Park run question : I’m due to graduate next... - Couch to 5K

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Park run question

30 Replies

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?

Again, sorry if that’s a stupid question!

30 Replies
UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

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!

in reply to UnfitNoMore

Hiya! Thanks for your reply. Yesterday I did 4K in the 28 minutes run and my pace was 6:56km 😊

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

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.

in reply to UnfitNoMore

Fab! Thanks for your help 😊

UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate in reply to

Have a great week and a wonderful parkrun

in reply to UnfitNoMore

Thank you; you too!

Silkey profile image
Silkey in reply to

Pretty impressive

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

What a brilliant idea to graduate at parkrun. I would include your warm up walk as part of the parkrun. Hope you enjoy it. 😊😊

in reply to Buddy34

Thanks Buddy! I’m a little bit nervous about doing it, but I’ve heard they’re really friendly!

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate in reply to

Don't worry I was a bit nervous at my first and then realise nothing to be nervous of 😊

ChoosingHappy profile image
ChoosingHappyGraduate

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.

Hope this helps! 😁

in reply to ChoosingHappy

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!

ChoosingHappy profile image
ChoosingHappyGraduate in reply to

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! 😊

ChoosingHappy profile image
ChoosingHappyGraduate in reply to ChoosingHappy

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!

Ssasqueen profile image
Ssasqueen in reply to

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

in reply to Ssasqueen

Thank you 😊

Debston profile image
DebstonGraduate

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! ☺

in reply to Debston

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

K8nno profile image
K8nnoGraduate

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.

in reply to K8nno

Thanks very much for replying and for your encouragement. I’ll try my best 😄

Smelliepoo profile image
SmelliepooGraduate

There are no stupid questions. You do not need to apologise for yourself.

Remember it is not a race, it is a run. The only person you need to challenge is yourself. (in a steady and positive way, od course!) 😁

in reply to Smelliepoo

Thanks very much! That’s really encouraging and such a positive outlook 👍🏼☺️

Tasha99 profile image
Tasha99Graduate

I did run 3 of every week in the parkrun. By week 7 I did the 5 minute walk before the start 👍🏽 Enjoy it. Parkrun is amazing 😍

in reply to Tasha99

Wow that’s fantastic! What a lovely way to complete each run 3 and you made amazing progress by week 7! Well done 👍🏼

Oldgirlruns profile image
OldgirlrunsGraduate

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!

in reply to Oldgirlruns

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 🤣

Ssasqueen profile image
Ssasqueen

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.

in reply to Ssasqueen

Thanks so much! Looking at it from that perspective is lovely. Well done for volunteering too; such a wonderful thing to do 😊

Drumandbass123 profile image
Drumandbass123Graduate

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 😊😊

in reply to Drumandbass123

Thanks very much! That’s very helpful to know 😊

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