Well, after a week of silence from me, I have to tell you that I did my first Parkrun on Saturday, spurred on by my buddies and I watching the tv programme on Monday.
Firstly, never go to a Parkrun with a cider hangover. It is not good. This was due to being in the pub the night before, celebrating our newest recruit completing W5r3. I had kept her company, as there was nobody else to run with her, and it would have been churlish not to have gone to the pub afterwards, to celebrate her victory. Anyway, 2 1/2 pints of Aspall’s later, I wove my way home, with my dad, who had also over-indulged, but on the local bitter.
Fast forward to Saturday morning. I awoke with a raging thirst, irritatingly, despite my good intentions to be well-hydrated the day before. I guess cider doesn’t count. I downed a couple of pints of water and had a banana, after taking my medication, wisely omitting the diuretic. My buddy arrived, and after a couple of last-minute wees, we set off.
After about fifteen minutes, we were parked close to the start, and popped into the bus station loos for a final nervous wee. We met with other members of our running club, who were SO lovely and supportive.
After the newbie pep talk, we prepared to go. One of the senior members of our club had volunteered to babysit us on our first run. Such a sweetheart.
We set off. The Toxic Ten turned out to be the Deadly Decade, as the hangover made itself felt. S#*%! 🤬 My two buddies pulled away, and for the duration of the run, I brought up the rear. So many times, I wanted to walk. My babysitter, whom I had warned that I had trained using Japanese slow jogging, finally began to understand just how slowly I ran, despite me repeatedly telling him so. My poor body felt SO tired. I managed to perk up, each time I approached a group of volunteers, who clapped and called out encouragement. They are superheroes, the lot of them.
One third of the run was twice round a meadow with slightly long and springy grass. It had also rained the previous night, so I found it hard going. There was also an extremely long, but slight gradient, which nearly did for me. My babysitter was wonderful though, and kept me going.
Anyway, I managed to maintain a fairly consistent pace throughout, and actually did a very impressive sprint up to the finish. As I was sprinting, I did wonder if my legs might give way! 😂 I walked to the table to get scanned, and met my friend, who is always the fastest out of our little group. I started chatting to her, then burst into tears! She thought I was upset, but I wasn’t. I was just overwhelmed by what I’d just done.
I came 216 out of 226 (amazingly, I was faster than ten people! 🤣🤣🤣), with a time of 46:35. I’m pretty chuffed with that, as I never got anywhere NEAR 4K in 30 minutes before. Also, as I might have previously mentioned, I was hungover! Just think how much faster I’d have been if I’d been abstinent the night before!
The whole setup was brilliant, with such friendly volunteers and organisers, and it was efficiently run. If you haven’t tried Parkrun yet, do give it a go. People were walking as well as running, and it was so jolly. And the forecast storms stayed away, as a bonus! 😁
Watch out Thetford Parkrun, I’ll be back! 😃
Written by
MuddledGardener
Graduate
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Excellent. Lovely run report and well done on your first Parkrun. It’s amazing isn’t it. Enjoy your next one. I can understand how you were emotional at the end. It’s a journey which is hard fought, your doing great.
Flippin well done you!!!! I want to try but worried because I’ve never run with anyone. I did think Inwoukd try next month after, hopefully, graduation and a couple of consolidation runs. You’ve inspired me! 👍🏻
It’s great! I still played my choons (I chose Earth, Wind and Fire to give me a boost), but was able to converse when necessary. I did three weeks consolidation, with the ninth run being Parkrun, so I FINALLY got to 5k!
Hi. I’ve completed my 3rd Gorleston Cliffs park run this week. I run on my own so give me the heads up when you decide to do it and I will come and say Hi.
Hi there, I’m afraid I’ve not done another park run. I really should though. My running has gone a bit quite at the moment as I hated the hot weather🥵🥵🥵
Started going out again properly this week so will be building up again. Hopefully will attempt it soon🏃♀️🏃♀️ How you getting on?
Of course it is. My first run of C25K was far, far harder than today,.. probably the hardest run I've ever done.. But is running a minute impressive? That's what I love about running, it's your journey, no one else's.
Yeah! Congratulations to you and you’ll see next time, you’ll be naturally faster (I’m banking on you not being hungover) (also avoid curries, just saying). Congrats!
Also avoid drinking 2 pints of water just before you run , it’s too late to enter the bloodstream and help at that point. It will just be sloshing around.
Wow, well done you! Cider seems to be far more lethal than other drinks for some reason, I can knock it back like lemonade and then be shocked rigid when I stand up and feel all wibbly wobbly. Your first PR time is very similar to mine (46:59!) so you're in great company. Glad you enjoyed it through your hangover!
Bet you didn't have much of a hangover after that! Very respectable first Parkrun time. But just think how easy it will be to beat your PB next week! (without the hangover)
Wow! Amazing stuff! 🎉🏃♀️🎈🎊 You know, that was a good time in my book. I think that group are just well used to running! I am certain my time wouldn't be any better!
A great read! You’ve inspired me to do a parkrun. I start week 9 tomorrow and I too am partial to a few ales on a Friday night. Good to know the cider didn’t impede you too much! Congratulations on your run.
Just brilliant. Well done you! If you thought it was emotional doing your first run, just wait til you get a pb on your next!!! Your Saturday mornings will never be the same again- parkrun gets addictive.
Congratulations MG! If you can do it on a hangover the rest will be a doddle! You’ll be sending off for your 50 milestone shirt before you know it (honestly!!). Enjoy! No more Saturday lie-ins for you 😉 👍👏👏👏
Fabulous- well done! That’s about the time I do for park runs- i did a charity run on grass and it was Really hard- I’m used to training on asphalt. Look forward to hearing your experience without a hangover ! 🤣
Well done. That’s a good first time for Parkrun in difficult circumstances. I cried also when I finished my first parkrun as I too hadn’t managed 5K during C25k and was even slower than you 47 something. But this weekend after 25 parkruns I completed it in just under 38 minutes. So who knows what you will achieve. Smile for the rest of the week. 😊🏃🏻♀️
Well done MuddledGardener and what a fantastic story .I to completed my first parkrun on Saturday and have to say I've still got a smile on my face 😁. Saturday morning's will never be the same again lol. 👌✌
Thank you! It was very hard work, but I want to go again! Well done to you too! I think we ought to let this hot weather pass before doing it again, though. 🥵
What kind of terrain is Thetford? I'll eventually get off the IC and try out a Norwich one. Not been able to run for almost 3 months, so I think I'll need some retraining! Physio again tomorrow.
Physio showed me how my knee alignment is caused by weak muscles in my bottom, causing ankle problems and my previous knee problem! New set of exercises. Onwards and upwards!
Aw well done you - I’ve done 3 park runs now and they make me emotional- I’m so proud of myself for getting there and stumbling the entire way round and as you say everyone is so supportive. I was as spectacular a performer as yourself 114 out of 128 runners-but each week so far I’ve improved my time. I love park run. I hope you go again.
Ooh just found this and found myself running it with you Muddled Gardener. I'm new to Parkrun too, and learning the ropes! So much fun though, running with other peeps isn't scary at all!
Those volunteers are so supportive, and yes, you do try a bit harder as you go past one!😅
It was my second one last Saturday, and I'm defanately going back for more!😁xxx
Well done to you for running your first parkrun and having a hangover I couldn’t run with one but next week you probably will get a PB without a hangover hopefully 😂 and don’t worry about your pace that will improve the more running you do happy park running 😉👍🏃♀️🍺😂🤗🏁🏆🥇
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Glad you enjoyed it through your hangover!
Wondering if I am ready to try a Parkrun
First parkrun and I was speedy!
OMG...I could cry...tears of happiness 😃
First parkrun on International parkrun day!
