Had to share this! I recently joined a Strava club, for a park run where I live. My aim is to be able to participate in a 5K run for that club later in the year. A girl’s gotta have dreams!
So, I’m idly checking the club’s pages to see what kind of stuff people are posting, and notice that the vast majority of people are posting their runs that are wayyyy ahead of anything that I’ll ever be capable of doing! So I take a wistful look at the leaderboard page. They show the top 10 and the bottom 6. Hey, I’m there - third from the bottom 😂. Maybe I’ll even creep up a bit after my run tomorrow! (I’m number 138!)
I’m a runner and I’m on a leaderboard! 🏃♀️🎉
Written by
Jools2020
Graduate
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Yes, I am! But I know, too, that I have to take it one step at a time. When I started this program I never thought I’d be checking out everyone’s pace! I think I am hooked on this running malarkey 🤣
Did you try them on? My trail shoes are 1/2 size bigger than my usual shoe size, I think it’s because they have more support. Mine are Salomon sense 3 or something, I ordered them online following advice and got lucky.
Yes, my road shoes are 1 full size bigger than my normal shoes s ok I was s bit reluctant to go another half size on top (although I guess I could return them )
That's very true! Being at the bottom does have its advantages. There is no pressure! But I would like to creep up that list. And I will! I’m not sure how it works, though. I think it might be on a single run. At the moment, my longest run is 2.6K. It will be some weeks before I get to 5K and I’m not rushing it. First priority is to complete this program 😀.
Indeed. I am extremely competitive, so I am always looking for competition. There is always someone better than me so I don't go in competition with anyone BUT me. As long as I am better than I was the last time, I'm winning. So if I shave a 100th of a second off my previous day's best or I run for a few more seconds more than I did yesterday, I win. Also this way I can go at my own pace. Good luck completing the programme, I am sure you will!
Strava is tough. For me, it’s very stressful so I make all of my runs private and never participate in any leaderboards. They’re mentally not good for me.
I like the stats! I can understand how it can be stressful. I didn’t even know I was participating, but if it does become stressful, I won’t bother with it. At the moment it is just amusing to be near the bottom!
It can be great motivation for some! For me it doesn’t work. I joined a park run, told it was ok for all abilities, I did Week 6 there (last time I tried the programme) and I was 117/120 and had sweeper people following me around, it did not feel good and I haven’t been back since, I didn’t run much after that In fact.
I’m slightly better mentally prepared this time but still a way off joking a park run until I get my times up.
Good that it works for you and sets yourself a goal!
Oh, I’m sorry it didn’t work for you! I think I need to consider what I want to get out of it. Do I want to compete with others and finish well, with a great time? No, that would be unrealistic. Do I just want to complete it in a time that’s achievable, maybe pushing myself a little? Yes! Does it matter where I come in the field? Not really, but I’ve seen this park run and it’s fun. Lots of people can’t run 5k and they dress up for charities and run and walk. I won’t do it until I can complete 5K in whatever time it takes me! I don’t want to set myself up to fail. I’m guessing maybe end of September if I’m ready.
I think a more relaxed approach comes with confidence. When I started, I was constantly trying to beat my PBs and looking at everyone else's times on Strava. Really, it was for reassurance - I run on my own, never having done anything like it before, and it was a way of telling whether I was doing it right. But the very act of competing with myself and the Strava leaderboard was doing it wrong! I gave it up when it made running a chore.
Now I'm quite happy in my own little world with my own, hopefully realistic, goals. I don't pay for strava so I no longer have any idea what the leaderboard says anyway.
I think I didn't do a parkrun in the early days because I was worried about my speed. I have just registered, but I'm pretty sure when it gets going again, other runners' performance won't bother me now. I'm used to the young bucks flying past me on my run.
There's something to be said for being competitive as long as you don't injure yourself. There's something to be said for treading your own path. Do what makes you happy!
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Have you changed your Parkrun running club to NHS Couch to 5km yet?
Am I still allowed to post here?
