When can I start doing Park runs?

[Pickles1234]

Since I’m only on Week 2 is it too soon to do a park run - or walk as it would be in my case?! I’m not great with crowds so was thinking it would be good to go along and get used to it, maybe have a little bit of a run? Or should I stock purely to C25K for the running until I graduate? P.S. I can’t believe I’m asking this.....!

[Runsome Graduate]

Hi I thought the same as you should I or shouldn’t I parkrun and the guys on these pages convinced me to do it. The only downside was I wish I had done it sooner. Just start at the back let the time chasers run off, you can still use you c25k app or just walk it everyone is friendly wit’s loads of encouragement without any pressure. I guarantee there will be others doing the same as you. there are marshals tail walking so you can’t come last or get left behind. It’s just a really nice thing to do. Why not go down and have a watch and see. Good luck and I hope you feel comfortable enough to take part😀

[Pickles1234 in reply to Runsome]

Thankyou. I might see how I feel - at the moment I don’t even run outside, so it might be a bit too big a leap until I feel I can call myself a runner proper! Desperate to do it though!

[Runsome Graduate in reply to Pickles1234]

Yea that’s cool. There’s no need to push yourself into something you don’t feel comfortable with, carry on with the plan and it won’t be long as the weeks disappear and before you know it it’s graduation. It’s amazing how quickly your body acclimatises thats the beauty of the c25k plan. But if you do get the chance just pay the parkrun a visit as a spectator and just see how much enjoyment people get from it. All the best with the rest of your plan and keep us all in the loop 😀

[Pickles1234 in reply to Runsome]

I will and thanks again for your replies 😘

[Pickles1234 in reply to Runsome]

Sorry meant 😊 not 😘 !

[Runsome Graduate in reply to Pickles1234]

No problem I always hit the wrong buttons 😊

[Hipsandknees]

Hi Pickles1234,

My advice is stuck to the plan. This plan is devised to get you running for 30 minutes and as so many contributors have said before me, you may not , even at the end of this plan, be running a 5k but you will be running for 30 minutes. My fear is that if you join a park run too soon, you may become disheartened particularly if you attempt to run part of the course. Before starting on Cto5k , 6 weeks ago, I used to walk my dog the park run route and was therefore familiar with it and realised just how far it was - this may be something you want to consider. Deviating from the plan could make you more susceptible to injury and delay any progress you will make. This is just my opinion - I am sure you will get a lot more advice from more seasoned advocates of this programme than I. Whatever your decision, have fun and good luck

[Pickles1234 in reply to Hipsandknees]

Thankyou 😊

[AnnieW55]

The long answer is:

There are two answers - start Park Run or wait 😀.

As you are not great with crowds, and are obviously thinking of doing PR at some point why not go along to the one you are thinking of to see what it is like? Although PR is all inclusive I think some can be quite competitive and if you find yourself in one of those it might put you off for a while. Look at the PR times for that event so you have an idea of the times of the tail runners -NOT the first finishers 😄. You could also volunteer to marshal which would ease you in in a fun way too. By marshalling you would be involved until you felt the time is right to have a go.

You could do it by using the next run, say w3r1, and start at the back walking for your 5min warm up. Do the run as prescribed and walk the rest. There are lots of people who always walk the whole 5k.

Or you could wait until you are doing the longer runs but still doing it within that week’s schedule. I know lots of people have done this for their graduation run.

If you were really wanting to run it all without worrying about this programme, then I would say do it after graduation.

Don’t forget to register, print your barcode and take it with you to any runs you do.

Whatever you do enjoy it.

[Pickles1234 in reply to AnnieW55]

Have had a look at the times for my local one as you suggested - vary from 16 minutes (!) to just over an hour, with most in the 30 - 45 minute range. Given that I currently would be about an hour I’m not sure it’s right for me at the moment - I don’t need any discouragement!

[AnnieW55 in reply to Pickles1234]

Hi Pickles. The timing thing was why I wanted you to look at your PR times. As you say, you don’t need any discouragement from the off. 16mins! Who are these people 😂. But with a volunteer tail end walker no one doing the course is ever last.

I’ve just seen your reply saying you don’t actually run outside yet which is fine. Assuming you are on a treadmill. The change from that to outdoors can be a bit of an eye-opener so that really needs to happen before PR. Treadmill running is good but it is all controlled whereas outside there are other factors to contend with. Weather (hot, cold, running into a wind - shame it can’t always be behind), terrain - even flat places can have their ups and downs, trail - look out for tree roots, tarmac - even pavements have a camber one way or the other and dip for driveways. The biggie for people transitioning is always pace as you have to do it for yourself and not look at the numbers on the mill.

PLEASE don’t let the above put you off having a go outside. It really is nice out there. Just work out a place to run - you can even run for half the time and then turn round and run home. If people are a worry don’t let it stop you. Most will either give you a smile, wish they were doing it or, more probably, not even notice you as they are wrapped up in their own world.

Sorry for another long post. I get carried away. The main thing is that you keep going in whatever way is best for you. Park Run will be there when you’re ready.

[Pickles1234 in reply to AnnieW55]

Well when I do get outside my plan first is to run round and round my garden 😂. My main reason for doing it on the treadmill is because I’ve got weak ankles - both of them I’ve turned in the past and caused damage and I’ve also snapped my Achilles (I’m sure the most non-athletic person ever to do so!) so am wary of dips and bumps. Thanks again!

[AnnieW55 in reply to Pickles1234]

Ouch! Kudos for keeping going 👍👏😀

[Madge50 Graduate]

Simple answer, whenever you want.....as Runsome says, many people do one of their weekly programme ‘runs’ at parkrun - you can use it as a run/walk route as part of the plan, not instead of....

I thought I HAD to be able to run 5k to go to parkrun, I was totally wrong, same as runsome, my only regret is I didn’t go sooner.......everyone knows of the C25K programme at parkrun, if you’re not sure go along and just watch, have a chat to the Run director and other volunteers, you’ll soon see if it’s for you or not, plenty of people walk the course, its friendly and inclusive, it’s about activity, it’s not a ‘race’.

Hope you give it a go!👍

Mx

[Pickles1234 in reply to Madge50]

Thankyou 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

We recommend that you stick to the programmed runs of the plan, but there is no reason why you shouldn't do that at parkrun.

The danger is that you get carried away and exceed the plan, which is not a good idea, but very easy to do surrounded by other runners. It is very tempting when you are overtaken by an eight year old, or even an eighty year old, to think," I can do that too", but you don't know how long others have been running.

I believe parkrun is one of the most potent examples of positive people power on this planet and that all runners should experience it, but do take care.

Have a great time.

[Pickles1234 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Yes I think I need to wait, thanks for the advice 😊

[ItstheMarchHare Graduate]

I was thinking the same question! I’m on W2R2 and am intrigued by the ParkRun. I think I might go along and watch one, see how many people are just walking, then maybe do one or volunteer in some capacity.

I think my worry is that I will get caught up by the excitement of taking part, try running too much, get exhausted and give up, rather than sticking to the programme, eg run 1 minute, walk 1 minute.

[Runsome Graduate in reply to ItstheMarchHare]

Very sensible go and have a look first and as Madge50 said have a chat to the race director do a bit of volunteering and you will get to know the regular friendly faces and perhaps take part if you feel ok. But your C25k is paramount stick to the plan and won’t go wrong. best wishes😀

[peaplodder]

I'm coming at this from a slightly different angle, having done C25K and 130 parkruns before becoming injured I started back at the beginning this year. I incorporated my C25k sessions into my parkrun mornings by doing the C25K session for the day and then just walking to the finish. My BIG advantage is that being very familiar with parkrun and knowing that I have in the past been able to run the whole thing I have the confidence to know that it's fine to walk the whole thing, walk and run, or just run. If you're confident in walking the 5k there is no reason on earth why you shouldn't give it a go. If not and your parkrun is a two or three lapper you could go and just start by doing one or two laps. Or as others have said just turn up and watch or register and volunteer for something so you can see how it all works, no experience needed for most roles....barcode scanning and token sorting for example are very accessible ways to join in. Being a bit of an evangelist I would say do it !

[Pickles1234 in reply to peaplodder]

Thankyou - I might go along and watch - don’t think I’m quite ready but desperate to get out there!

[BargainRzl Graduate]

I’ve been reading this thread with great interest. I never even thought about doing Parkrun so early in the programme, but now I’m at the point of progressing to continuous running I was wondering whether to start. My C25K route is a variant on my local Parkrun route as it is, but when I started looking into it seriously last week, I discovered that my local one is known as the flattest and one of the fastest courses in London, and therefore popular with runners looking for personal bests. Apparently it attracts 200+ people, which then made me nervous because like you I’m not good with crowds. Also, 9am on a Saturday means I’d have to give up a BodyPump class I‘ve been attending regularly. Hmmm.

[Pickles1234 in reply to BargainRzl]

Yes the crowds are an issue for me. I started reading Running Like A Girl last night and her description of the start had me feeling claustrophobic! I looked at the run in my nearest park, and about 430 people were there last Saturday. So much to think about - and that’s without the problem of the fact that I currently run in old leggings and holey t-shirts which aren’t fit for public consumption!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

In my case I did parkrun before I started... I walked it! That’s how I came to be here. I haven’t started a parkrun since, but I do marshal and I see lots of people doing C25K or similar there every week.

[Pickles1234]

Yes I read that on your feed I think UnfitNoMore. Good luck for tomorrow by the way! Can not wait to get there myself!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Pickles1234]

Thanks... and you’ll be there in a flash, run one really does seem like yesterday. Just keep holding any urge to go fast back and do what you’re doing.

[Pickles1234 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

I am so excited by all this. I feel as if my life has changed already!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Pickles1234]

The fitness does increase so quickly. My daughter claimed she’d lost weight in week two I explained how it doesn’t work that fast... she got the tape measure out, and had lost an inch off the waist... ok, it can work that fast 😂

We both got weighed at the doctors in June, we will go back in December and get it done again. I’m aiming to stay the same weight but move it from my stomach, which appears to be happening, no scales so I don’t know, and she is hoping for a loss but doesn’t care too much as she’s two dress sizes down and her clothes are getting loose again, it’s getting expensive 😂

[Pickles1234 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Yes funny you should say that as when I put my t shirt and leggings on this morning (w2r2) I thought they felt looser and thought no, it cant be put perhaps it is!

[UnfitNoMore Graduate in reply to Pickles1234]

It probably is... and it shall continue