First Parkrun: So tomorrow is my very first... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

134,100 membersā€¢159,470 posts

First Parkrun

Jovi2014 profile image
Jovi2014Graduate
ā€¢11 Replies

So tomorrow is my very first parkrun and I am so nervous. Never run in a group and struggle with pacing. Any advice gratefully received! šŸ˜³

Written by
Jovi2014 profile image
Jovi2014
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
11 Replies
ā€¢
cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate

Yay Jovi, your first parkrun! Woohoo!! There is absolutely no need to be nervous. Thereā€™ll be a first timersā€™ briefing so listen out for that. Donā€™t worry about your pace at all - except avoid being tempted to dash off too fast with the gazelles. Remember you can walk whenever you need to too.

Youā€™ll find everyone friendly and welcoming, so have a blast. Just remember to take along your barcode which youā€™ll have scanned when youā€™ve finished. šŸ˜€

Tell us all about it wonā€™t you, and huge good luck! šŸ‘šŸ‘šŸ‘

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

Thatā€™s cool. Get there for 8:45 so you get the first timers briefing, start at the back of the pack and run at your own pace... soak up the encouragement and have yourself a great time.

Oh, and donā€™t forget your barcode!

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

You will have a ball.

Don't be frightened to tell marshals that you are a newbie. I would be surprised if you don't believe you have discovered a long lost branch of your family by the end. Don't forget your barcode, preferably laminated, looking at the forecast.

It is not a race. Warm up before the start. Do attend the new runner's briefing. Don't start on the start line, unless it is a small turnout, otherwise you are likely to get trampled. Just go at a nice steady pace and by halfway, if you have plenty left, you can up your pace. You will be overtaken by small children and little old ladies, but that is part of the learning process.

You can register your club as NHS C25K on your profile page, if you wish.

Enjoy yourself.

Mummycav profile image
MummycavAdministratorGraduate

Wow, well done for taking part...just relax and enjoy yourself....you wonā€™t be the only ā€˜first timerā€™ Iā€™m sure....donā€™t set off like a whippet, find your comfortable pace and stick to it...itā€™s your run, no one elseā€™s...I want to hear how it went when youā€™ve done it...honestly, I think youā€™ll get a pleasant surprise šŸ˜‰

Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate

Treat it as a training run only at this stage.

Nothing at all to be nervous about. Start at or near the back and just go at your own pace. Everyone will be massively friendly, and no matter how slow you go you will get lots of encouragement. You can check last week's results on line if you want to know how many people run and how slow the slowest is. But you can't even come last because there is a tail walker whose job is to be last. The first time I went I had no idea how long I would take to run 5K because I never measured my distance when I did C25K. I was pleasantly surprised as there are some really slow runners parkrunning every week. I was quickly hooked. Just have fun.

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

I forgot to mention that if you are still doing C25K, then we recommend that you just do your programmed warm up and run and walk the remainder, to avoid doing too much too soon.........it is easy to get carried away at parkrun. You will still set a time and there will almost certainly people walking the whole thing.

Jovi2014 profile image
Jovi2014Graduateā€¢ in reply toIannodaTruffe

Thank you so much for all your advice. I have just graduated C25K and planned my parkrun as my first graduate run šŸ˜Š Iā€™m currently covering about 3miles in my 30mins šŸ˜Š canā€™t believe Iā€™m a runner!!

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentorā€¢ in reply toJovi2014

Have a great day.

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Slow.... not sure whether you have completed the nine weeks..? but slow and steady does it:)

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Graduate

U will love it!! Follow all previous advice here and enjoy it!! Bewarned tho.u might get addicted!! šŸ˜¬

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

First Parkrun!

I graduated C25K last week so this morning I did my first Parkrun! Absolutely loved every minute of...
TuxCatLady profile image
Graduateā€¢

First parkrun šŸ˜

So, I just did my first parkrun (in my santa hat). Feeling pretty proud of myself despite my slow...
sarahbee_uk profile image
Graduateā€¢

First parkrun

This morning I got up and headed off to my local parkrun and I have to say what an amazing...
tiggs1 profile image
Graduateā€¢

First parkrun!

I thought it was high time I did my first parkrun. Signed up for one this saturday morning. I had...
misswobble profile image
Graduateā€¢

First Parkrun āœ…šŸ˜

So I set my alarm (and told my other half what time I would like my cup of tea!) this morning so...
CookieM profile image
Graduateā€¢

Moderation team

See all
MissUnderstanding profile image
MissUnderstandingAdministrator
Annieapple profile image
AnnieappleAdministrator
Yesletsgo profile image
YesletsgoAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.