Park run

[Garden17]

I did the park run today it was a disaster don’t think are being doing it again felt out of my Comfort zone all the way but was not last but it felt like it that the first time I done 5k back to running on my own

[Hidden]

I feel uncomfortable on the rare occasions I see another runner or walker when I'm out in the mornings doing this thing. I can't even imagine running in a pack! You were really brave to do this.

[mrrun Graduate]

You tried, you ran, you completed it. How’s that a failure? Unless you signed up in order to win it and set the new 5K world record in process, l can’t see what qualifies as failure here tbh.

[Equi-geek Graduate]

Huge congratulations for completing the run and sorry you didn’t enjoy the experience. But now you can say you’ve done it, and be proud... and you have learned something new about your running, even if that learning is ‘nah!’.... Keep enjoying your running and put it behind you 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻💪💪⭐️⭐️

[Oldlady57]

Bless you Garden17. Sounds like you put some pressure on yourself? The fact you completed 5k is awesome 👏 & should be proud of yourself. Taking ourselves out of our comfort zone is always hard (it’s easier to stick to what we are comfortable with)l hope you complete another park run so you an put your gremlins to bed . Congrats on finishing 👏👏👏

[Garden17]

Think I tried to hard not to be last which I was not but they go so quick and that not me I take my time back to my run on my own it’s better for me I will try again at some point

[Equi-geek Graduate in reply to Garden17]

Ouch, yes, that’s a tough expectation - because you can only control what you do, not how everyone else performs, so running along with ‘not being last’ in your head feels out of control - not nice! You also beat everyone who was too scared, too unfit, hungover, still in bed, or even elite guys on the IC 😉 You did 5k timed run and you finished 👍🏆🏅✅

[Garden17]

It’s been a shock to me thinking I was ready for a 5k when I was so not

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Garden17]

ParkRuns are great if you go with the right expectations of yourself. Ignore all the speedy ones. If we worried about them, no one would go. You’ve got a time to beat for next week if you go. Like I said, I walked week 1 and have just gradually improved since then. The only person you need to chase is yourself. Try a busy ParkRun so there are more people towards the back. Please don’t be put off. Walk/jog with the tail walker next time if you’d prefer 👌🏽

[Irish-John Graduate in reply to Garden17]

But you are ready for a 5K Maybe not a 'ParkRun Gazelle' 5k - but you certainly ARE a 5K Runner

One of the hardest things to do in a 'race' ( which is why a bunch of us are starting to refer to 'races' as 'events' - none of us are going to win the Boston Marathon anyway is to run your OWN 'race' (event).

The fear of being left behind, the fear of 'people will laugh at me', the natural competitive instinct that led man down from the safety of the trees in the first place to the much more intriguing tall grasslands, the sheer uncertainty of 'what should I be doing' that we get in

ANY new endeavor, our own image of what we 'should' be like and so on and so on.

Someone will always be first, someone will always be last. Simples

Personally - if I come in last in any event ( and this US Army Ten Mile race in November will probably be the one for sure LOL ) I intend to do it with STYLE! Only reason I have not so far is that I like to run in community/charity events (aren't those racing wheelchairs FAST!) and while I have literally been passed by decrepit looking old ladies in street clothes, so far there is always someone who is even more decrepit than I.

However - I have it all planned for the inevitable day when I am 'Tail End Charlie' And it will be FUN!

Because - I shall spread my arms out wide, make airplane noises and curve and weave gracefully for the last few yards until I am over that finish line. I will then loudly announce - 'S'ok, I know the race cannot finish until the last person is in, so you can go home now and thank you for your patience ' and wear a big smile on my face.

If you can't be winner - be a SUPERB loser

Keep it slow, keep it steady....keep it fun

Wishing you all the happy miles that await you in your future

[JacquiAM Graduate in reply to Irish-John]

Love this! ☝️👏👏

[ArthurJG Graduate]

If you don't like parkrun you don't have to do it, that's a given of course. But do remember it's a run not a race. I'll be last next week because I've volunteered to be tail walker and I will be walking, because there are always a few people who walk the whole way and do't run at all and I have to stay behind them. There will be other people who complete the 5k in 17 minutes but that won't bother me - I won't even be able to see them!

[Garden17]

I did not say I did not like it I just think I need to do more running then try again

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to Garden17]

Ah right, I thought you meant you weren't going to do it again. (Which would be OK too of course!) But I can certainly understand if you want to get a little bit stronger then have another go. Everybody has their own level of self-confidence. A friend advised me to wait to week 7 or 8 before I tried parkrun and that turned out to be the right advice for me as although I couldn't run it all, I was able to run more than half so I didn't feel too self-conscious. I also chose Montrose because it's a flatter course and there also tends to be a bigger number of beginners and walkers than at some other parkruns near me. But some people don't want to do it till they can run the whole 5k, and others quite happily do one run per week at parkrun starting from week 1 with the one minute runs. You'll know when you're ready.

[RunBrianRun Graduate]

It was a bad run. We all get them. I had mine today too. Why I like Parkrun is because it’s me against myself and with a bunch of other like minded people doing the same. I really don’t care at all where I come p. You’re outside, you’re running, you’re beating all the others still in bed and you’re in the fresh air. Next time I’ll be better because I’ll have run some more and trained harder. Good luck with your next Parkrun 👍

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to RunBrianRun]

Best thing a marshal ever said to me was week 1 while I was walking the whole thing : “60 million people at home on the couch and you’re here lapping them all”

[MandiV]

Please don’t do that I really was last and it was fine!!!

[Ritmo Graduate]

My first one yesterday and the place was full of gazelles. I was way at the back. Quite a young, fit crowd. I would've liked a few walkers.

[amanda2463]

Although I can run 5k I still haven’t had the confidence to do the park run so well done for signing up and having a go 😀😀😘

[Beccym Graduate]

You got round that's the most important thing.

Worthing has a lot of fast runners so try not to let it worry you. You have a starting point and you can see some pbs if you give it another go.

Running with others isn't for everyone. But don't write off doing it again.

I marshalled at Hove prom yesterday a and I have more admiration for those near or at the back takes more courage then the elites. One of the men yesterday at the back told me he was on target for pb and was so chuffed massive smile.

You could try going back to intervals for it.

[Halfpintgill Graduate]

My first Parkrun (I have done 6 now) was scary, I really didn't like the gazelles lapping me at all, ours is a 3 lap run. But once I got my head round that and realised I was there for just me I managed a pb the following week. Now I am addicted! Perhaps volunteer a few times to get the 'feel' of being involved, I tried it one week and now I am more 'known' 😊

[Garden17]

I going try again but not yet need run a bit quicker first

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Garden17]

You don’t. But that’s your choice 😍

[Garden17 in reply to Tasha99]

I to slow got left behind

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Garden17]

It doesn’t matter. No one is bothered except you ❤️

[Garden17 in reply to Tasha99]

That the trouble it does bother me I don’t no why

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to Garden17]

You’ll get faster and gradually care less about comparing yourself to others. I think we were all like that early on. Keep going. You’ll see progress for sure 👌🏽

[Garden17 in reply to Tasha99]

Ok thank you

[martinhermanus]

5 km parkrun it's all about getting out there and just doing it. First or last ... just do it and then after many months you get faster. I don't like running or any exercise but my body loves it. I feel great for 24 hours!

[bairnbroon]

I’ve signed up for park run and have yet to go out today for W1R3. I aimed to do it at the end of the C25k programme. You’ve done it now!!! That’s huge. I’m so self conscious about my ‘running’ but have been reassured that nobody will be looking at me, from reading all the replies you got. It’s a weird programme, I dread getting my trainers on, but equally I’ve committed to it so I’ll do it and then feel awesome or wanting to die afterwards (from my grand experience of 2 wk 1 runs lol) xx. Hopefully today will be an awesome day. Wishing you all the best if you do park run again. Dont beat yourself over the back with a stick; I’m guessing you’re female?? We tend to do that sometimes. 🙄🙄