It was very daunting. I turned up and was near the front of the crowd ready to start the run. Everyone was wearing red, white and blue; except for me. One of the volunteers who seemed to be in charge of the event pointed at me rather officiously and asked why I was wearing the wrong clothes. Everyone turned around and stared at me and I looked down at my pink tight running top only to see that I was revealing rather more of me than I should have been! I was mortified and wanted the ground to swallow me up, as I quickly pushed what was on show back into the top. Then the volunteer asked for my barcode card. I couldn't believe it but I had left it at home! How stupid. By then the minutes had been ticking away so the volunteer said that we would have to re-convene at ten past nine.
I was bursting for the toilet but luckily the person next to me said that they had an apartment nearby, and kindly said I could use their toilet. It was very posh so I had to take my trainers off to go in. As I came out of the toilet I could hear the horn blowing to signal that we were a minute away from starting again so I ran to the starting line carrying my trainers. I bent down to put them on but I was so nervous that the laces seemed to take for ever to tie properly, my hands were shaking uncontrollably and once again everyone was looking at me. I could hear everyone tut-tutting and saying how you could tell I wasn't a real runner because I couldn't even put my trainers on properly.Then I woke up and it was 5.15. And I had to laugh at myself, it was very realistiic though!
When I actually got there I walked around and around a large hedge, to warm up but actually needed the toilet! I wondered if I could crouch down to go without being seen. Then, lo and behold I passed a lady runner doing exactly that!! It made me laugh. I decided to not risk it myself as there were a lot of people milling around! I have a streaming cold so I had a lot of tissues in my pockets just in case. It was about 18 degrees with a cooling breeze.
During the run I found that I enjoyed running near /just behind other people and there was one guy who had 'sub 27' on his T shirt who was a pace maker (how cool is that?) and I tried to keep him in sight a little way ahead of me; this really, really helped.
I felt sick near the end and kept saying to myself keep pushing on because I never have to do it again! The volunteers were great, cheering and clapping us on. I was very relieved to get over the line and managed a lttle sprint! I forgot to turn off my garmin, and when I did a few moments later it read 28.08..so I reckon I might be around the 28 mark 
How great would that be!?! So I wait in anticipation for the results.
Actually I can't wait to do it again!
Parkrun from the other side
Wow...I've just done my first Parkrun :) :)
ParkRun Reconnaissance Report
