First ever park run

[SweatyHettie]

Well, I’ve finally done it! First parkrun in the bag and it was enjoyable- as everyone had said, brilliantly well organised, friendly and absolutely no pressure.

I wasn’t going to take the dog because I wanted to suss it out myself first but she did those puppy dog eyes at me when I put the gear on as if to say “what? Am I not coming ?😢” so I caved.

One of the reasons I wasn’t going to take her was because you can’t wear a waist harness and I didn’t know how she would be just on a lead. More to the point I wasn’t sure how I would be as I like to be hands free on a run. But you can’t squash enthusiasm so off we went. I have to say I didn’t particularly enjoy running with her on a hand held lead because it was quite tiring on my arm having to physically hold on to her - I think that probably says more about me needing to train her more - but I kept swapping hands and we made it.

Everyone says they start out too fast on a park run. Isn’t it weird how being out of your normal routine can throw you ? I had my music on but didn’t set the NRC to track the run - rookie error- although I knew I was nowhere near the keen beans at the front I realised I wasn’t getting any feedback on actual pace and weather I was doing OK. I’ve struggled to get out this week with work and a bit of breathlessness from a cold and I wanted to take it easy. I figured as long as I was breathing OK all was well.

Towards the end I realised I was behind the 35mins pacer which was unexpected as I was thinking I would be more like 40 so Ebony was clearly a fast pacesetter!

So what I’ve taken from today is -park runs are great and very welcoming to newbies, nothing to be scared of! If you are considering doing one - definitely do it!

However for me as a solo runner I don’t think I will be doing it every week - I realised I like the solitude more than I thought and also I couldn’t sing!! 😂 ( and as many people who have heard me will tell you I really can’t sing!!) So maybe just every once in a while because on the plus side I only went and got a PB - I’ve just seen the result email and I did a sub 35 for the first time ever! Clearly running alongside others did up my pace. But whilst I’m chuffed, I’m not really running for that, it’s all about me and the dog. Who is currently sound asleep on my bed 💤

Oh and the last pic is of the moon this morning did you see it ? We call it a skinny moon 🌙 but when I took the pic with my camera not just the phone, I realised you could see all of it - apparently reflecting light back from earth 🤔 it was beautiful

have a great weekend everyone

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Well done to you on completing your first parkrun in a sub 35 minute time, great photo, especially of the skinny moon, by the way if you are out before sunrise the very bright "star" to the south east is actually the planet Venus

[SweatyHettie Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks- and yes I did know about Venus - bit of a weather/ geography/ astronomy geek family here! 😊

[nowster Graduate in reply to AlMorr]

In the early evening Jupiter's quite prominent in the east at the moment.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate in reply to nowster]

Yes it is nowster, on a cloudless evening I have seen the planet Jubiter in the east and later in the south and in the morning it's Venus. Many years ago the creasant moon and a very bright Venus were right next to each other, I could seen Venus next to the moon at one o'clock in the afternoon, it's the only planet as far as I know that can be seen at certain times of it's bright phase during the day if you know where to look, I only saw it at 1pm because of the moon next to it.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Well done for trying it, I do prefer running alone most the time but do enjoy parkrun once most weeks

[Runawaytrainer Graduate]

That looks a beautiful parkrun. Where is it?

[SweatyHettie Graduate in reply to Runawaytrainer]

I’m lucky to have a choice near me - this one is Lee on the Solent

[Runawaytrainer Graduate in reply to SweatyHettie]

Greetings from Highcliffe - not so far away! I used to do one of the Norwich parkruns but haven't got back to it since we moved to the south coast.

[MissUnderstanding Administrator On a break Graduate]

That sounds like such a positive experience-congratulations! 🏃‍♀️🎉🏅

[Teaching]

Lovely, congratulations 🎉