What’s the point of a Parkrun?!

[Cherrybubble]

I graduated in January and a few running friends are encouraging me to join the local Parkrun but to be honest, what’s the point?! I find some of my runs are better than others but most of the time I don’t find it easy at all and the thought of having to run along with loads of others will probably exhaust me even more. Am I missing the point though?!

[Somersetboy]

I’ve never joined a Parkrun and have moved up to running 10k. For me it about defeating that self talk and putting some distance in. Who cares about the time. I’m not in this to be competitive. Parkrun works for some. It’s just a choice!

[Cherrybubble Graduate in reply to Somersetboy]

Why didn’t you enjoy it? Because of the pressure of timings then?

[Somersetboy in reply to Cherrybubble]

I enjoy running on my own. It’s a great achievement to complete C25K. Didn’t want the immediate pressure of being measured against others. Now doing 10k and still feels good without inevitably being at best average in a large group

[Oldjigger in reply to Somersetboy]

No-one measures you against others. Sure, you get a time and position, but the intention is for YOU to measure yourself against your own previous performance.

Granted, you may feel that 5K is hardly worth it if you can do 10K (5 is still enough for me) but you'll find people on a Parkrun who do marathons - they still do their Parkruns. Still, maybe it's not your thing...

[Cherrybubble Graduate in reply to Oldjigger]

I use the MapMyRun app which measures my time and distance so I have my benchmark if I want to improve. I suppose I don’t see running as a team sport!

[Oldjigger in reply to Cherrybubble]

OK, there may be no point for you, but it certainly encourages many thousands of others. With 200-400 people on most Parkruns and I don't know how many Parkruns around the country (lots!) It is a major movement and a great success in getting more people regularly active. We could probably do with other initiatives besides running for even more public health benefit, but this one has been an international success.

[Oldjigger]

There is a certain buzz that comes from being part of something like Parkrun. Don't worry about everyone else: there will be youngsters doing the whole 5K in 17 minutes and some older folk who can't manage more than a brisk walk, but are getting up and out and doing it. The marshals will encourage everyone and that keeps you going, too. Just stick to the pace you find suits you. Week by week you will probably get faster anyway - but I recommend you keep running in between. Once a week does not build stamina and fitness.

But basically it has its own particular atmosphere that you can't help getting carried along by. Try it.

[Cherrybubble Graduate in reply to Oldjigger]

Thanks for your reply- I’ve often read don’t worry about everyone else, so what’s the point of doing it with everyone else?! I take your point about getting carried along by the atmosphere.

[Cherrybubble Graduate]

I like running on my own too. I think it depends on your personality. I am a sociable person but the running has been a really personal thing and kind of private as it’s been so hard and if I added anyone else into the equation I actually think it would just make it harder not easier. I am also a pretty competitive person and quite shy so I’d only want to do it if I could be at the front so I suppose I’m worried the embarrassment of going too slow will force me to run faster and basically burn out after 5 minutes! Sorry, this is turning into some sort of self-discovery blog!

[E27M14 Graduate]

I’m very slow too. I am also a sociable person with small groups but I hate crowds. I prefer to run alone but I have been to Parkrun a couple of times and loved it. I will not be going every week but it certainly adds something. I really enjoyed the extra challenge of having lots of people around me. Yes I felt pressure, but not to run faster, just to keep going when I might have given up otherwise. I’d say it is definitely worth trying at least once before you write it off completely.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

It is possible that if I had been running a parkrun or with a group of people the day I ran my PB 5K time of 32.40 I MAY have been able to have ran it just under 30 minutes, by just simply 'running with the flow' so to speak.

[Thecko Graduate]

For me it's about going out and making use of my local park, for a distance I would be running anyway but with the added benefit of marshalls who can warn me about upcoming obstacles/slippy bits 😁

For others it's about socialisation (I'm more of a reserved type myself so tend not to be overly chatty)

The main thing I take from it though is that it's inspiring to see how many other people are taking action to improve themselves, from the super-quick runners who are pushing themselves to be even quicker still, to the ones who are walking the entire distance, and everything in-between.

If you feel under pressure to be quick at a parkrun, don't, there's no expectations or pressure.

You could go along as a spectator one weekend to get a feel for it if you're unsure.

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

I am a solitary runner and not innately competitive, but do a handful of parkruns most years, simply because it is great fun.

The joy of seeing eight year olds and eighty year olds running together is uplifting and when they overtake you it becomes a spur to create PBs that you are unlikely to create elsewhere.

The carefully measured and timed run gives you a good gauge of your condition or progress over time and also an opportunity to meet other runners of all ages, shapes, weights, abilities and be welcomed as part of the wider running community.

It may not suit you..........but many run junkies say they hated running before starting C25K............if you don't go, you won't know what you are missing.

[Cherrybubble Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I think I’m going through a lull with my running and struggling a bit at the moment. Once I feel more confident then I’ll sign up, you’re right, it’s worth a try.

[Sophia1712 Graduate]

Perhaps there’s a bit of introvert/extrovert going on. Some people may feel energised through a communal run that has a group spirit of determination, enjoyment and action while it turns others off as they’d prefer the alone time of reflection and individual challenge?

I’m an introvert and the idea of parkrun doesn’t do it for me for many reasons. 1. I don’t want to bump into people I know (I don’t even like doing this on a dog walk 😂). 2. I think I would put myself under pressure which = higher starting pulse and poorer performance. 3. It starts too early for my liking 😆. 4. It means getting in the car to get there when I can run in a nice place from my own home.

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Park run isn’t competitive (unless you are trying to come first) and it’s just about running with other people. Although don’t let that put you off because I like running on my own and I still enjoy PR.

[Madge50 Graduate]

Parkrun is many things to many people. The key thing is, all it asks of you is to go along and join in, it hopes to create a habit of regular moving for you, be that walking, skipping, running, whatever....it also has the social side, not everyone who goes is a runner, there are volunteers (it only happens because of volunteers) of all ages that have that as a weekly venture into the fresh air, to be sociable etc.,

It’s a great phenomena, and it’s free, it’s a wonderful thing to see, all these people, all different ages, from all walks of life, all shapes and sizes, getting together for a mosey round 5k in their own ways.

However nothing says you have to do it.

Mx

[Glitterjav Graduate]

I kinda get what you mean. I love running on my own and whenever I pass even a solitary dog walker on a run, it always puts me off my pace, so I can’t even imagine how being surrounded by 200 people would affect me! Having said that, I kind of want to try it to see what all the hype is about. Someone once said that you get cheered over the finishing line, which I didn’t realise, and I have to admit that that would be a nice feeling! I’m not going to do one until I can run 5k though. At the mo I’m up to 4K in 30 mins, so it’ll be a little way off for me yet. Like the others say, maybe try it once and see how you feel, or just watch?

[peaplodder]

Well...it all depends on your point of view. I graduated C25K about 5 years ago now and started park running at the same time. I don't like big groups of people but parkrun is all about improving your own time if you can. I found it very motivating to try and get a better time over the same course than I did the week before. Then inevitably I got injured, so I started volunteering at parkrun, it was very interesting to try the different volunteer roles and to see how much work went on behind the scenes. It also gave a very different view of ALL the different types of people who run from those who are just starting out on a fitness journey and walking to elite athletes. Due to medical reasons I can't run at the moment but I still go to parkrun every week and walk. There are so many incentives to continue, there are various official milestones to achieve from gaining a 25 volunteers shirt to the coveted 500 'runs' shirt. If you join the Facebook tourists group (for which you need to have done 20 different parkruns) you can then get an extension tool which gives you all sorts of silly challenges to attempt (Pirate challenge 7 parkruns beginning with a 'C' and one with an 'R'/ BeeGees challenge 3 parkruns beginning with 'B' and three beginning with a 'G', to name but a few). All these are attainable whether you run every week or walk every week, there's something for everyone ! I'm currently working towards my 250 'run'shirt, 100 volunteers and completing the stopwatch challenge (Achieving times finishing ..:01-..:59, I still need ...:03 and ...:12) I accept that if it's not your thing it's not your thing but I LOVE parkrun !!