So...my first Parkrun: So i did it and got a PB... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,680 members β€’ 158,718 posts

So...my first Parkrun

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate
β€’60 Replies

So i did it and got a PB to boot. Official time was 35.39 so good old Sam Sung not too far off. I really enjoyed it. Don't know why my speed looks so up and down as my cadence and pace were pretty constant throughout. And it's a flat route!

Anyway...no longer a PR virgin and know what to expect next time...and there will be a next time πŸ˜€

Happy running everyone πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ

Written by
Saartjie profile image
Saartjie
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
60 Replies
β€’
David_G profile image
David_G

Well done Saartjie! Congratulations on your performance. πŸ˜€πŸ‘πŸ‘

I’m beginning to love Parkrun now. It’s great to run with other people, it’s so well organised and everyone seems friendly. 😊

Good luck with your next one, 🀞🀞

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to David_G

Thanks David! The marshall was so helpful when I arrived and said I hadn't been before. Explained how it all worked. Then all the newbies got a round of applause before we started...such a nice touch. Will definitely go again now I've broken that first time barrier!

Jay66UK profile image
Jay66UKGraduate

Yay! Well done Saartjie. And what an event to get a pb. πŸ‘

Glad you had a great experience. Did you say it was flat? I may have to visit one day as it’s not very far from me.

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Jay66UK

Yep definitely flat! Come and join me πŸ˜€

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

Fantastic! Love a good ParkRun!

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Tasha99

Thanks Tasha. I will definitely go again 😊

telford_mike profile image
telford_mikeGraduate

That’s a great time, you must be chuffed!

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to telford_mike

Really pleased! Flat and overcast worked for me today πŸ˜‰

LoungeLizaard profile image
LoungeLizaardGraduate

Love it well done! ❀️❀️

Just about to write up mine πŸ˜€

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to LoungeLizaard

Look forward to it!

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Very well done:)

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

Thank you! Hope you are recovering quickly Oldfloss πŸ™‚

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate in reply to Saartjie

MRI, Friday next! Thank you!

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Oldfloss

Fingers crossed for good news 🀞

QueenTea profile image
QueenTeaGraduate

That’s amazing - well done!! X

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to QueenTea

Thank you! Very proud of myself today 😊

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate

Well done saartjie on your first Parkrun. It looks a lovely route around the water and all one loop without doubling back on yourself. According to your map you can run on water too - that’s incredible.

πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Dexy5

Haha! Didn't even notice that! Who knew? There's no end to my talents πŸ˜‚

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to Saartjie

This girl can 🀣

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Dexy5

πŸ˜‚

Cornet-Carolyn profile image
Cornet-CarolynGraduate

Well done that's a great time πŸ‘

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Cornet-Carolyn

Thank you!

KazH01 profile image
KazH01Graduate

Fantastic Saartjie. I’ve signed up for ParkRun and got my codes but just don’t feel quite ready 😳 I graduated C25K 2 weeks ago but can’t seem to break the 10min/km barrier and finding the 50 mins a real challenge. Thinking about dropping back to 30 mins and trying instead to up my pace ??

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to KazH01

Can you break 10min/km over say 200m and rest for 2 then repeat? A day doing that for 7 reps could kick your body to produce some speed in those legs. Have a look at 5k running plans and you should see interval/speed and recovery days.

KazH01 profile image
KazH01Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore

Thanks will do

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to KazH01

Don't struggle. I am about a month after graduation and only just doing 5ks. I have built up slowly. Please don't risk hurting yourself. And there were plenty of people run-walking the Parkrun. X

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate in reply to Saartjie

Or just walking...πŸ˜‰

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to KazH01

Hello Kaz, not sure if I've misunderstood . You aren't trying To run for 50 minutes only 2 weeks after graduation are you? The advice is to consolidate with 3 X 30 minute runs for 3 weeks and then just increase one run by 10% each week. If you aren't doing that but you are worried that you need to do it for parkrun, have no fear.

All you need to do is walk the 1st 5 minutes and run 30 minutes and then walk the rest. Lots of people walk it all so there is no pressure. It is very supportive so you might find it boosts your confidence.

KazH01 profile image
KazH01Graduate in reply to Dexy5

Thanks Dexy5 - I am definitely intending to sign up for next Sat am. And yes I can run the 50 mins (well jog anyway) with not too much trouble it’s just that I am doing it at the same pace as I used in prep for the Moonwalk 5 yrs ago! But ... I am definitely running it πŸ€ͺ I just had a bad morning trying too hard to go faster that I wore myself out by 2K and felt ill. Not giving up though but going to ease off my obsession for increasing pace for now

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to KazH01

But what I am saying is that by staying at 30 minutes running for 3 weeks, as advised, it gives your body chance to build both strength and stamina and will avoid the risk of injury. This consolidation is as important as the journey to graduation. That doesn’t mean you can’t do the 30 minutes run at Parkrun. There will lots of people walking as well as running πŸšΆβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸšΆβ€β™‚οΈπŸƒβ€β™‚οΈπŸšΆβ€β™€οΈπŸšΆβ€β™‚οΈ

KazH01 profile image
KazH01Graduate in reply to Dexy5

Got it . I’m dropping back to 30 mins and re-engaging week 9 with Jo Whiley from tomorrow

Fatdad71 profile image
Fatdad71Graduate

Well done Saartjie, showing us all how it's done! 🍾🍾🍾

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Fatdad71

Not sure about that! But thank you πŸ˜€

Fatdad71 profile image
Fatdad71Graduate in reply to Saartjie

Well I've not been on a park run, but the more I read about others doing it and having positive experiences the more encouraged I feel. Maybe some day soon!

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Fatdad71

You should!

F4TMAN profile image
F4TMAN

Well done, very respectable time too!

I'm thinking about going along and having a go next week. Any tips for a newbie?

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to F4TMAN

Hello F4TMAN , if you haven’t graduated, do your normal c25k walk/run and then walk the rest. Register on the Parkrun website, print off the barcodes, and start at the back of the runners. They will ask if anyone is new and they will give you a separate brief on the rules and the course. I did my first Parkrun as a post grad celebration run but many have done it before graduation. It is very supportive.

F4TMAN profile image
F4TMAN in reply to Dexy5

OK cheers!

I'm just starting w7 but comfortably exceeding the schedule for one longer run each week - I ran a full 30 minutes today and covered 4.3km so I'm definitely within parkrun territory. My main concern is that I've not run with anyone else before, let alone hundreds of people.

I think I'll probably walk the first 5 min, let everyone spread out a bit then aim to run to the end...

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to F4TMAN

Good idea to do the walk first. I love running with others so Parkrun is my favourite run of the week.

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to F4TMAN

What Dexy said. But yes I kind of found a space do was almost running on my own. Was nice having the support though. I went to chat to one of the marshalls before it started to see what to do which helped. Enjoy if you go πŸ™‚

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate in reply to F4TMAN

Good plan 😁

Crittermad profile image
CrittermadGraduate

That’s a fantastic time, you must be so chuffed. Have you just been running or actively trying to get faster? When I looked at our local parkruns results page I think I would be almost last - that means the walkers would be as fast as me!

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Crittermad

Not at all. Have done 5k only 2x before and both were around 38 mins. I think the flat route and cooler weather definitely helped. It just clicked and the running felt easy (i use that term loosely!) I was 11th in my age group. Quite amazed myself 😁

Crittermad profile image
CrittermadGraduate in reply to Saartjie

πŸ˜‚ I looked at the results of my local and I would be last - but that doesn’t include the β€˜parkrun effect’. Still a brilliant time - I am in awe πŸ™ŒπŸ™ŒπŸ™Œ πŸ˜€

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to Crittermad

I would say go for it...there are super fast people lapping you but i am never going to be them. I just ran my own run and it happened to be a good one! Tried not to get caught up in the moment and go off too fast. Couldn't have gone much further at the end though! X

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate in reply to Crittermad

No-one comes last - there is a tail-runner that takes that slot πŸ˜‰

Dexy5 profile image
Dexy5Graduate in reply to Crittermad

But you’ll never be last Crittermad as that will be the tail walker

mountaindreamer profile image
mountaindreamerGraduate

Yay! Glad you enjoyed it! So are you joining me on the Magic 10k bus now then? πŸ˜ƒβ€οΈ

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to mountaindreamer

I said I was going to do a few 5ks and see how I felt but am starting to feel the peer pressure!

mountaindreamer profile image
mountaindreamerGraduate in reply to Saartjie

Nooooo...you just do what you want to do whenever you feel ready.

No pressure. Just encouragement if you want it. ❀️

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to mountaindreamer

I know πŸ€—

Absolutely fantastic! And the Samsung did you proud. Still getting round to trying mine!

Great run, fab day! Bring on the next eh...! 😊😘

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to

Absolutely! Am just loving improving with every run! X

in reply to Saartjie

Improving or consolidating, getting those miles under your trainers is fabulous! Who'd have thought running could be this much fun! 😁😘

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to

I think I did know but never thought it would be me! Love it 😍

HoagyM profile image
HoagyMGraduate

Great stuff, well done Saartjie πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ₯‡

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to HoagyM

Cheers me dear!

_SimonT_ profile image
_SimonT_Graduate

πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»πŸ‘πŸ»Saartjie!

Super run and great time! You are a running superstar! πŸ’«

Saartjie profile image
SaartjieGraduate in reply to _SimonT_

Haha! Thanks Simon 😊

Equi-geek profile image
Equi-geekGraduate

πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸ‘πŸŽ“πŸ‘πŸŽ“πŸŽ“πŸΎπŸΎπŸΎ

You may also like...

First Parkrun -so proud!

be solitary at times, (which I don't mind) but to meet like minded people who 'get' why you run and...

My first parkrun πŸ˜‰πŸ†

walking a few times but I was getting fatigued so I’m going to try and not stop next time as I’ve...

My first Parkrun - update

and there were a couple of small hills (which I barely noticed?!), but it was great. There were...

My first Parkrun on Saturday.

jogging routes (flat simple along the canal towpath routes at that!) and this will be my first time...

Graduated with my first parkrun!

wanted my graduation run to be 5k no matter what the time! It was such an amazing experience (to...