runs without JW's voice in my ear to tell me how long I'd been running for. I had absolutely no idea of my time, so was happy with my result - I came 89th out of 115, with a time of 33.54 mins, and actually enjoyed the experience. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to run a sub-30 mins 5k, but I plan to repeat wk9 a couple of times during the week and then parkrun on Saturdays, as my target going forward. Happy running everyone!
First post-grad run/first parkrun: Hello lovely... - Couch to 5K
First post-grad run/first parkrun
Well done, and what a beautiful setting! Still snow on the ground here, so my attempt to rejoin week 9 is postponed further..........
Hi Mike. I do like snow but it must be very frustrating in wk9 when you’re so close to graduating. Whatever you do, don’t go doing a ‘Bambi’ on icy paths though! Good luck and hope you can get to graduate soon.
Soooooon......😉
Well done!! That looks beautiful! I’m a little envious as I work on a Saturday so I can’t do a Park run! Never mind though I’m enjoying just going out and doing week 9 again and my wee Jogscotland group on a Monday night! 😀
Thanks, Sara. Yes, I’m lucky that my local parkrun is in such a lovely setting. Shame you have to work Saturdays 🙁 but I think there are a few Sunday parkruns. Might be worth checking if any near you?
Our nearest one isn’t even that close but if I visit my daughter in St Albans on a rare day off we might do that together! 😀
Well done you! What a great achievement and a very respectable time as well.
Gosh, thanks Ian. It was a great experience as up until now I’ve only run solo; definitely recommend it.
Well done...thats fantastic 😊 i must say i find it really offputting when they tell you how long you have been running for...its never as long as you think & really makes me want to.stop!!!
Thanks, Claire. The one I used to hate was “You’ve only got 5 minutes left”. I was always like “Whaat? It can’t possibly be that much?!”
Awful...i would rather not know...ignorance is bliss & all that 😁
The one that tells me I've done 5 minutes when it's a 28 minute session makes me politely tell Jo to be quiet.
Oh...when i did my first 5 minute run & my music dips & Michael tells me i am halfway...i am fairly sure i actually told him to"go away" out loud in a much more rude & sweary way haha 😂🤣
LOL
Oh that looks like a lovely place to run.
You did really well time wise for your first Park run, that's really impressive.
You should be super proud of yourself and that's a fantastic achievement.
Well done that runner! 🥇🏆 🏃♀️👏
Gosh, thanks Carolyn. Yes, I’m lucky - it’s a lovely setting and not far at all from where I live. I was pleasantly surprised that I didn’t finish last, although I’d have been happy with that as long as I could complete the 5k run. I’ve always wanted to have a go at this; that was my aim in signing up for C25K, so will definitely stick with it.
C25k is brilliant and I recommend it to everyone. I'm so hooked on running 😂
Yes, me too!! I’m pushing 61 and never imagined I’d be able to achieve this - certainly not going to stop now!
Running at that pace and pushing 61 is all the more impressive to me Angela. I’ve only got 8yrs on you but I’m way off that pace 😱
Well done 😊😘
Oh, bless you, Ted; you’re very modest. I bet you’ll soon be running that 10k. Did you manage to get a run in Brighton yesterday or was the weather too dreadful? When are you planning to do your first parkrun 😘
Called Brighton visit off, M40 was chaotic. Going this weekend instead and hope to get there early to do 5k on Hove Promenade.
Hoping to do Oxford Parkrun on the 23rd.
Take care and happy running 😘
That’s a shame but it wasn’t running weather yesterday. I know Hove Prom very well; there’s always lots of runners. Fingers crossed for nicer weather 😘
Thanks Angela 😊
Well done! 😊 and fast too 😀
Gosh, thanks, Bridget - that’s kind - but not fast really! Still, it’s not about speed so much at the moment as stamina and we should all be proud of what we can push ourselves to achieve with this programme x
Fantastic run.... well done. And a fabulous time too for your first Parkrun.
Thank you Razouski. I’m completely hooked now!
Gorgeous scenery for a park run! And a fabulous time for 5k!!! Well done! Enjoy some more great runs in beautiful places.
Gosh, thank you, Anthie. Yes, I’m lucky my local parkrun is such lovely place to run.
That's brilliant! I bet you will only get better too
Well done Pashley Pedaller! I recently did my first park run too - but nowhere near as quickly as you (37 mins) I was also encouraged by the kind volunteers and other runners. Its a great feeling. I plan to get out there again very soon and may even do the Christmas Day one - how smug would I be!"!!! Thanks for sharing.
Hi, Julie. Congrats on your first parkrun too; it’s a great feeling of achievement isn’t it? I few weeks ago I couldn’t even run for a bus. Wow, a Christmas Day run; I’m super impressed by that! Happy running!
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