W10R2 - First Parkrun! 😃🏃‍♀️❤️

[mountaindreamer]

Tackled my first Parkrun this morning.😃 It was to be a morning of firsts - first time I’d run as late as 9am (thankfully Birkenhead Park turned out to have a course mostly shaded by trees, as well as flat, and with a bit of a breeze the heat didn’t seem too bad) and first time I’d eaten before running (oats 2 hours before didn’t cause any bad issues). 😊

Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, but it felt weird being surrounded by over 400 other runners. I should also never have trusted my husband when he said he’d stay with me for my first run - that didn’t last long before he got too competitive and shot off! 😂

I didn’t need to worry about getting left behind on my own, though, or getting lost. As the current route for this Parkrun is 3 laps of the park (apparently they are changing it soon), we found ourselves getting lapped at speed by the top end of the field. Managed to keep things steady, and pleased to finish in 29min 21sec. Not at all surprised to see my phone & Runkeeper only gave me a 4.91km distance. Come on Runkeeper, this is supposed to be an “accurately measured 5k” - why do you always have to be so stingy! 😂😂😂

[Jay66UK Graduate]

Well done. And a great smile with it!

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

Not sure if that’s a real smile...more of an “I’ve finished, and I wanted the loo before we even started...now we’ve got to drive home again before I get to go!!!”😂🤣🤣😂

To be honest, the nice volunteer we met at the start did tell me to go and find a secluded tree when I asked if there were any loos open yet nearby - but that somehow seems more acceptable out in the countryside than in a public park! 😐❤️

[Jay66UK Graduate in reply to mountaindreamer]

That explains the shot being mid “hopping from foot to foot”!

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Jay66UK]

😂😂

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Well Done on your first Parkrun mountaindreamer. An excellent time too. Not sure if I’d like to be overtaken several times by the whippets though. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy5 - they overtook us all only once at least, it’s just the speed difference that comes as a shock... These guys run the whole course in 16mins!!! 😲😲Thankfully they have the finishing “funnel” off a path to the side of the main circuit, though, otherwise I think it would be chaos! 😊

[theoldfellow]

I can't do it next week, I'm away at a conference, but I plan to join the parkrun the week after - I'm hoping it will be a bit cooler by then but, knowing my luck, the Monsoon will arrive.

Well done you!

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to theoldfellow]

Thanks - if it’s still hot then hopefully your course will have good tree coverage too. The shade made a big difference. I did carry a bit of water in case, but didn’t need it. I’ve already got my lightweight waterproof ready for if Monsoons hit! (I learnt that getting soaked weeks ago, when I was terrified my phone and Fitbit wouldn’t survive the drenching...) 😊❤️

[Berksrover Graduate]

Great time!

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Berksrover]

Thanks ❤️ I think I may have found the flattest Parkrun, which is all run on smooth tarmac! 😂

[Berksrover Graduate in reply to mountaindreamer]

Not done one yet, but maybe soon...

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Berksrover]

It was good fun, so I’d recommend trying one. Having read Jay66UK’s account of his first (very hilly!) go, I deliberately looked for our nearest flat one. Was a bit taken aback when a volunteer chatting to us started referring to “the hill”, though! 😳 Thankfully “the hill” turned out to be so gradual that we didn’t notice it until the easier downhill bit after it. 😌 Shady trees were also a big benefit in this heat, if you have different nearby courses to choose from.

[Saartjie Graduate]

Well done! A great time too 🏃‍♀️👍

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Saartjie]

Thanks - glad I tried one. We enjoyed it enough to plan to go back next week. Think we’ll stick to this shady one until cooler weather arrives...

[LoungeLizaard Graduate]

Better than me! I couldn’t get out of my pit in time to get there! Lol.

Well done!

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to LoungeLizaard]

Thanks - I was more worried it was so late in the morning and I’d overheat! (This running lark seems to have got me eagerly getting up just to run at silly hours...😯)

[owmeknees]

Well done, great time! 👏👏👏

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to owmeknees]

Thanks - I know it’s all about us just getting out there and running, but as the only entrant today sporting “NHS C25k” as my running club, I was glad to feel I’d not disgraced us all! 😃❤️🏃‍♀️

[owmeknees in reply to mountaindreamer]

You did us proud 👍

[Crittermad Graduate]

Well done! great time 👏👏👏

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Crittermad]

Thanks! ❤️ You can just about spot my mint green trainers in the bottom of the photo! 👟🏃‍♀️😃

[Crittermad Graduate in reply to mountaindreamer]

😂 I did spot them - I have a lot of black too - and a mint green top en route 😜

[MelsieJay Graduate]

Yay Birkenhead Park. I grew up there and used to work at Barclays Park branch, sadly not there now, (couldn’t cope when I left to move down south🙃) opposite the scented garden for the blind. What a brilliant place for a long run xx

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

Don’t laugh, but I’ve lived at the other end of The Wirral for 20 years now, and this was the first time I’d been to Birkenhead Park! Nice place. Haven’t seen a scented garden yet, but we plan to return next Saturday, and I’m guessing that’s in the other half of the park. The Parkrun goes around the lake end. 😊❤️

[MelsieJay Graduate in reply to mountaindreamer]

It’s by the traffic lights by Park station. Well done for your run. Well jel here!! 🤗

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to MelsieJay]

You’ll hopefully be back out again before too long. Injuries stink, but be gentle with yourself and let yourself heal first. Running will be waiting for you again when you’re ready. ❤️❤️

[Hidden]

Looks like you had a great day! Minus the abandonment and pee-pee dance! Loved this post 💕

[mountaindreamer Graduate in reply to Hidden]

It was fun, so we’ll hopefully be back next week. No real answer to my need for toilets before the 9am start - shame the park cafe (with loos) doesn’t open until 9am! 😂❤️