Park Run!

[Daisyreluctantrunner]

I have now really and pedantically completed C25K in that I have actually run 5K on a Park run.

While the C25K programme actually gets us up to a 30 minute run, for most of us this will not be 5K. This is not even slightly a criticism of C25K which I have found absolutely essential in recovering my health after a period of ill-health (trivial ill-health btw - I just had a bad cold in April and in the several months it took to get over the subsequent post-viral fatigue and cough I lost loads of fitness). The C25K program has been really key in getting that fitness back and huge thanks to my coach Reece Parkinson; who according to his script feels we might have forged a bond. Somewhat oddly I think he may be right.

I finished the C25K programme a couple of weeks ago and have been running 'consolidating' runs since. My first Park run was today. As a bit of feedback to anyone doing the same it was tougher than I had imagined. Many people there were very fit and sporting T-shirts of their marathons or running clubs. The general pace was faster than I had imagined (a failure of my imagination really). I tried to take the advice of this forum to go at my own pace but it proved to be tricky to go quite so slowly (no external pressure - just my own).

The whole Parkrun experience was extremely ably managed and I would urge anyone to give it a go after C25K, but be aware it is quite a big step up.

[Yesletsgo Administrator]

Congratulations on your first Parkrun. That feeling of getting carried away is a real mixed blessing. On a good day you get a PB, on a bad day an injury (I've had both, couldn't run for 6 weeks after my first Parkrun).

As you run more you'll find your pace and your confidence and it will get easier

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Well done you and thanks for reiterating what we are banging on about here, all the time. C25K is an oxymoron... it is just Couch to 30 minutes...

Park Run warning too, because so many of our runners are huge fans and many newbies want to experience it... it was a few years before I did one and then only because I needed to. a) to run with other folk and b) run on the flat

It takes will power for some folk to run at their own pace, and they do not alwyas manage it. Starting right at the back can help....

I am so used to running on my own, which I love that other folk's pace is not really relevant to me

Huge well done to you though... on you go... your run, your pace!

[Cmoi Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

While you're right that the C25K name is inaccurate Oldfloss I think you meant to type misnomer, not oxymoron. 😊

And to Daisyreluctantrunner , I've never done a parkrun, but there's a dedicated weekly thread over on the Bridge to 10k forum that you might find interesting. Yesterday's thread is here: healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Maybe.. maybe not

[drl212 Graduate]

I found/find it very tough not to get swept away with the crowds. But starting at the back of the group does help.

And just like YLG says, it can bring you a PB - that's happened twice recently. On another, I had to take a break from running and walk a few times.

I'm now taking the long view that this is all experience and will help me to find what works out best for me!

Well done you! And parkrun is pretty amazing...

[damienair Graduate]

I finished the C25K plan about 8 years ago. I like you then did my first parkrun. And I found it a big step up. However I also loved it and I don't think I would still be running today without parkrun. My first parkrun took me about 40 minutes to complete with a few walking breaks. I did not do it every week in the beginning but I did really like it. At times I get fit and I can be up around the 26 minute finish times, other times I lose fitness and it can take me 45 minutes to complete it. My tip is to start at the back so as you don't get caught up in the initial rush. Also pick someone out of the crowd who is running at a pace which you find comfortable and tuck in beside them and use them to pace you. Congratulations on doing your first parkrun.

[nowster Graduate]

I did my first parkrun nearly a year after graduating C25K. I was already running 10km by that point. Parkrun had just resumed after lockdown.

The course which was open was not my most local. It was flat but stony, and very busy.

As with many who do parkrun for the first time I got swept up in the crowd and ran far too quickly, leaving me having to walk part of the final kilometre.

I did my local parkrun the following week. Much hillier. Again I overdid it and had to walk a significant chunk of the final lap.

It took me a few weeks to ignore the pack and run at my own pace. Even now, with over 100 parkruns under my toes I tend to start near the back and let the genuinely fast and the inexperienced zoom off at the start. The fast ones will lap me. The overenthusiastic ones who don't pace themselves I'll find walking by about half way through.