I was *so* nervous at the start line surrounded by other runners who looked like they knew what they were doing. It didn't last long though as pretty soon *everyone* had left me behind. I looked around for the fabled Tailrunner - nobody! [edit] OMG I wasn't last! The tail walker & some other people must have been way behind & I just didn't see them! [edit]
At first, I was filled with panic. "I can't do this, what was I thinking? I can't breathe, my chest hurts, I have to stop. Nobody will mind if I just stop now."
Then another little voice (no, not Sarah Millican) "No worries, you got this, you know what to do, slow down, find your pace, it doesn't matter what anyone else does, get your breath back, take control, relax"
And I did! The weather was bloody awful, it was really wet and cold, I really think I was last, but I flipping well did it! I ran the whole 5k, I didn't stop, I totally rock!
Thanks so much for all your help and support, I could not have done it without you guys xxxxxx
Written by
Languid_Lil
Graduate
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Very well deserved and what a way to finish this. I have family near there and that parkrun is on my list of ones to do. Great job... and yeah, the gazelle types are only intimidating for a few seconds! No tailwalker is unusual, makes marshalling a pain. Same time next week then?
I'm so proud for you! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS to you for graduating and completing the parkrun on your own. Here's your graduation donut! 🍩😜
That is slightly worrying that was no tailrunner in sight, unless there was somebody further back than you, as I've seen others mention on here that that is illegal!
EDIT: Looking at the results, you weren't in last position there were others behind you so the tailrunner might have been minutes behind you!
Well done to you for completing the Conwy 5k parkrun, you were not last, the winner ran it in a time of 16.51, the person who was last (not you) ran it in a time of 53.55.
Thanks for this. I see that I need to make a plan to keep me running, and I need to keep it sensible so that I can continue without injury.
My original aim was to do a Parkrun in November but I guess I blew that out of the water lol. Then, when it became clear to me that I was capable of running 5k (just v e r y v e r y s l o w l y 🐌 - average pace just over 10 mins/km) my goal was to work towards a sub-50 minute Parkrun. Astonishingly, I actually managed that yesterday - absolutely amazing. So my goals over the next 2 months are consolidatory:
* continue running - 2x or 3x per week
* aim for 2x 35 minute runs & 1x5k per week, a Parkrun if I can make it.
* gym 2x per week, some strength training plus possibly one of the runs on a treadmill
* after 2 months, start aiming to reduce my Parkrun time. Not before. Of course it *might* happen of its own accord - yesterday was only my 3rd ever 5k so it would be natural to improve a bit, even if I'm not concentrating on improvement.
I'm not sure how well they are geared to slow runners like us. I had a quick listen to the first one the other day and just the start with the walking to a beat was faster than I normally go when I'm jogging!
That's what puts me off them as well. I definitely do want to speed up a bit but I think I'll be a gradual process. I found myself going far too fast (for me) at the start of the Parkrun and I really had to slow down - I wouldn't have lasted 5 minutes at that speed. I thought I'd try the Nike+ ones out, or failing that just have a written plan.
I don't feel my body can cope with going much faster. I tried again this morning for the final minute of 25 and I can feel the extra pressure around my knees and the top of my ankle. I reckon I'll have to shift a couple of stone before I can run faster comfortably. Or maybe I really ought to get a biomechanical analysis done even if it costs an arm and a leg to see what they say.
Wow that's amazing, awesome, well done you. I finally did my first parkrun yesterday, well over a year since I registered and a whole 15 months after graduating. I used to live in Llanrhos so definitely hope to do the Conway run on a visit back home at some point. It looks like a great course. 😀
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OMG I did it! Graduated!!!
Graduated last week, did my first 5k this morning
Graduation Run - I DID IT 👩🎓 
