W8R3- First Parkrun... loved it ...!!

[swisstony4]

Very nervous this morning, finally decided to join in with the local parkrun... been putting it off for a while as was not sure I would be able to run the 5K in a group...

Just before the start, right on que, the rain started... great...!! Set off at the back of the pack, as you do!! But quickly found myself in the middle of the pack, comfortable pace, breathing steady, settled into a nice rhythm, set my Strava to give 1/2km updates and ran the course 500m at a time...

the course is a mix of muddy trails and path ways, the mixture of mud and poor visibility due to the rain and my glasses added another dimension and challenge to the run.

Found myself pacing with a group of runners in front and basically followed them around the course, was happy with the pace and even had enough in the tank at the end for a last minute sprint to the finish line 🏁

Forgot to switch my Strava off due to the confusion over timing chips but the end result was a PB of 30:26,only ever run one 5k before so new PB was not hard lol... but really pleased to knock 2 mins off my previous time.

Final thoughts ... really enjoyed running with the pack, will definitely be joining the local running club and getting out more with others and this has given me a massive confidence boost as I enter Week 9 and my final 3 runs of this program.

What a great way to start a new year !!

Happy 2018 to everyone and I wish you all health, wealth and happiness for the coming year

[Lillybeth30mins Graduate]

Oh wow! Very inspiring!... best of luck going into week 9. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️Liz x

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to Lillybeth30mins]

Thanks Lillybeth...

[davelinks Graduate]

Well done! Good time!

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to davelinks]

Thanks Dave...😁

[Kingfisherk26 Graduate]

Well done swisstony4 (at this point I am very tempted to compare Parkrun to making love to a beautiful woman.... but I wont!!!).

I've "accidentally" done my 6th Parkrun this morning....! I'm am not on Facebook (yes there are a few of us) so I turned up to my local park at 9:30ish just for a run.

I am very slow and aspire to your time of 31 min. I was intending to have a go at a "Fartlek" run. Any how when I get there the Parkrun volunteers were setting up for a run at 10am... so off I went and did 37;36 which for me is pretty good (my PB is 36:42.... so frustratingly close!)

One tip I tried to follow today was from "Harryrun" on youtube. Rather than saying to myself "I've just done the 1st k" I followed his advice and said to myself "Right...you're in the 2nd K now...!" sounds daft but I think it helped me go a bit quicker.

Well done!

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Kingfisherk26]

I count up to half way, count done for second half .... eg Im on my second, third etc. Then two left to do, one left to do, whatever works for you😀

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I guess we all have our was of breaking down he runs, I like to think of it as small segments one after the other rather than a 5K, because 5K sounds like a massive number, 500m to me is achievable and I keep going until the next one .

[Gabby08 Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I count up and then down but in percentages!

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to Kingfisherk26]

Thanks kingfisherk, Swisstony is a nickname handed out years ago and just seems to have stuck, I wanna here the punchline... how is a parkrun like making love to a beautiful woman.... answers on a postcard or sealed down envelope.. 😂

Well done on doing an unexpected parkrun, I had to psych myself up to do this one as only run one 5k before and never run as a group.

Time is not important, PB are okay but it is the positive mental achievement of just getting out and doing it that give the biggest buzz.

My parkrun is flat so easy to achieve a quicker time I guess, not done any Farlek training yet, considering it but leaning more towards doing some Hill training runs, as I don’t have many hills where I am I think it will make a difference in stamina and I don’t have to faff around with times of runs and exertion levels and all that.

Keep up the good work and remember every completed run is a big win.. no matter what the time or pace.

Happy new you to you

[Kingfisherk26 Graduate in reply to swisstony4]

Well Swiss in response to "I wanna here the punchline... how is a parkrun like making love to a beautiful woman.... ": because when its all over you're sweaty, out of breath, red in the face and hoping for a personal best!!!

I do miss The Fast Show!!!!!!!

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to Kingfisherk26]

😂😂😂👍

[Snodi Graduate]

Awesome! Well done swisstony4 😀

Not long now til graduation! I've been out of action for a while, but did my second Parkrun yesterday and surprisingly wasn't as bad as I thought I would be having not run for 3 weeks. Looking forward to seeing you graduate, enjoy week 9 x

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to Snodi]

Hi Snodi, happy new year to you, good to hear you are back out, I had a month off with my back issue, it takes a few runs to get back to where you were, just have to take it easy and listen to your body.

Glad you enjoyed the parkrun, are you aiming for 10K next ??

[Snodi Graduate in reply to swisstony4]

Happy New Year to you, too! I am going to go for the 10k next, yes. I'm finding it disheartening that I feel I've slipped back through not being able to run, still have a slight cough lingering from a virus that started over 3 weeks ago, so it's affected my breathing, my legs are still going strong. So yesterday I had to walk a few times during the Parkrun, but I did it in 38 minutes, so only 4 minutes slower than my 1st Parkrun. I'm going to do it this Saturday too, and every Saturday that I'm free, just try and get back to running it fully, incorporating it into 3 Runs per week. I want to get back to where I was before starting the increase up to 10k. Despite feeling disappointed with this 'blip' I am still so proud of completing the C25K 😊 I'm determined to make it to 10k!

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to Snodi]

As you say it is a blip, we all have them, glad to hear you are recovering from the virus, luckily I have missed it so far but it is very persistent.

You will be back to full strength in no time and I am sure running the 10K before you know it.

[TJMazz Graduate]

Wow. Sounds like an amazing run. You’ve done so well. Good for you for trying the Parkrun. That is my goal some one this year. Good luck for Week 9. Enjoy it 🙋🏻

[swisstony4 Graduate in reply to TJMazz]

Thanks TJ, it was a great experience, I have only ever run on my own and pack mentality must have kicked in as I have never run that fast... !! Not looking to keep up that pace though... but it’s nice to know that it is possible ..

week 9 starts tomorrow for me, looking forward to it but also sad that the program is near an end!!

Already looking at 10K programs... which I would never have dreamed of three months ago!!

[TJMazz Graduate in reply to swisstony4]

Good you enjoyed it. It’s an amazing programme. Can’t believe I am enjoying running either 😀