Consolidation 5: Parkrun 1

[Stephen_UK]

Good morning.

Just did my first Parkrun and really enjoyed it.

I really recommend this to any graduate. The volunteers are SO nice. There’s a great community spirit.

A few tips based on what I learned:

1. Try to get a piece of ‘space’ around you. There’s a lot of jostling around in the crowd, especially at the start, and it can feel like a traffic jam if you are used to running alone.

2. Don’t forget all your training. Just run your usual run. Which means...

3. Don’t go too fast. I was swept up in the adrenaline of the event and ended up going too quickly for the first half. I really paid for that in the second half.

4. Enjoy it. It’s a glorious event. Just be part of the experience and feel good about the run. Forget about getting a good time and don’t see it as a race.

[Dottie_D Graduate]

Great stuff Stephen, well done on first parkrun (of many 😜). It’s surprising how good the turn out is at Park runs, is t it. But they are a great atmosphere, even on s cold rai y day like today 😃😂

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to Dottie_D]

Thanks. It was raining, but that actually kept it nice and cool.

[backintime Graduate]

Brilliant, well done. Will you do another ?

I am not that brave yet, i'll do my first park run on consolidation 1543 I think, I should have worked up the courage by then : )

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to backintime]

Yes, I am hoping to do it weekly as one of my three runs. I really recommend it. It makes you feel part of something bigger, just as this online community does.

[backintime Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

That's great. There are 2 within around a 2 hour drive from me but nothing closer

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to backintime]

Definitely try it!

[backintime Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

I may one day...seems that there aren't many people though and most of them are ex pats....not sure the French have embraced ze park run

[Debston Graduate in reply to backintime]

You could set one up? There's advice on the website about it if you don't have one nearby.

[backintime Graduate in reply to Debston]

Yes, I was reading that. There's a nice flatish park about 10 minutes away, that could be my warm up : )

[Debston Graduate]

Brilliant, well done you! Was it a really nice route? And yes, the volunteers are brilliant, so encouraging, I must volunteer before too long.

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to Debston]

Thanks. Yes, a lovely route apart from the hills.

[Debston Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

One day I will learn to love hills... 😅

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to Debston]

I hate ‘em!

[Debston Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

One day I will learn to love hills... 😅

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to Debston]

Saying it twice won’t make it any truer...

[Debston Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

Haha! 😂

[Debston Graduate in reply to Stephen_UK]

Haha! 😂

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Well done on completing your first 5k Parkrun this morning and thanks for the advice, I intend to run my first parkrun next month, so I will get to the back as you say so I can get some space.

[Stephen_UK Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks. I didn’t really mean going to the back. That could be dispiriting. More that you need to be conscious of the space around you and keep hold of it to avoid a cramped experience or even a collision.

[Debston Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

You will love it AlMorr! I started at the back because I knew I wouldn't be a speedy gonzalez and it was great, no pressure to keep up and loads of space. There's a volunteer bringing up the rear and lots of people walking the course so you'll never be last. All the volunteers do a brilliant job of cheering you on and you feel on top of the world. Go for it!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to Debston]

Yes I will go for it Debston, I know this particular park very well indeed as I have been going walks there over the last 9 years. I studied the map of the parkrun course from their website and have decided to run 1 lap of it next Friday in preparation for running around it 3 times some Saturday in July.