So I have just done my 7th park run and I am only less than a minute faster than when I started! I can run a lot longer and hardly walk any of the route too!
I can only conclude that I run slower than I walk 
I am glad I started but I can't believe i'm not improving my time a little, any advice anyone?
Well done on your latest Parkrun, grand job done.
Several things might impact on your times........conditions for example. The local trail Parkrun I volunteered at Christmas week was very slow......for every runner, due to the mud, puddles , wind etc.
Not sure if you run the same Parkrun each time, but if not you can not compare times across several........that’s why you have a pb for each course. Hilly, muddy, windy courses will be slower than flat, straight forward courses.
To run faster you probably need to train further, so that your 5k feels easier. If you aren’t doing that may be that would be a good move.
Also, hill training, intervals, fartlek etc will help make you quicker. But remember you should not be aiming for a pb every run.
You can't always get faster I'm afraid. I wish it were so, I haven't had a 5km PB in a couple years, but I'm hoping this will be the year. On the plus side, when PBs are more rare, they are all the sweeter
There's big improvements in the early days, and then getting faster starts to take more work, more planning, etc. What are you currently doing for your other runs? I found my time improved once I added a short fast 3km route, usually fartleks into my routine rather than three 5km, same effort runs a week. Try swapping one regular run out for something short and speedy. C25K+ sessions are also good.
Finally, don't worry about your run-walks being faster. I love run-walking because the recovery you get while walking lets you do the running bits faster because you've had a little break. So you're probably not walking faster than you are running, rather you're running faster after a little break than you are after a constant 5km slog. All good! It's a legitimate running style.
Happy running and keep it up.
actually that might be good logic, I think I might be slower overall because I'm running at a (slower) speed where I don't need to stop.
The course is also terribly muddy which doesn't help, we are on the winter route which is when my times got longer.
I will keep at it because its fun but I was just disappointed that I'm not getting any quicker yet as I am definitely running longer.
Well done on the Park Run.. are you on the C25K programme again, or did you finish it.. last year???
Hi I completed my 7th run today... I did my first one on March 25th. Until today my Pb was back in April. I then seemed to get slower and slower... now I'm about 1 min 30 secs faster... You sound like you are doing fine.
In addition to what other posters have said can I share 2 points I have picked up from various places... here, youtube etc.
1. Don't start too far back. I've a Garmin GPS watch (Ebay... used... old model) and looking at the times I was doing for each km I realised I was loosing 30+ sec right at the start. Today I started at the back of the middle ... if that makes sense... and my first lap was my fastest for 1k.
2. Everyone seems to agree a lot of it is mental.. a chap on youtube (Harryruns I think) recommended that when you've done the st k say to yourself "I'm i the 2nd km now..." then "I'm in the 3rd K now...". It sounds daft but I found this far more positive than thinking "I've still got 4 k to go".
Finally... Times and PBs are nice BUT do you feel fitter? I'm never going to worry Mo Farah but its nice skipping up the stairs of the local Sainsburys' and not being out of breath at the top.
Happy running
I didn’t think it was possible to get slower!
I'm slower than the mighty Mo Farah, but I still graduated today!!
Parkrun getting slower!
Finished w8r3 but getting slower 😞
Getting slower with every 5 k
