Park run question : To all those of you who have... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,410 members ā€¢ 158,563 posts

Park run question

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate
ā€¢26 Replies

To all those of you who have done a park run, could you tell me about your experience of it. Just wondered how it actually works, as in the practicalities, how you get your time etc. Thanks šŸ˜Š

Written by
Glitterjav profile image
Glitterjav
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
26 Replies
ā€¢
Bazza1234 profile image
Bazza1234Graduate

Go here parkrun.com/ and click on which country you are in. Then on your countries Parkrun website , go to "Register". Follow the instructions and you will get a Barcode to print out. Take your barcode with you to your local parkrun event and after your run or walk, they will email you your time for that event.

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to Bazza1234

Thanks.

Dragonjnr profile image
DragonjnrGraduate

Bazza is right - donā€™t forget your barcode becomes a bit of a mantra, as you donā€™t get your time without it!

Iā€™ve been walking at my local parkrun since December and theyā€™re a lovey friendly bunch. The tail walkers always make sure youā€™re not last and have given me endless tips and encouragement (Iā€™m always at the back end!).

There will be a ā€œfirst timersā€ briefing, so make sure you listen to that on your first visit (parkrun itself starts at 9am, so make sure youā€™re early on your first one) and have a lovey walk/jog/run. At the end youā€™ll usually enter a funnel - at the start of that the timekeepers will click their stop watch for every person, and at the end of that, youā€™ll be passed a parkrun token. Somewhere nearby will be a couple of people scanning those tokens and your own barcode, and thatā€™s how they work out your time. When you register you can set it up for email and notifications.

Iā€™ve started to make friends within the volunteers who marshal now. I also started my C25k training so I wouldnā€™t feel so bad for keeping them out in the cold for an hour. I started at 57 minutes and last week I did it in just over 50 (week 5 run 3 included, and a little bit of extra jogging) - beyond impressed with myself, and them for their unwavering support.

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to Dragonjnr

Thank you šŸ˜Š

Kertesz profile image
Kertesz in reply to Dragonjnr

Hiya! Can I ask roughly what time the newbies talk might happen? Thanks.

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappGraduate in reply to Kertesz

A couple of minutes prior to the run.

Dragonjnr profile image
DragonjnrGraduate in reply to Kertesz

Itā€™ll vary at each parkrun but ours takes place around 8.45/8.50am, prior to the main briefing for everyone that they do each week. It doesnā€™t take too long but they give you a bit more detail about the course and any hazards to keep an eye out for.

molly1973 profile image
molly1973Graduate

There is loads of advice on the parkrun website that Bazza has linked to: plus specific advice for each separate parkrun event in their own webpage. Aim to get there early enough to have a warm up and hear the new runnerā€™s briefing, and join the group (but not too near the front unless you expect to be charging off at a sprint!). There will be loads of support and encouragement and you ca also sign up for a text alert as well as an email when you register. Enjoy it, and let us know how you get on!

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to molly1973

Thank you šŸ˜Š

Pianism profile image
PianismGraduate

I think the guys above have covered all the details brilliantly. All I'd say is please don't feel any sense of nervousness or trepidation. My experiences of parkrun have been nothing but positive! People are so friendly and supportive of those who are just starting (to the point where people now seek me out to tell me how well I'm doing after a few runs). When I first started I just found the tail-walker and introduced myself as their company for the run. :) My first time was 47 minutes - a teeny bit of running and a fairly brisk walk for nearly all of it.

Whatever happens, please do give it a go and enjoy yourself. Ps - don't get carried away - you may feel like you want to significantly exceed where you are on the programme but I did this and have had to pay the price by completely resting for a week (or maybe two) as it aggravated my Achilles!).

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to Pianism

Thank you šŸ˜Š

runwithdog profile image
runwithdogGraduate

i done my first one last week and still buzzing from it.i was only on week 4 so i walked a bit and lolloped a bit.there were people of all shapes/sizes/ages/with dogs/with pushchairs.some ran and some walked round.

everyone lines up at the start then a horn goes at 9am.the fast people are at the front speed off with everyone following,a lot walked here for the warmup to get going.

everyone was really friendly and helpful.when we got to the end there was a taped off funnel where you were given a barcode token,carried on down a little then had both your barcodes scanned and the token one( you give back) .

i,too was really nervous about going but cant wait to go again and wish i had done it b4.

good luck.you will be fine !!!

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to runwithdog

Thank you šŸ˜Š

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate

Thank you for all your helpful replies. Iā€™m on W8 at the mo so a park run is still a way off yet. Just wondering though about the 5 minute warm up walk before a run, do you do that before you start as part of the actual park run itself?

Dragonjnr profile image
DragonjnrGraduate in reply to Glitterjav

Itā€™s entirely your call ... before you start might mean that you run the whole 5k and have a super dooper time?!

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to Dragonjnr

I donā€™t think thatā€™s possible yet!

IannodaTruffe profile image
IannodaTruffeMentor

We recommend to those mid programme wanting to do parkrun that they just follow their C25K programmed workout and walk the remainder, to avoid being tempted to do too much too soon.

You can register your club as NHS C25K. It is going to be wet this weekend so get your barcode laminated.

Parkrun is like this forum writ large........ everybody will be willing to answer your questions, so don't be shy.

Have a great time.

billiboy12 profile image
billiboy12

Do you need to get a barcode every time you go on a park run?

Dragonjnr profile image
DragonjnrGraduate in reply to billiboy12

No, you keep the same one and use it over and over.

E27M14 profile image
E27M14Graduate

Iā€™ve just registered and plan to do my first parkrun this weekend. Not really sure why iā€™m nervous! I know where it is, I have walked the route before many times with my dog, and I know I can run 5k. Still nervous though šŸ˜Š

novice57 profile image
novice57

I feel this same, despite all the reassurances. I'm planning on going to my first parkrun tomorrow and I'm sure once I've finished I'll be pleased with myself for going, regardless of how well I run. Let me know how you get on.

Pollyc3 profile image
Pollyc3

Hi there! I'm now on my 9th parkrun and love it! There's always a first timers briefing at every Parkrun so you know what's going on. Tell someone that you're new and you will be welcomed and pointed in the right direction. Have fun and enjoy it!

dory950 profile image
dory950Graduate

I didnā€™t start Park run until I had completed c25k as I wanted to run it . I didnā€™t know anything about park run so I decided to go and have a look first before I did it . I found the run director and chatted with her and she explained how it all worked

You will love it . I have been doing it just over a year including volunteering too . You will love it

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to dory950

Thatā€™s a good idea thanks. Think Iā€™m apprehensive about going from running on my own with hardly anyone around (which I love!), to being surrounded by lots of people. Like I say, itā€™s a while off yet for me, but maybe Iā€™ll go and spectate first. Thanks šŸ˜Š

dory950 profile image
dory950Graduate in reply to Glitterjav

I know what you mean I run alone and I do get a bit nervous but as soon as it starts itā€™s fine . I think you will love it! Amazing when you finish with lots of people clapping and cheering

Glitterjav profile image
GlitterjavGraduate in reply to dory950

I didnā€™t know that people did that! šŸ˜€

You may also like...

Park run question

stupid question, but Those of you that graduated during a park run did you do your 5 min warm up...

Park run and a question

Yes, I've finally plucked up the courage to do park run. I wasn't last (my not-so-secret fear!)...

Trivial question about park run

I plan to do my first park run this coming Saturday. I'm not driving at the moment - a long, painful

Park run- Might be a daft question!

So I am due to to run Week 8 Run 3 tomorrow but there is a park run I fancy going to Saturday. Is...

This might be a silly question but - what is a park run?

Is it just when you do your run in a park or is it an organised event? and if so how do I find out...