Parkrun 7 and TWO PBs... If I can you certainly can!!!

[Kingfisherk26]

Apologies. I have just read this post through and it sounds like a sermon... you can tell I am a school teacher!

Can I start by saying that the aim of this post is to give encouragement to anyone who is starting C25k or thinking about doing a Parkrun.

I graduated C25k on my 51st Birthday last April and since then I have tried to keep up with my running.

Well, this morning I have had my best ever Parkrun.

This fat 51 year old, red faced, muttering to himself (I have this habit of saying "come on fat boy run" when I start to flag), sweaty bloke has just /just about managed a sub 35 min 5k, by 6 seconds... 34:54 min. My second PB was my fastest 1k of 6:33 which I am even happier about as my previous pb of 6:48 was back in Sept when I set out to run 1k as fast as I could.

OK....ok.... I know its not going to worry the Olympic selectors but just under a year ago I was starting the C25K program and found running a couple of minutes hard. I was out of breath going up the stairs at work. I got to the stage of not weighing myself anymore because I was pushing 19 stone... and I'm not exactly tall (I am now 16 stone 4 ... so still a way to go weight wise but...)

After today's run I sought out the chap wearing the "organisers bib" and thanked him and the volunteers. He seemed surprised... perhaps the world would be a better place if we said "thank you" more often!

My family made the right sort of noises about my "achievement" but I know that they don't really get it. They don't really get how C25K and parkrun have changed my life ... I suspect that you, reader, might.

I've still a way to go and age isn't on my side. As many have posted the C25K program is fantastic but its biggest problem is the name. It should be "C2runningfor30minutes" which while more accurate isn't very snappy. For me 5k in 30mins is a long way off and I need to remember I will be slower than today in future Parkruns.

Enough of this waffle...

If you are starting C25k well done and keep going.

If you are thinking about stating it... do it ASAP.

If you are wondering about Parkrun do what I did... go along for a look so you know whats what and then have ago. Today, as usual, I was towards the back, though I am SLOWLY moving up the field, and was lapped by many many people. But when I rang the "personal best bell" my local Parkrun has people I don't know were genuine in the congratulations they offered.

If I can do it anyone can. As another poster has written (its sounds like the sort of thing oldfloss would say) ... as soon as you start you are already ahead of those people sitting at home doing nothing.

Happy running!

[ClarkeyCat Graduate]

Congratulations on your PB! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[runswithdogs Graduate]

Woohoo! Congratulations. I wish we had a PB bell. That must be so satisfying!

[Kingfisherk26 Graduate in reply to runswithdogs]

At the end I was flagging... My determination to ring that bell and do a post like this kept me going. I confess I am "King sad of the sad people"!! Lol.

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

Congrats and yup, we get it! I found your post inspiring, not sermon-like 😁. Thanks for sharing!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Great post, the sort of motivation, and positivity, that we all need at whatever stage we are at

Sticking at something, enjoying it and doing it your own pace...your family should be extremely proud of you and for you.

Very, very well done you !

PS

Yes, we ex-teachers/teachers are recognisable, even at a distance

[peaplodder]

Wonderful ! Congratulations.

[Gabby08 Graduate]

Ha! I drive everyone I know mad with my parkrun/C25k sermons! From one enthusiastic school teacher to another, huge congratulations! 😀

[Trying2run Graduate]

Nice one. I’m scared to do a park run in exactly equal measure to really wanting to do one-which is an odd feeling

[Kingfisherk26 Graduate in reply to Trying2run]

Go for it Trying2run its great. there are people of all shapes sizes and abilities at the one I go to. There are a couple of people who are 85. There are people who go round my local park with dogs, kids and pushchairs... at the other end there are sub 18 minuters at the front.

A lot of people run a bit and walk abit... I understand this is a well known running technique called Jeffing.

I too was a bit worried about Parkrun...mainly of making a prat of myself but I'm afraid I'm a history teacher so on the subject of being a bit scared I will quote a man viewed by many as one of the greatest American Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt: “Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”

The biggest thing with Parkrun is don't forget to take a copy of your bar-code or you wont get a time.

let us know haw you get on.

[Trying2run Graduate in reply to Kingfisherk26]

Thank you. I will. I too teach so well used to embarrassment 😂

[Kingfisherk26 Graduate in reply to Trying2run]

Excellent... so doing a Parkrun is your homework! No Homework= detention. lol

[Razouski]

Excellent post, really encouraging. 🤓

[Maddee_6333 Graduate]

Congratumalations 🥇

[Theziggy Graduate]

The best way to thank Parkrun is to volunteer!

[Kingfisherk26 Graduate in reply to Theziggy]

Well said.. its on my 2018 to do list!