Sheepish first park run

[LookNannyruns]

So, cold, nervous but determined I set off to lovely Blickling For first ever park run. Thank goodness the sun was so low I couldn’t see where I was going, you’d never guess from this picture but there were hills honest! I was so nervous I felt ill for the first 5 mins. Then I gave myself a good talking to, it’s not a race, you’ve done this on your own, dad would be very proud etc etc etc

Beautiful route, which I ran mostly on my own since the gazelles leapt off at breakneck speed. I didn’t stop running the whole way round but so so so slowly that sometimes I’m sure I was just running on the spot. The lovey lovely volunteers were so encouraging that I kept on till the end. Wow I’ve done it! I came second in my woman’s age group category - of course there were only two of us and she did it at twice my speed but what the heck.

I have an incentive to try to be a bit faster since the penalty for being one of the last to finish is that you are last in the cafe coffee queue too. Still a rather nice woman who had also finished her first run bought my coffee so impressed was she that at several years her senior I had completed it all on my own .

Here’s to life after c to 5k.......

[Madge50 Graduate]

Yeah, yeah yeah! Well done you 👏🏃‍♀️👍, parkrunner now, keep going, it’s great, I love it!

Mx

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You did it and you did well.. well done you! That sheep can baaaaa-ley believe it

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

Oh I'm so jealous, I was too busy playing today Christmas music🎺🎶I love Blickling for walks but haven't tried the park run there. Maybe I'll do it next week instead of Eaton Park! Well done you 👏

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

I too envious of you, the ability to play an instrument.

I have to say that as a first run it was pretty wonderful, the scenery is quite something and managed to take my mind off the lead clogs I was wearing 🙂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Hoorah for you!!

Sounds like a lovely route and very soon you'll own it (as the yoof say)

Keep running, keep smiling.

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

It was a lovely route, and you’re right, it’s the running and smiling that’s important. I this was the first time running with (mostly behind) other runners. I didn’t go into this to compete but to be healthy so I mustn’t get dragged into the time/pace/distance tunnel. At the moment being out there doing something I never dreamed of doing is more than enough

[IannodaTruffe Mentor in reply to LookNannyruns]

Just enjoy it.

Your parkrun PB is something to be proud of. Comparison is futile. On a good day, in the recent past, I could run 5k in the same time it takes Mo Farah to run 10k.

Because of my circumstances, I am getting slower and slower, but the enjoyment is not diminished.

Do it because you can.

[pinkaardvark Graduate]

That's so lovely to do your first PR in such a wonderful setting. I think I have been there before but sometime one NT location blends into another lol. I have a nearby PR at wimpole hall in cambridgeshire which is also NT, but i'm summoning up the courage to do my first run also. Maybe next saturday at Huntingdon if i'm brave Thanks for your lovely story though, i'm sure I will feel the same trepidation on my first one.

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to pinkaardvark]

Well, believe me I was as invisible to other runners as I am anywhere, I believe that happens with age! The volunteers on the other hand cheer you on and make you feel special so gird your loins and do it . I felt like a real runner for the first time 😀 good luck

[Madge50 Graduate in reply to pinkaardvark]

Well helloooo pinkaardvark *waves*, I’ve done Wimpole a couple of times, am a regular Milton Country Park parkrunner (Cambridge) me and my OH are planning to do Huntingdon on Xmas day and the double, Huntingdon and March on New Year’s Day ( if we can get there quick enough 😂)

If you fancy meeting up to help those first time nerves let me know......and by the way, my pace is sedate.....🐌

Mx

[pinkaardvark Graduate in reply to Madge50]

Hi Madge50. I'm gonna try the PR at Hinchingbrooke on the 23rd. I don't think I will be able to do the xmas one as it's our 1 yr olds first proper xmas so I wouldn't want to be out of the house. I do want to get a sneaky xmas day run in though so maybe will try and get out the house and round the fields very early. I'll be in Great Wilbraham at the inlaws so quite rural, though usually at swavesey which is also rural lol. Anyways if you see me say hi!

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Well done and congratulations on being second in your category. When ours started I had the pleasure of always being first in my category, out of one. 😀. Will you be a regular? Happy running.

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to runswithdogs]

🤣 well I hope so, it’s quite exciting to get your results through. It validates my running somehow and as long as no other same aged woman runs I can always be first or second both good in my eyes 🙂

[Bridget007 Graduate]

Well done 😊 that is so good to do it when you were so nervous and for not stopping! Go you 😀

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to Bridget007]

Thanks, it’s so silly really to be nervous I know but somehow running on your own is so safe, no one to compare or check if you’re having a little walk break. Still it felt good and I felt I was part of something very motivating

[Bridget007 Graduate in reply to LookNannyruns]

I would be really nervous, i don’t even like running past dog walkers 😬😬 so you did really well!

[LookNannyruns Graduate]

I see from your post you are well into the programme. Congratulations it was those first longer runs that made me realize I would actually do this. The added fitness is a great bonus

[LookNannyruns Graduate]

I just put on my superior runners face when passing dog walkers ,mums with pushchairs and hooded youths then cross my fingers that I will get out of earshot before they think of anything to shout at me 😊

[Anthie Graduate]

Great run, so well done! The consolation of not running very fast I find is that we enjoy the scenery You can't do that if you run at full speed...

[tfcmagpie Graduate]

Well done just did my fifth Parkrun yesterday and the community spirit keeps me going back. As you say it is not a race but a run. It is about your well being and look back and glow and where you have come from.

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to tfcmagpie]

Thanks, yes a run with a purpose (coffee afterwards) it makes my runs between feel like training.

You’re right about the glow when I think back to my very first week.. I thought about running round and round the town hall where the community defibrillator is located 😃

[tfcmagpie Graduate in reply to LookNannyruns]

Lol. Keep on running and set yourself another goal. Just reached one of my own this morning with confirmation that I have dropped 30.5 KG in weight since July. Diet and more importantly running has helped.

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to tfcmagpie]

Wow what an achievement, you must be running like the wind now. Congratulations weight loss is such a long lonely journey I’m hugely impressed with you

[janief Graduate]

Seriously well done!! 👏👏👏

I did my first parkrun after graduating and found it really keeps my interest in running going. Something to aim for every week...

Btw have you put NHS Couch to 5 K as your running club on your parkrun profile?

Well done again. 😃

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to janief]

Oh no I haven’t done that. I thought a running club was only what real runners joined. Oops but then I suppose I am a real runner now. I will add that now - I suppose it will help me to identify others like me

Thank you, I hope to do my second one this coming Saturday and it looks like fun to build others in when I’m away for weekends

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Great post and congratulations, yes, it is interesting that if you know the 5k course you can always practise on it, for example, you will know exactly where the 1 kilometre markings are and run for 1k between them hoping to increase your running speed, perhaps one day run 1k in 8 minutes and try to get down to say 6 minutes by the time the next official 5k run comes around.

I was at a recent 'Santa dash' where there were two races, a 1k race for 11 and 12-year-olds and a 5k for everyone, the 1k race was won by a 11-year-old girl in only 3 minutes and 8 seconds which was amazing. I noticed also that quite a few 11 and 12-year-olds managed to run the 5k in less than 30 minutes, good future for athletics here in the UK

[LookNannyruns Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Well in my defence I guess 11 and 12 year olds are nearer the ground with far less wobbly bits than me 🤣

Still it’s great to see youngsters taking part they get bad press about being inactive and I hope doing this gives them a habit for life

I wish I had started when I was younger

[JohnTheHulk]

That's the beauty of Park runs