I’m due to graduate next Saturday and, all being well, I thought the perfect graduation run would be a park run.
This is probably a really stupid question, but Those of you that graduated during a park run did you do your 5 min warm up walk before the park run started? Or did you include it in the run?
Have you been recording your run stats? If you’re at or near 5k in 30 minutes then the warmup would need to come before the start, so that you don’t get to the finish with some running still to do. That said, if you finish this with 30, 30 and 25 but 5k then I’d say you graduated!
I’d do the warmup at the start next week then, that way you won’t get dragged into running too quickly, and 5 minutes in you can just do your thing with enough course left to get 30 minutes in before the finish.
I tried park run a week after I'd graduated and did my 5 min warm up walk first as it's what I was used to and was worried it might do harm to not do the walk first. Sadly this of course meant that I was immediately at the back which upset me as my brain said "oh look, you're at the back again, just like at school.." looking back, I wish I had done my 5 min walk before it started so that I could start running with everyone else and I'll definitely do that when I try park run again, and hopefully have a more positive experience! I'm waiting until I can run nearer to 5k in one go as I think if I stop I won't be able to start again! I want to be able to run it all.
That’s what I was worried about too! I was thinking it’s silly to start it off by walking as I’ll be at the back 😂 Oh gosh, now I’m thinking I shouldn’t do it for a little while too 🙈 until I can do the 5k in 30 at least!
I think if you did your warm up walk before it starts then you would definitely be running with the crowd for a lot of it before you needed to stop to walk. Lots of people do some of their C25k runs after week 5 at park runs i gather. It wouldn't hurt to try it out. But I'm waiting until I know I can run the whole way before I try it again. And as someone else pointed out here, I'll definitely get a new PB next time, so that will feel good! 😊
Also, 5k in 30 mins is a long way away for me, but that doesn't concern me at all. I'm more concerned about running for 30 mins at least 3 times a week. Some people do park run in 18 mins which is just crazy!
Aw a few people at my park run walk all the way and the trail walker finishes last so at mine you’d be OK if you started off walking - that said I always walk to parkrun and then start off running. I start at the back of the pack though as I’d find it depressing if I started at the front and kept getting overtaken... I generally finish fairly near the back of the back BUT I enjoy it
It's up to you. I did my first ever 5km run at Parkrun and I just counted the walk from carpark to the start line as my warm up walk. I really wanted to see if I could run the whole thing. Do what feels right for you, just make sure that you do warm up before running. Let us know how it goes! ☺
Thanks for your reply. I also would count the walk to the start line as the 5m walk 😉 Thank you THATS really encouraging to know. I may see how I get on this week and then decide 😊 xx
I would certainly do my warm up before the start. The warm up is no way as important as the cool down / stretching part of your run. Head towards the back of the pack and just go at your own pace. I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Good luck.
Hope this isn’t too late but I thought I’d respond anyway! I did my graduation run at a Parkrun and I was nowhere near 5k in the 30 minutes (and I’m still not!). I started at the back and did my warm up walk at the start - which meant I essentially saw everyone disappearing ahead of me! But hey, it’s not a race and someone has to be at the back so it may as well be me! I’ve done a couple of PRs since, with no discernible improvement but I remain hopeful! I decided that my last run and my consolidation runs would all follow the last week of the plan before I break out into other things! So in short, whichever suits you best is the best way to go. There’s no right or wrong way - just as there are no stupid questions! Good luck and happy running!
Never too late! Thanks so much for your reply. That’s really helpful to know and great advice, thank you 😊 Well done for completing your graduation run at park run. I hope you enjoyed it. I wonder if anyone else there will be on the C25K program? I’m sure I won’t be the only slow one 🤣
Also - I volunteer to marshal at parkrun sometimes - that gives you a whole different perspective- you are truly proud of everyone as they come past you. You are amazed at the ones who saunter past really fast in a blur but to be honest I was more impressed for the ones putting more effort in at the back of the pack.
So I’ve been doing park run and couch to five k together .... park run has been my run three each week. They are so so friendly and accepting of all fitness levels !! Am now on week 5( just done yesterday) and I start running with everyone else, run for three minutes of the warm up and then follow the schedule on the app 😊😊
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