That was good, I really enjoyed my first parkrun this morning at Dunfermline, it was their 4th birthday so when the last person came over the finishing line with great applause we all had a piece of birthday cake π.
When I got to the park, feeling just a little nervous, reminded me of just before I ran run 3 of week 5, that nervousness soon went when the man gave all first timers briefing talk, all relaxed after that.
So the run began, there were many dogs at the start but I soon left them behind. I would say in the first kilometer I passed more people than passed me, but from then on there was a bit of me passing them and them passing me.
On some of the steeper parts I experimented walking when I saw others walking, BUT my quick walking was still slower than my slow running, so I just kept on running with a little sprint at the end.
So for the results, this is from the e mail I got just after 12.30
34.16, that's around 4 minutes quicker than my test run on the exact same course a week ago yesterday.
I was 165 out of 207 runners. Second in age category, age grade was 53.55%
So that was my first parkrun, not the last, I will go back for my second parkrun in two weeks. π π
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AlMorr
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Well done AlMorr ! A fantastic debut run. Your age grade is a good 8% higher than my best. Hope the weather your side of the Forth was better than on mine π§π§π§
Yes indeed, I live in Cumbernauld, 26 miles from Dunfermline, yesterday I was suntanning in my garden but noticed on the weather rain radar that in the east, Fife, including the Dunfermline area had rain, this morning the first rain I saw was shortly before I got to Dunfermline, however, once the 5K parkrun began, the light rain went off.
That was the same in Vogrie. Got soaked during the briefings, but it cleared up just as we set off. Cleared much of the oppressive mugginess out of the air, so was probably a good thing and a few minutes in, I couldn't tell the difference between the wetness caused by the rain or through sweating anyway...
Well done, Al! Iβve been looking forward to reading this and I knew youβd do well as you were so prepared and ready for it. Hope youβll have a good, restful afternoon now.
Well done AlMorr, you did brilliantly and what a great time, I dream of being able to do it in under 35 minutes. So now you have a PB and a lovely new Saturday morning activity to squeeze in when you can. And cake! π Who could ask for more? βΊ
The cake was because it was Dunfermlines 4th birthday, I felt very happy when I saw my name, time, grade and club NHS Couch to 5K on the Dunfermline Vitality Parkrun Results Website. π π
Well done AlMorr, I did my third parkrun this morning, my husband has joined me run there now. I love how welcoming and friendly they are. Iβm nowhere near your time, but I love the fact there is no pressure and itβs nice to have company while Iβm being a tortoise at the back. Ours is a two lap course, but Iβm getting lapped by fewer people each time so Iβm taking that as progress.
I think the winner passed me about three quarters of the way around the first lap, after the second kilometer there was a lot of me passing some runners and them passing me, but the winner passed me like I was a local commuter train being passed by a Virgin Express Train running parallel to commuter train. π
That's a Saturday habit that I have been getting used to for the last few months, looking at the various parkrun results.
I am glad that you saw mine, I feel very proud of myself when I saw my name, time, age category/ age grading %, but most of all my training club:NHS Couch to 5K.
Thanks Ang, wow, 26 times, I got a second e mail inviting me to consider volunteering, that's a thing I would consider in the future, tailwalker πΆ seems a good position. π
Just watched Simona Halep winning Wimbledon woman's tennis πΎ final.
I ran without my Smartphone, so no Mapmyrun unofficial time or a metromone that I had when I ran the same exact route a week yesterday, I checked my wrist watch at the start, it was just before 9.34am, I only looked at it again at the very end of the run, 10.08, so was very happy that I ran a sub 40 minute 5K, but was quite surprised to see on the official result that I ran a sub 35 minute 5K this morning in 34.16, I personally thought that I would run it around the 36/38 minutes of a week yesterday, but not a PB, that remains at 32.25, but who knows with those new shoes I might beat that time.
Update, now my PB is 32.23, an improvement of two seconds. that was run locally on what I call the Buttercup 5K trail, named after Buttercupkid who has been such an inspiration to many here on C25K.
Thank you Oldlady57, I would have been a bit disappointed if it had been +40 minutes, I was was pleasantly surprised when I received the email of the official result showing that I had ran a sub 35 minute 5K in 34. 16. π π, that's about the same time as my first ever 5K run last year, but that was on a flat course run locally, the parkrun course this morning was quite hilly. π π
Thanks Damien, I enjoyed the run this morning, a slightly better time by almost 4 minutes than the test run I ran on the exact same course a week yesterday, the race director before the start of the run this morning described the course in detail, but although I spoke to him after the run,(he congratulated me on my first parkrun) I did not tell him that I ran that same course 9 days ago. π π
Hi Damien, I am fairly busy on a Saturday morning, I intend to run my second parkrun in two weeks time, I think the course will be in reverse, in fact today was unusual, I heard some of the runners saying it was harder than the normal way, today we ran DOWN three rather steep hills with one long uphill drag,
normally that long uphill drag is a long nice downhill run followed by a short but steep hill, so when I run my next parkrun that run will be for many runners a little easier than today's run. π
Thank you very much BCK on congratulating me on running my first parkrun this morning, it was quite a experience, I will admit when I woke up this morning and until the man gave first time parkrunners a briefing a little nervous, a bit like the feeling I had before 5.3 and run 9.3 of C25K, however, after about 30 seconds I felt very relaxed and any nervousness soon went.
It was quite a laugh at the start with a lot of dogs barking away with their owners, but once the run began I left all those dogs behind and got on with the run, I passed more people in the first kilometer than passed me but after that there was a lot of people passing me and me passing them, I did notice a bit of walking in the steeper hilly parts, I experimented with a little walking to see if on the steep parts if I was walking faster than running slowly, but that only lasted for about 5 seconds as I realised that my fast walking pace was actually slower than my slow running pace going up hills.
So there you are, my first parkrun over, not my last one, I intend running my second parkrun in two weeks time.
Perhaps you might consider running a parkrun, blimey, it took me 56 weeks after I graduated from C25K to run mine, a lot of that was due to not having a printer from my laptop and the distance as well, my daughter printed a barcode for me so I could run a parkrun. π π I hope you and your family are doing well.
Our nearest Parkrun is 30 miles away and Iβm usually tied up with family on Saturdays, so itβs a lost cause just now. Looking forward to hearing about the next one ! x
I was pleasantly pleased with my time this morning, I was hoping it would be sub 40 minutes, but was delighted when the official result came being sub 35 minutes at 34.16
Thank you for thinking of me running my first parkrun this morning, it was quite a laugh at the start with all the dogs with their owners barking away at each other, however, once the run began, I soon got away from the πΆ dogs and on with the π run
I was glad that I was not overtaken by someone pushing a buggy, pram or anyone with a dog, strangely enough, thinking back, I did not see anyone with a dog coming in after me, however, I did not see everyone who came in after me, I was busy in a mini canopy that they had set up eating some chocolate biscuits and then a piece of birthday cake as it was that parkruns fourth birthday.
The cake was cut after the final runner crossed the finishing line with great applause with the tailwalker in around 56 minutes,(no 1 hour 27 minutes runner at that event we were discussing the other day) by a 11 year old boy named Alan, no relation to me. π
This is an amazing write up of your first park run. Running with others at a Parkrun changes up your running pace from when you run alone. I noticed this too! Thatβs a respectable park run time, you will have more PBs coming! Enjoy!
Very interesting indeed JaoJao, 9 days ago I ran the exact same course myself with Mapmyrun and that metromone app I installed recently, I set the metromone at 168 steps/beats a minute, according to Mapmyrun I ran it in 38.55, today with no Mapmyrun or metromone, the official result was 34.16, that's 4 minutes 43 seconds quicker, probably caused by other runners and running a bit faster not having the metronome app restricting me to the exact steps a minute. π π
Outstanding Al! I'm so, so glad you enjoyed it. That's a fantastic time as well! Those new shoes are amazing! π
The new shoes with the compression socks to match are very comfortable to run in, pleased with the time, I would have been disappointed if it had been +40 minutes, but very pleased to see that it was sub 35 minutes at 34.16. π π
Amazing result AlMorr , now you know how exciting that Parkrun is! I shall watch your progress with interest, just as you have watched mine. I was thinking of you as I waited with the tokens for the Keswick mob.
Yes at the end of the run I saw a young lady doing the duty that you were doing this morning at Keswick, what happened was that I was given a token by one volunteer, showed that token with my barcode to another volunteer, that was the young lady who scanned the barcode to correspond with the token which I gave back to her.
I intend to run my second parkrun in two weeks time, perhaps you could be the tailwalker at next week's Keswick Parkrun before hopefully soon you can run it again.
Somehow I don't think I will be able to Tailwalk next week. Today I was walking with a stick, and I find going up or down even a very slight gradient is very painful. But I love doing the tokens - stand still, get to watch every finish - get to personally congratulate every one - and give them a present!
I got a piece of cake at the end of today's Dunfermline parkrun as it was 4 years ago that it began, so there won't be cake, or at least birthday cake next time, there was a small canopy with some other small cakes and sweets at the finishing line today, not sure if that was just because of the 4th birthday, I did not notice that two weeks ago when I went to Dunfermline as a spectator.
Sorry about your injury and having to use a walking stick, at least you enjoy your duty handing out the tokens to the runners at the finishing line.
ππππ superb stuff but given the nick name of your local football club, shouldnβt that be a PARS Run?! πββοΈ π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ β½οΈ
Indeed Dalmorangie, the nickname of Dunfermline Athletic Football Team is PARS, however, I don't live in Dunfermline, the reason I went to that particular parkrun was that I have walked through that park at least once a month for over 9 years, I live in Cumbernauld, 26 miles away, it is easy to get there by bus, not sure what will happen in winter, I could try a parkrun nearer to where I live.
Had the great pleasure to have lived in Scotland a couple of times and thinking of going back for a βruncationβ in Largs where weβd rented a flat - amazing prom and views there.
Congratulations to you Dexy5 on completing your 46th parkrun, you were saying the other day that your regular parkrun was under threat due to it becoming so popular with so many runners taking part.
My first parkrun today was attended by 207 runners, about 50 more than two weeks ago when I was a spectator noting down on how it went, I suppose it does depend on the weather conditions, to be honest with you, for the last 40 years or more I have not gone a bike ride if it is nasty weather, I can't see me going to parkrun either if the weather is wet and windy, so no danger from me on exceeding your wonderful 46 Parkruns achievement, I enjoyed my run today, I saw a few 100, 50 numbers on the back of some of the runners. π π
I did enjoy my first parkrun this morning Cloudbuster, talking about clouds, there was light rain at the very start this morning, however, it cleared up quite quickly and the rest of the run was ran in dry weather, I intend to run my second parkrun in two weeks time. π π
Well done Al! Doing new things for the first time is always a bit nerve racking but you clearly outran any nerves! A great improvement for you from the week before so keep going ππ
Thanks Irishprincess, I admit I woke up this morning thinking the way some people say they think when about to run a marathon, the way I felt was like I was about to run, run 3 of week 5 and run 3 of week 9 of C25K, once I got to the park, the man who briefed us, all the nerves went, it was quite funny with all the dogs barking at each other at the start line, I was happy with my time, would have been disappointed if it had been +40 minutes. , very pleased it was sub 35 at 34.16. π π
Yes indeed Topcat09, not sure what week you are on C25K, they say it's better to complete run 3 of week 5 before running a parkrun, but you can do if you really wish to run before that.
Thank you very much Cpankhurst1, by the way with your post to me, I have now got as many replies as I had last year on my graduation run, it seems that the milestone runs with C25K are, run 3 of week 5, run 3 of week 9, your first full 5K and now your first 5k Parkrun, another would be a sub 30 minute 5k, that last one I have not achieved. π π
Thanks Tbae, yes I was just thinking about the time, 8 days ago I ran the exact same course in 38.55, today it was 34.16, perhaps something to do with other people or just the occasion, I was getting quite tired on the last lap, I shouted to one of the marshals, "glad I don't need to run round that again" at 73 years of age I think 5K is long enough for me, I hope you are keeping well.
Yip Tbae, was thinking the difference between running and cycling, running is more tiring in the sense that with cycling when you get to the top of a hill you can rest slightly or free wheel, with running, once at the top of the hill, you still have to run, so there's not much rest that you can take, nevertheless I do enjoy my new past time of running, not thinking of giving it up by no meansπ π
Ha, found you! Lovely write up Al, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. CP2 and I were thinking of you as we were waiting for our parkrun to start this morning. That's a cracking time, too!
Well done, AlMorr, and a brilliant time! Only trouble with such a speedy start is it may be tricky to get a new PB right way. π Sounds like a really good run to start you on your Parkrun journey. πππΌππ
Great time at a first parkrun... and minutes off on the course in a week is pretty amazing. Very fitting that they served cake on your debut my friend... a celebration was definitely in order.
Perhaps the time was due to the occasion, loads of other runners being there as well, at the start of the run I almost at the back where all the dogs πΆwere barking at each other with their owners πΆ but within a few minutes I moved forward passing a lot of people and away from the barking dogs. It's nice that the cake was served on my debut run, not because of me but it was that parkruns fourth birthday, on the birthday cake itself was the inscription "Dunfermline Happy 4th Birthday", then a 11 year old boy named Alan, my name
Congratulations AlMorr, you did really well at your first Parkrunπππ
Your course with hills sounds quite tough, and your time is brilliant!π
No dogs at mine, only one with one of the Marshalls that I can remember. Everyone is so welcoming and friendly aren't they. I will be back to try again soon too.πxx
Today I am going a short 15 Kilometre cycle ride on my bicycle , just a nice bike ride through the countryside near to where I live, I have cycled since I was 7 apart from a few years after I got married, when my son got a bike I returned to cycling with him. I only took up running about 18 months ago when there was a promotion for C25K during a break on the TV during the Great Scottish Run, I had cut down cycling from 4 rather longs cycle runs a week to one shorter bike run a week, so I thought running would take its place to a certain extent, I have not given up cycling altogether by no means.
Yes I thought that as well, I was quite surprised when they e mailed me with my time, of 34.16 and age grading of 53.55%, I was expecting a time of around 38 minutes, but to get a sub 35 minute 5K at my first parkrun made me very happy π.
Congratulations on your 1st parkrun AlMorr and a great time too, especially with hills ππ»ββοΈππ₯π My 21st parkrun yesterday and I finally got sub 30.
Well done on your 1st Parkrun Alan, so glad you had a great time.
Your pace was very impressive too. Given that your parkrun time is often about 30 seconds slower than your actual 5k time (Unless you start at the front). I would say in real terms that's got to be pretty close to a 5k PB for you.
Thanks ALANist(good username) for wishing me well with my recent first parkrun, I started that run very near the back where all the dogs were barking at each other with their owners but as soon as the run started I soon left them behind, interesting what you say regarding parkrun time being 30 seconds slower, a bit like the difference at a event run between chip and clock time.
My first parkrun time was 34.16, however, three days later according to Mapmyrun I achieved a PB 5K time of 32.23 when I ran a 5K near to where I live. π π
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1st Parkrun this morning!
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