1st Park Run

[Ljb71]

Well I decided to bite the bullet today and try my first Park run. I wasn't sure whether to go for it yet as I have only been hitting just over 4km in about 32 minutes post graduation but it has been my goal all through C25K to do a Park Run with my 2 boys. I registered us for the run, printed out our codes and laminated them and got up good and early to have breakfast to give myself time to digest it. It was absolutely pouring and my 2 boys were decidedly unsure!

Around 8.45 though it dried up and we set out on foot a bit nervously for our first Park Run. When we arrived I was surprised at how many people were there but recognised a few familiar faces which was good.

The race organiser called everyone together and made some announcements and I was struck by how encouraging everyone was, clapping us newbies and those from other races.

Next we all made our way to the start line and off we all went. After a few fumbles with my phone to start Runkeeper and my audiobook I settled into my run. In the movement of the crowd I definitely set off faster than my normal pace, although this was unintended! After the first lap of the park I realised and slowed myself to closer to my normal pace but I have to say the first 15 minutes flew by.

All the marshals were very encouraging, smiling and telling everyone they were doing well.

I did have to walk a bit of the 5km as our park has a bit of an elevation and on my 3rd lap of it, I just couldn't keep running, but once I got up I did run again, with only one more short walking break.

As I approached the finish line, I was passed by my 13 year old who had set off like a bullet but hadn't been able to sustain the pace. He was however determined to finish before his mum and finished 2 places before me!

I was handed my token and then went and got it scanned. I finished 182nd out of 205, 59th female and 9th in my age category - my time 39.01. I was well chuffed as before C25K I have never done any running. The programme really does work!

For those of you wavering about doing a Park Run, I would recommend it. It was very different from running by myself as I usually do and I was definitely encouraged to keep going by the marshals and the other runners around me. It was also nice at the end to be told by actual people that I had done well, rather than Jo on the app. One of my 10 year old pupils who has been regularly Park Running even came and told me I had done well!

So my message is just go for it, you will enjoy the experience.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Well done... next time you’ll have that 13yo bullet! Maybe he can learn about pace from his mum?

Hope you’re as proud of yourself as you should be.

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Thanks, there's my next goal!!! My 12 year old listened when I said he needed to go slower and he finished in just over 34 minutes - a hare and the tortoise situation!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Ljb71]

Yup... slow down to speed up.

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

But 13 year olds know everything! 😉

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Ljb71]

It only lasts 10 years or so lol

I wish I’d left home earlier while I still knew it all.

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Definitely the older we get the less we are sure we know!

[RunBrianRun Graduate]

Oh, well done all of you. Love hearing these stories. Fabulous. Go for it. Do another one. Before you know it you’ll be as addicted as me 😂

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to RunBrianRun]

Thanks, I did enjoy it and definitely will try to more 😀

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Love ParkRun ❤️ well done 👌🏽

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

A great atmosphere and totally different to running alone.

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Well Done Ljb71, another Parkrun convert. I hope this will be the first of many for you. I did my 7th since graduation today and just love the community atmosphere and the fact that we can walk to one. It’s great that your kids got involved too .

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Yes Dexy I would love to do more. A great atmosphere as you say and the crowd encourages you to keep going. I was glad of my boys' moral support as I might have chickened out on my own. They really enjoyed it too and definitely better for them than sitting playing the X box! Keep up the good work too 😀

[pianoteacher Graduate]

It's a really good experience isn't it? It's a great way to encourage kids to be active too. I run with my 13 year old and he always out sprints me 😂

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to pianoteacher]

Yes great for them, they like the stats too. They have fresher legs than me - they're definitely feeling tired tonight!

[pianoteacher Graduate in reply to Ljb71]

Yeah it's a really good incentive for them to keep going having a PB to beat too. Conditions were tough at ours today - very very windy on the way back - and I think he may have walked in until I told him he had a good chance of beating his previous best.

My son and I were tailwalkers a couple of weeks back which was a really great experience too x

[Bettyb719 Graduate]

A very encouraging post, thank you! I still have to do my first parkrun, and will probably do it before August is out. I still feel very slow, but I’m getting faster, slowly! Very well done you!

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Bettyb719]

I was nervous before I went but there were all ages and abilities taking part and everyone is made to feel like they are doing well. You will enjoy it 🙂. Keep up the good work!

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Brilliant Ljb I had a fantastic experience at my first Parkrun yesterday too! Your description was perfect! It is a great event to get involved in and just make it fun!! Well done you!! 😁😁❤️

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

I just saw your post and pics - great you could meet up with Equi and run together. You did really well to run the whole thing - I have a wee bit to improve before running the whole 5k but not too much!

[onemdc Graduate]

Sounds great fun I’m on W7R3 and want to park run when I graduate 🏃🏻‍♀️

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to onemdc]

You definitely should. Keep going, you're doing really well.

[Atalaya Graduate in reply to onemdc]

I can highly recommend making an event of your graduation by parkrunning for your last run of the programme. I cried a bit when I realised that not only was I going to finish the 5k but would graduate the programme all at the same time.

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Atalaya]

It would be a great place to graduate - it's a great feeling of achievement. I graduated on holiday in Coniston in the Lake District, a memorable run too. This time last year I would have laughed if you'd told me I would be running on holiday.

[onemdc Graduate in reply to Atalaya]

What a wonderful memory of the end or should I say start of your running journey.

[Agelesslass]

Well done, I’ve yet to do one as scared to run with others even though I am running 8k now. You are an inspiration.

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Agelesslass]

You should go for it, you'd smash it if you're already running 8k - wow!

[Agelesslass in reply to Ljb71]

Thanks very much, I will try and build up the courage to enter one.

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to Agelesslass]

If you can get someone to go with you, it's great moral support!

[snailface Graduate]

That’s a great post I didn’t realise how organised it all is I thought you just turned up.

I’m a long way off from this at the mo but looking forward to the day when I can Park Run. 👊

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to snailface]

It's a great goal to set for yourself 🤗. Keep up the good work - it's hard to keep going in this heat.

[jeffbird Graduate]

fantastic! glad you decided to go for it. Let me know if you ever fancy a change and want to give Stormont a go!

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to jeffbird]

Thanks, I will keep doing Wallace Park for a while but it definitely would be good to try a few others too.

[YamCat]

Thanks for this encouraging post. I’ve just arranged with a friend (who is a park run regular) to do my first one next Saturday

[Ljb71 Graduate in reply to YamCat]

That's great. You'll enjoy it. Let us know how you get on.

[Greyandold]

Well done and a good time. I did my first Park Run two weeks ago and finished in just under 38 minutes, yesterday I did my second Park Run and finished in 39+ minutes. On both runs I walked quite a lot. I think there were over 300 starters and I finished in the last 15! I intend to get a better time. As you say the Park Run has a great atmosphere and it's getting people exercising.