Parkrunbarcode! : So I’ve spent the last week... - Couch to 5K

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Parkrunbarcode!

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate
39 Replies

So I’ve spent the last week reflecting on this C25K journey... and all the advice and support given from you guys throughout.

One of my goals in all of this was to be able to go to my local park run, find something new I enjoy and perhaps even make some new (non virtual) friends.

I’ve been putting it off going for the first time, for various reasons. Anxiety, worries; basically a load of irrational stuff. I mean, who even cares what I look like, if I’m sweaty or smelly, or if I’ve got wobbly bits, if I can’t finish running the entire 5k, or if I’m last. Who cares!? 🙄

So I’ve decided I need to be more positive, stop overthinking things and (on the advice of you lovely lot) focus on enjoying this running business over everything else!

So... In a bid to encourage myself to get my brave girl pants on, I purchased an overpriced, pretty new pink park run barcode - surely this means I HAVE to go to park run now! 😬

The 3 park runs within a reasonable distance are cancelled tomorrow; so I will just have to find a pretty place to run & looks like I have gained another week to build some more confidence in prep. 🤙🏼

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Sar9 profile image
Sar9
Graduate
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39 Replies
AlMorr profile image
AlMorrAmbassadorGraduate

After that "overpriced barcode" I am very sorry that your parkruns, 3 of them have been cancelled, the reason is probably flooding, all you can do is find a nice route locally and run a 5K.

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to AlMorr

There’s always next weekend - just have more time to prepare!

Will still have a good run tomorrow I’m sure!

Comfortnotspeed profile image
Comfortnotspeed

Well, it’s a pretty wrist band... Sorry the local park runs are off. Same here due to floods.

You can still run though 🙂

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Comfortnotspeed

Seems they have been cancelled in lots of places due to weather! There’s always the next Saturday 😊

Oldfloss profile image
OldflossAdministratorGraduate

Run and enjoy and when when the weather eases, then run and enjoy the new experience of Park Run... it is not for everyone, but for many it is part of Saturday morning and a friendlier bunch of folk would be hard to find:) Well done you !

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Oldfloss

Thanks! 🙂

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate

That’s a shame, I’m sure you’ll get to do one soon. I’ve got a wrist band, which has served me well for several years, profits do go to sustaining this wonderful free event, so I hope you’re not too disappointed.

Good luck with your first parkrun, whenever or wherever it may be, I hope you enjoy it, do come back and tell us about it. I must say, I’m a convert!

Mx

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Madge50

I’m not disappointed at all, I love it. I chose to buy it for the exact reason that it goes towards being able to continue with the free park run events. It just felt a little naughty on my behalf spending on another item not needed lol. 😳

Thank you! Fingers crossed the weather will allow next weekend & I’ll certainly feedback on how it goes 😁

Madge50 profile image
Madge50Graduate in reply to Sar9

ahh, but it is needed......very important, see, calorie free, and makes you instantly attractive, especially to barcode scanners after said parkrun 😉, definite guilt free purchase.......

Of course the cake and hot chocolate after said parkrun is a different matter.......😂

Mx

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Madge50

🤣 great theory!

Mmm hot chocolate and cake 🤤 does park run give you that excuse... sounds even more appealing now!

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate

We shall be cheering you along tomorrow even though the park runs are cancelled

I’m sure one day this rain will stop and we can run where we like once again

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun

😂 fingers crossed - summer will be here soon! 🌞

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate in reply to Sar9

It sure will and oh those tanned shoulders and legs i miss them so much

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun

Oh yes! Can’t wait for the tan! 😱 I’m going to Jamaica in May hopefully it’ll give me a boost 🤣

SueAppleRun profile image
SueAppleRunGraduate in reply to Sar9

Oh how lovely you will be a gorgeous colour

Nilsam profile image
NilsamGraduate

Well done...how exciting. 🤝👍🏃‍♀️

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Nilsam

Thanks 😊

DDJ2019 profile image
DDJ2019Graduate

Brilliant! I'm looking forward to graduating in March and then will join ParkRun as well. I have the same worries, fears and anxieties but I'm determined to overcome them and get stuck in.

Hope the weather breaks soon and you can start the next stage of your running life!

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to DDJ2019

It’s so easy to let these fears and anxieties take over sometimes! Good luck on completing C25K. Look forwards to seeing how your first park run goes too!! 😬

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate

Great colour wristband Sar9 . Don't worry I think it's normal to be nervous of your first parkrun. It's just because its something new i was also nervous the first time . I've now ran 10 and it just feels normal to be there.

Hopefully next weekend your local parkrun will not be cancelled. Good luck and let us know how you get on 🤗🤗

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Buddy34

Thanks Buddy34 it’s good to hear that, I wasn’t really sure if many people worried about this sort of thing! I’m sure like you once I get the first one out the way I’ll be able to just feel good going 😊

Well done on doing 10!!

Fingers crossed for next weekend!

Buddy34 profile image
Buddy34Graduate in reply to Sar9

🤞🤞🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

madmother profile image
madmotherGraduate

Go for it 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to madmother

😬 in progress 🤣

madmother profile image
madmotherGraduate in reply to Sar9

I think you’ll really enjoy it, park runs sound fabulous. I can’t go as I committed to weighing people at my local SW group on a Saturday morning. So I get up early and run to fat club! 🏃‍♀️🤣

Rigpig profile image
RigpigGraduate

Yay! 😁😁😁

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Rigpig

😬

MartinKH profile image
MartinKHGraduate

Good on you Sar9 for not overthinking it and just going for it.

Hopefully less rain next weekend ☔️ so there is a park run on in your area then.

I’ve not done a park run yet, but I’m going to give it a go soon too after a few consolidation runs.

Happy running 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♂️👍

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to MartinKH

Oh I’ve done plenty of overthinking 🤣

Yep hopefully the rain does one!

Great stuff, looks forwards to seeing how you get on! 😬

Speedy60 profile image
Speedy60Graduate

Good for you! I still haven't worked up to it. My excuses at the moment are being busy on Saturday morning and the weather. I just insert each one as appropriate.

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Speedy60

Speedy60 you’d smash park run - you ran blinking 10km!!! 🤣 even more shoddy than my excuses 🤪

Speedy60 profile image
Speedy60Graduate in reply to Sar9

Thank you, but it's not so much the distance, it's the people. I've only ever run on my own.

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Speedy60

Me too... scary huh!

Speedy60 profile image
Speedy60Graduate in reply to Sar9

There's a parkrun starting here in April. I've promised myself I will be a regular. 😆

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Speedy60

Yess... go for it! If I can, so can you 😁

Wenderwoo profile image
WenderwooGraduate

Lovely bracelet! I so glad you’re feeling better - I’m loving the ‘who cares’ attitude - I’m sure you will enjoy the freedom it gives you 👍😁

Sar9 profile image
Sar9Graduate in reply to Wenderwoo

Thanks Wenderwoo, I’m sure I’ll have another million wobbles but I’ll certainly embrace the who cares attitude whilst it lasts 🤣

I love the image you paint of putting on your brave girl pants 😊. You are 100% right of course, absolutely no one is going to be interested in anyone else’s wobbly bits, far too interested in their own or their new Garmin watch, or if they are going to beat their personal best.

When the weather permits enjoy the park you run and the feeling of strength and fitness in your body that you have worked so hard to build.

dieOR5k profile image
dieOR5kGraduate

Oh so brave of you. I’m in week 6 and am just starting to think about running in public. Pls report back how your first goes in a couple of weeks to encourage the rest of us scaredy-cats.

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