Week 7...done😊

[Nanarunrun]

Well I never thought I'd get to this point!! Three 25 minute runs done, week 8 starts on Friday.

This mornings run was good as I seemed to have a rhythm going from the beginning, I also listened to a David Tennant podcast (thanks to the recommendation on here) rather than music which helped distract me from the running.

I still can't say I love it, but I do love the feeling when it's over, and I feel its doing me the world of good...

I'm thinking of registering for a Park run... Seems so scary! I have images of them sending me home as I'm not a real runner... (yes, lack of confidence is a big issue!!).

[Bookloverabc Graduate]

That's feels like an amazing achievement to me who has only done week one, run one!! 🏆 Good luck 🍀 and enjoy 👏

[Nanarunrun Graduate in reply to Bookloverabc]

Thank you! Well done on your first run, I did my first run on Easter Monday, so not that long ago, and half way through thought 'well this was a stupid idea, you can't even run for a minute!' but I persevered... Keep going and keep us posted 😊

[Hatman Graduate]

Park Run people are the most supportive and cheerful people going!!!

All those volunteers stood at their marshal positions around the course and cheered me on! Every time I passed them. My chosen course was three and a half laps of the local park. I turned up worried. Where do I go? How do they know I’m here? Shall I just go home? Loads of yellow jacketed smiles ushering us lost folk. I wasn’t the only one there for the first time. There’s no where to leave stuff, but the start is only yards from the car park. Get there in time for the briefing at about ten to, was all I had heard. The route map was on line. I had searched - parkrunuk, and filled in a registration form. That got me a barcode to print out. Take a copy of the barcode with you. As you finish they give you a token, take that to a table where they scan your code. That is it. As you registered nationally, they have your details and very soon after you will get an email. Mine said it was run #163 for that park, I took 46’48” and was 4th in my age group. That fourth in my age group was the most encouraging. I never came as high as fourth in anything energetic before! Even if it is 70-74 year olds. There were still some finished after me and even an official ‘last’ person who made sure that he was last, not a competitor.

The start is a big jumble, with elite keen runners at the front and loads in the middle. I made sure I was at the back, so as not to get in the way when I set off on a five minute warm up walk with Laura in my ear, W9. It soon thins out. Then it’s a case of getting the head around ‘I am walking, everyone else is running. I am wrong?’ Conquer that and then start running and sorting out your breath. Accept that quite soon you are going to be overtaken, covered in the briefing, keep over one side. You are running only for yourself. This is not a race. Just a run. Keep going slowly. Marshals at each junction, smile, clap or cheer encouragement each time you pass. Pass the toilets four times, then turn into the closing straight. Laura had finished the run and the cool down and started her next run by the time I turned into the straight. Those cheers and applause were appreciated, although I perhaps didn’t look very appreciative. Staggered to the table and was scanned. My wife had some water ready for me. Many runs converge on a cafe for post run banter. Me, I just went home, happy to have finally run 5Kilometres and at that stage no thought of doing it again. Although I might well volunteer to help. Doing that first might have prepared me more for my run? You choose. Have fun running slowly.

[Nanarunrun Graduate in reply to Hatman]

Ah thank you Hatman, that is a wonderful account of your experience and has spurred me on to register! I just wish I could do the first one with you! But I will have your 'virtual' support I'm sure 😊