I'm off to do my first park run on Saturday.
Although I know I can run the distance I am a bit concerned that running with lots of other people will create a bit of pressure and I might dip out! Any tips from anyone?
Oh, and I am loving my graduate badge!!
No need to worry about running with others, Park Runs are the friendliest places imaginable!
The best advice I can offer is not to get pulled along by the crowd to begin with, stay at your own pace and start steadily. You can always put a kick in to the last k if you've energy left.
Above all, enjoy it!
I always start right at the very back and I've always found the slow groupies back there are really nice people, we have such a laugh (im sure the front ones are just as nice but im too slow to speak from experience lol).being at the back gives you the option of overtaking if necessary but also means you don't get swept along at a speed you're not comfortable with.
On my first Parkrun I asked a couple at the back if they had run it before, this broke the ice and they made me feel at ease.
Good luck and let us know how you get on 
Relax and enjoy it. Agree - start near the back so you dont get caught up (or get in the way!!) and you will be fine. I was surprised at how many people actually stop and have a walk too so dont worry about doing that if you need to.
Good luck.
Youll have fun Im sure. My first Parkrun was one of the hottest days in March we have ever had. I was needing the loo (again, nerves), frightened to death I would trip someone up, and even more terrified someone would speak to me because I had always been a lone runner and had no one to chat to, so quite simply I can't do both, run and speak!!! Oh I know women can multi task, but this needs more practice, so I now run along singing to my music, get loads of funny looks from motorists though.
Enjoy your run on Saturday, and dont worry because they really are a friendly bunch of joggers/runners and some walkers too.
Let us know how you get on, Ill be running this Saturday as well.
I'm sure you will have a good time.
I found Parkrun before C25K. I knew I could cover the distance 'cos I do that regularly dogwalking ... it just takes over an hour at dogwalk pacee.
I made sure that I started at the back and also told the Marshals that I would be SLOW. They just said "no problem" and congratulated me for trying. I finished in 53;30min 90%walking fast and 10% jogging slowly. I had the finish funnel to myself and quite a few people cheering me in ... and I wasn't last.
Before I went on my first park run I had a good look at the map of the route and tried to pick out distance landmarks Save yourself for the last 1k and then push if you have anything left in the tank.Its amazing what sight of the finish line will pull out.
Its not the end of the world if you dont get a great time ... you can always have another go the next week and the next and ... Beware Parkrun is addictive as is improving your PB
Thanks so much for all your comments and advice everyone. Just the reassurance and motivation I needed! I will let you know how I get on x
Park Run Woes
First park run
First Park Run
Park Run.. .
