Setting a 'Parkrun' backstop

[SofaJockey]

This may be a mad idea, on my Week 3 'rest day' but I thought I'd share it. I was really pleased with my first '3 minute run' yesterday, but the thought occurred, 'can I actually cover 5k'?

So I went to my local Parkrun course and 'brisk walked' the 5k route to a 120 bpm playlist. So that it would 'count' as a run (a combination of running and walking) in my own head. I did jog for 60 seconds in the middle, so that both running and walking occurred, that 'counts' right?

Anyway, I'm taking that 59'09" 'Freedom run' as a backstop, it can only get faster in the future (not that I particularly care about speed at the moment).

Next challenge is no longer 'can I cover the course', but 'can I run the course'. Should find out in around 6 weeks time.

[Joanney69 Graduate]

That sounds like a great idea 😊

Gives you a marker as you say.

Happy running 🏃 ☺️

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

What you were doing is called 'power walking' good practice for your first parkrun in 6 weeks time, good luck for that. 😊 🏃🏾

[Comfortnotspeed]

Love this idea 🤔

[Selki]

Well done now you know you can complete the distance you just work to running it.

[dieOR5k Graduate]

Awesome idea. I have been debating my bravery in entering a 5k. Giving yourself permission to walk right up front is empowering. Thanks.

[damienair Graduate]

You should just pop along to your local parkrun and walk it all. Just so as to see what it is all about. The next week you could pop along and do the parkrun as part of your C25K plan. Walk for the first 5 mins and then do the running/walking intervals as per the plan and when finished walk the rest to the finish line. Don’t forget your barcode. Plenty of people walk the parkrun course.

Damien

[SofaJockey in reply to damienair]

Good advice. I'll probably wait a couple of weeks for the ground to be a little less sodden. It's a bit of a mud-bath now. But once Spring springs I'll be very much up for improving my 59 minutes, even if only a little.

[Hidden]

great idea thanks, I might do the same

[mom24uk Graduate]

Great idea. I'd have a go at this but I don't even know what our course route is. I've looked at the website but it's a forest run and I'm sure I'd get lost! I'm thinking of turning up on Saturday and walking it but I don't want to keep everyone waiting 😁

[SofaJockey in reply to mom24uk]

I feel the same as you, I don't want to inconvenience the tail walker. Could just ask them how long they tend to take.

[mom24uk Graduate in reply to SofaJockey]

The results are online and I'm guessing (never done a parkrun) that the last person is the tail walker. The times range from 49-54 minutes.

[damienair Graduate in reply to SofaJockey]

The tail walkers job is to make sure everyone finishes and no one gets lost. You won’t be last, and if the tail walker ends up walking with you then you’ll have the company and support of the tail walker. How bad?

[Wenderwoo Graduate in reply to mom24uk]

They won’t mind, lots of people walk the course 😁