My First Parkrun :-)

[pianoteacher]

Did my Week 7 Run 1 this morning in my first ever Parkrun!

I turned up with my barcode and literally no idea what to do. Found a steward who explained to me there would be new runners briefing which would explain everything - everyone was very friendly and helpful. Met and chatted to some other new runners.

Did my run exactly as scheduled. This meant walking for the first 5 mins so I started at the back. Moved my way through the field and ran my alloted 25 mins. Was within sight of the finish when the timer told me to walk. Thought about running on but heard Oldfloss' voice in my head very sternly telling me to stick to the programme Sorry Oldfloss I'm sure you're not stern but you are in my head!

Think I finished in less than 35 mins as my timer went off again as I was waiting to be scanned!

To anyone who is considering Parkrun I would urge you to give it a go. There were all sorts of people there - some very fast, some slow, some doing walking running intervals, others walking the whole route. There is also a back walker so you can't actually come last!

All being well I intend to do my 28 mins run in it next week.

Happy Running everyone x

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Thanks for posting this. Well done - I’m tempted now to do W8R3 as a park run next week...

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Go for it! It was really enjoyable

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Do it! I started in week 1 and walked it. 12 weeks on I’m at 33 minutes 👍🏽 they’re the best things ever!

[Denbo64 Graduate]

I also did my first one this morning!!

Slower than yours but ran all the way which is what I aim to do!

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Denbo64]

Brilliant! Think I would have been a lot slower if I'd run all of it. I overtook a lot of people towards the end because I knew I was going to walk the last bit. Needless to say they all overtook me when I started walking

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

You did a great job pianoteacher!😊

Well done on your first Parkrun and for sticking to your session properly...(and especially for listening to Oldfloss' advice!)

Warm ups and warm downs are so important, and gentle stretches after your warm down walk can help.

Glad to hear you had fun!😊x

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Thank you!

It would have been easy to have got swept up in it all and carried on running for the line but I really, really don't want to get injured x

[veniceinperil Graduate]

Well done! Wish I had the confidence to try a park run. Have to say I did run 30 mins on one of my week 7 runs, just to test myself as have my Race for Life in 4 weeks. Back to week 8, run 1 tomorrow.

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to veniceinperil]

I'm sure you will enjoy it if you give it a try.

Good Luck with Race for Life x

[veniceinperil Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

Thank you.

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to veniceinperil]

Honestly just go for it. People misunderstand and think they’re for running elites. I walked my first one!

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Well done! That's amazing!

[sallenson Graduate]

Wowsa hon! You did it! Good for you. And clearly loved every minute of it. And were disciplined about staying on plan. Terrific job!!

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Thank you! Hope to see you and your wife down there in the near future

[sallenson Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

You're a fan then?

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Really enjoyed it! Not the running part obviously - that's hardwork

But the sense of achievement at the end was amazing. Think I'm going to bore everyone to death talking about it

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

I still do 12 weeks on.

[sallenson Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

I'm feeling some subtle pressure being applied by both of you now lol. I'll be there don't worry. Give me a few weeks. Need to get through W4 this week without expiring, melting or exploding...

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to sallenson]

Haha! We'll have to think of a way to make ourselves known to one another.

Good Luck with week 4

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

You did amazingly... really well done.It is easy to get carried away.. and mostly folk do manage without injury..but, we do have to advise caution..

Your run sounds to have been really great and what a great time too By the time you Graduate, I bet you will be doing it in less than 30 minutes!!!

Go you

PS

I only sound stern.., I am really quite nice xx

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Haha! Really pleased with the result - did it in 32:37 even with the 5 mins walk at the beginning!

Never run until 6 weeks ago - always believed I would be terrible at it. It is a very flat, very fast course though. Will walk the beginning again next week - hopefully the 28 mins will mean I get to the finish line running x

[Mumsygill Graduate]

Wow well done you!! Thank you also for explaining a bit more about the park run . Lots of people talk about them but never been sure what it’s really all about!

Love the fact that you stuck to the programme too. You’re a star!! X

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Mumsygill]

Thank you! I'd never even heard of it until I stumbled accross my local one completely by accident when I went out for my normal run in about Week 2 or 3. Thought it must be something for "serious" runners that you would have to pay to enter. Came home and googled it and was very pleasantly surprised to see not only that it was free but very inclusive x

[Marvo69 Graduate]

Well done you! As you know, I got carried away, (oldfloss is secretly cross!) but I agree the park run experience was great! You'll make your Army time, no problem! Did you do Hastings park run? Is it flat?!!

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Marvo69]

Thank you! After today I think now that I can make the time unfortunately I've been rejected because I'm blind as a bat. In the process of appealing (going in as a Musician - don't panic!) but reckon I'll keep running whatever the outcome.

Yeah it was Hastings and it is pretty much completely flat - I wouldn't have managed that time if there were hills

[Marvo69 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

Wish you the best of luck with your appeal and the running! This seems life changing! See you in Hastings one day!

[Keels_x Graduate]

Love this post!!!!

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Keels_x]

Thank you!

I'm not really sure I can describe how good it felt - I was absolutely terrible at all sport at school and was last in absolutely everything I ever did. To realise that all you have to do is compete against yourself is such a revelation - can't wait for the next one to try and improve my time

[Ripcurlrana71]

Woohoo we’ll done!! I’m doing my first one on Saturday as part of my Week 9 Run! Great to hear your positivity about it. 💪🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Enjoy it! It's a fantastic experience

Is yours a seafront route too?x

[Ripcurlrana71 in reply to pianoteacher]

No ours is in the park. Did the route as part of week 7 but was pooped by the end of it! And there is one small hill. Hoping I’ll do better with my 30 min run. 😊

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Ripcurlrana71]

Good to check it out first - I'm sure you'll be fine

[Mamabear5 Graduate]

I would love to do one but the nearest two to me are both about 20 mins drive and start at 9 on a sat , so childcare is an issue , my town had been discussing having one for ages but venue is the problem

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Mamabear5]

Oh that's a shame! Hope they get it sorted - it really is a wonderful thing to take part in x

[Mamabear5 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

Sounds it and would be nice now I've graduated to do some to keep the interest up

[Lydia-jg Graduate]

What a great idea! I’m still on a treadmill but that sounds like. Good way to get off the belt 👍🏻

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Lydia-jg]

Definitely - go for it!