First Parkrun!!!

Morning keen runnerbeans...

Well, I only went and did it! I did the Marple parkrun this morning, first time ever I’ve run with other people, and it was really really hard, but fun too.

Of course I got caught up with the crowd, and despite my best intentions, my first 0.5k took 5:41, which I couldn’t sustain. There were a couple of small but intense hills which nearly killed me, but with all the cheering on, I managed it in 35 minutes. Certainly one of the slower runners, but, a run is a run, and I did it!!

The biggest crisis was that I hadn’t tied my new running shorts tight enough, and they started to slip down after the first 100m lol

I tell you what though, never has a cup of tea tasted so good!

Happy running

Neil

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Thank goodness our Parkrun is flat. Well Done 316neil. Whatever your level, It’s very supportive isn’t it? 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[mfamilias Graduate]

35 minutes is excellent. Well done! I run alone too, but the occasional run with the herd does miracles for the morale. It's a reassuring reminder that there are lots of other people like you out there in their slipping-down shorts

[Ang33333 Graduate]

Well done for completing it! 35 mins is fast!

I'm going to walk my local park run course this week to see how bad the hill is. I hate hills!

[Bridget007 Graduate]

Well done! That is speedy! 😃

[Myrar Graduate]

Well done that's a great time ...I'm a snail mine would be more like 45 ..Still to do a parkrun building myself up to it lol 😊😊

[Hidden in reply to Myrar]

Thanks! I was definitely slow compared to the others. Not completely last, but it was quite sobering in a way, as I thought I was getting on reasonably with speed! And actually my official time was 34:23 which was a little faster than my inaccurate time...

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Hidden]

I think that's a pretty respectable time. I am just under 35 mins at the moment so about the same. These sub 30s are either young runner beans or have probably been doing it for a wee while now. My first 5 was 45 minutes so over time I think you naturally get faster through your speed work and improving form with strength.

[Myrar Graduate in reply to Richard7]

That's good to know as I think my snail pace would be around this mark ...Just getting to 30 min will be my achievement for now 😊

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Hidden]

It's a very respectable time. Where you place depends a bit on the demographic of your Parkrun I think. If you'd done that today at my local one 108 people would have been slower than you. It's really,really flat here so you would probably have gone a bit faster as well

[Kesky Graduate]

First parkrun for me too today what a lovely community feeling! Well done us both.

K

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Kesky]

Well done to you too. You’ll have the ParkRun bug now 💪🏽

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

Well... I did remember about 1.5k in thinking “why would anyone do this more than once”... but I suspect I’ll be back

[Hidden in reply to Kesky]

That’s great - mutual pats on backs I think

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Well done! Everyone should do the ParkRun! You’ll be a regular there now. Mine’s flat luckily 😂

[Hidden in reply to Tasha99]

Thank you! Everyone was really encouraging which was great. This one is flat... ish. The “ish” being the problem lol

[DebJogsOn Graduate]

Great stuff Neil 😊

[Hidden in reply to DebJogsOn]

Why thank you! It tell you, it was hard though, I was shocked at how easy it is to run too fast.

[DebJogsOn Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Am in awe all the same - have never felt brave enough to attempt it - too reminiscent of being rubbish at cross country at school. That and I am a bit of an anti-social runner. Being away from everyone is part of the attraction 😂

[Hidden in reply to DebJogsOn]

I remember cross country at school... it was round the local roads, back when teachers didn't have to fill in so many risk assessment forms etc My mum passed me in the car as I was running. She stopped to say hello, but refused to give me a lift. The cheek of it!!!

But as for park runs, daft as it sounds, I personally didn't have as much of an issue with the crowds as I thought I would. I'm also an antisocial runner, in fact, probably just an antisocial person! Well, maybe just a little, but it didn't trouble me. I was more concentrating on my body screaming at me to slow down

If you can find a nice flat one near you, you could always wander down on a Saturday morning and talk to one of the marshalls, you could just not run. I suspect you'd totally smash it if you did though

Neil

[DebJogsOn Graduate in reply to Hidden]

That is very kind of you to say - but I think not quite true 😂.

I remember cross county like that too. There would be teachers posted at various points but what you got up to in between was up to you really. I remember some of us buying ice creams from the local shop then taking a short cut and another where we went to a friend's house then back to school with one of us limping saying we'd walked back as she'd twisted her ankle!

Best of all though was one time when I actually did complete the whole course properly and then got told off as I must have been up to no good as it had taken me so long 😂😂

No wonder I didn't ever like running!

Maybe I'll get brave over the summer. Will have to find a flat route though - not getting any better at hills!

Happy running 😊

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Well done. That is a fast time, as others have said. My first next weekend.

[Hidden in reply to Jay66UK]

Thank you! Apparently for this park run it was slow-ish, but I’ll take that. Good luck for next week!

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks - it’ll be much slower than yours! But it will be my PB regardless.

[SlowLoris]

Nice one. Neil.

[Hidden in reply to SlowLoris]

Thank you

[Elfe5 Graduate]

Very well done Neil, go you! I will eventually get to a Parkrun when I have redone C25K. 😄

[Hidden in reply to Elfe5]

Thanks Elfe, I was going to say take your time, you have to walk before you can run...

[Saartjie Graduate]

Well done Neil. I look forward to my first one. Had my barcode for 3 years now! 😂

[Hidden in reply to Saartjie]

Thank you! You should do it, it’s fun and actually nice to be with other runners for a change. I was a bit too out of breath to talk to them though

[Saartjie Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Think I will wait until I'm closer to 5k!

[Kar43]

Yay congrats there Neil 😉 I'm still threatening to do a park run 🏃😉

[Hidden in reply to Kar43]

Thanks Kar I’ve had my barcode for a few weeks... been psyching myself up lol

[Kar43 in reply to Hidden]

Lol mines like 8 weeks ago 😉😂 but I will do this 😁I will I will 😉

[Hidden in reply to Kar43]

It's a bit like starting C25K actually, it's mainly a mental battle to get over the start line. Then you've just got to get over the finish line *gulp*

[Richard7 Graduate]

Respect. I still haven't done one. One day but enjoying my solo runs too much at the moment. Keep it up.

[Hidden in reply to Richard7]

Thank you Richard, I always value your wise, considered opinion. Solo runing is fun, and has a lot going for it, and I certainly won't be giving that up any time soon, but for me it was a step towards convincing myself that I am a proper runner now, albeit a bit of a snail it seems I have struggled for years with having a low opinion of myself... I have to say C25K [and you lot!!!] has been brilliant for helping me move on from that.

[Bukovina]

😃Good job!!

[Hidden in reply to Bukovina]

Thank you! Still grinning actually

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

Whoop whoop!!! You’ve been resisting the park run for so long & now, it’s finally happened...a virgin park runner...& one who was nearly streaking too!!! Hope you had a biscuit with your brew of success...well done Neil, proud of you x

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Awwww thank you Mummycav , yes, yes I did. And probably TMI, but I'm glad I wore underwear under my shorts. Sounds daft, but they kind of have a lining built into them which looks kind-of like built in undies. You know, just in case the whole thing ended up round my ankles!!! That would have been awkward lol

My fault for treating myself to some light weight shorts that didn't cut off the circulation to my tummy

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Oh - best thing about your reply there? You called a brew a brew

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Ha ha x

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate]

And that’s a fab time there too 💪🏻💪🏻🏃‍♂️

[Hidden in reply to Mummycav]

Thank you! I am starting to realise that there is a bit of a gulf between what C25K sees as a good time, and what people who frequent running clubs see as a good time. I was pretty happy with my 34 and a bit minutes, until I realised the person with the fastest time did it in half my time. Oh well

It is a timed run for my benefit, and not a competitive race, I need to keep telling myself that.

Question is, do I go back for round 2??

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Hidden ....Now you know what we think about pace, distance & time on here...I know what you mean though but it’s about you, and only you...everyone else is just company...that’s an excellent time Neil, it may improve, it may stay the same...whatever happens you’ve enjoyed it & yep, time for round 2!!!! Why not??? 🤔🏃‍♂️💪🏻

[Sadie-runs Graduate]

Well, I am very proud of you, Neil! You said you were going to do it, and you did it! In a fantastic time, too. Remember, it’s not really a race, aside from competition against yourself. Now I HAVE to do one. 😁

Good work my friend. x

[Hidden in reply to Sadie-runs]

Thanks Sadie-runs , that means a lot. The reason I told you and hinted at it on here was to give myself a bit of accountability, so I would be less likely to change my mind and stay in bed

For what it's worth, I think you'd be brill at parkruns!

[Sarakc Graduate]

Well done that’s brilliant!!! 😀👍🏃‍♂️

[Hidden in reply to Sarakc]

Thank you - I still can't quite believe it myself. Looking at your profile page though, seems you're not doing so bad yourself, what with all the 10ks!!!

[Sarakc Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Aww thanks! I’ve only done one proper Parkrun since graduating! (Working Saturdays prevents it unfortunately plus nearest one is quite a drive away.)

It felt quite unreal running with so many people and I’m sure I ran faster than I really should have! I’d definitely do another one! 😀

[Mansbird Graduate]

Fantastic, well done you 🎉

[Hidden in reply to Mansbird]

Thank you! Never thought I'd be doing any sort of public running event type thing, I can tell you!!

[Cornet-Carolyn Graduate]

That's a brilliant time Neil, well done 👍 I completed my 14th park run in 31 mins today so very happy too. Love park runs!

[Richard7 Graduate in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

👍

[Hidden in reply to Cornet-Carolyn]

Wow Carolyn, you've been doing really well. Congratulations. And thank you for your encouragement. From a seasoned park run veteran such as yourself, that means a lot

[quirkybee Graduate]

Can't fault that at all Neil, my first and only park run was 46 minutes and it was my graduation too, so there you go, pretty slow. I had to go with someone, I'd never have gone on my own, so I'm really chuffed for you. You mastered the hills too, that's good going and you had to cope with your slippy trainer x 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♂️👏👏👍

[Claireednet]

Well done! I’m building up the guts to

Do a park run