First parkrun, oh those hills!

[ellerunner]

First time at parkrun today, went to Camperdown. There is a long hill in the middle and another "shorter" one to the finish line (who decided an uphill finish was a good idea??) . Pretty tough going, the volunteers at the start told us that the hills add about 90 seconds onto a normal undulating 5k course (surely thats 90 seconds onto good runners times??). Anyway set off near the back and overtook a few folk so that felt pretty good. The first hill was a killer and set off my asthmatic wheezing, had to walk a wee bit near the top but was very glad of the reward of the downhill. Enjoyed the flat bits, actually didn't really notice them as I was so concerened with the hills! The last hill is on a track through the woods with lots of tree roots to avoid, I kept thinking it must be nearly the end but it kept going up and up, out into the open and people cheering but my breathing went crazy so had to walk a few steps then continued running up the hill to the finish. Just got a text message with my time, 31.41. Really pleased with that probably won't go every week but it was good fun. Need to get some hill training done!

Thanks NHS couch to 5k and Laura for getting me to this point - amazing 11 weeks ago I was struggling to run for 1 minute Just gotta keep going!

[BettyJane Graduate]

Well done. That's a good time with all that hill running. It was my first Parkrun too, but Norman Park, Bromley it very flat and I managed in an amazing 30.40.

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to BettyJane]

Brilliant! Well done. Parkrun is so well organised, I was really impressed. Just saw my name on the parkrun website results page still don't really believe that i run, I hated running at school!

[BettyJane Graduate in reply to ellerunner]

Me too I used to hide when we did cross country

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to BettyJane]

yep just like me

[ceefin Graduate]

Great time, well done!

I remember Camperdown Park really well, I was an art student up in Dundee in the early eighties and and went to the wee wildlife park they had there so that i could draw the animals. And yes I can imagine those hills are really tough.

Now you have an official time to beat

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to ceefin]

Yeah, maybe I should have gone a bit slower then my time would be easier to beat, ha ha!

[redsheep Graduate]

Well done! I haven't encountered one hill yet. Not sure how I'd cope!

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to redsheep]

I've been running on the flat all through the c25k plan, done a slight slope a few times and found that tough. It was a shock today, I knew there were hills but I didn't expect the first one to be the best part of 1km and the second to be about half km. Bit scared to go back now I know what's in store! will need to do some hill training.

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Well done on your first Parkrun and your time too really good for hills and track, congratualtions.

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

Thank you, I was really pleased with it. What a shock the hills were. I need to get in some serious hill training before the next one, I had to walk a wee bit to get my breathing sorted and it was so hard to get going again! I've got totally new aches in my legs and back tonight!

[notbad Graduate]

Great time, and impressed with you tackling those hills - not easy at all especially with your asthma. Did my first parkrun today too, great fun and didn't miss my music at all, the cheering more than made up for it.

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to notbad]

I didn't miss my music either - well apart from it normally blocking out my wheezing - ha ha!

[swanscot Graduate]

Well done on completing your first Parkrun and a good time.

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to swanscot]

Thank you, I'm very pleased with myself. Would never have believed I could do it.

[Deryn61 Graduate]

That is brilliant, an excellent time on a tough sounding course.

[ellerunner Graduate in reply to Deryn61]

Thank you

Watching the Great North Run on tv this morning. Can't believe those folk are running 13 miles, I was exhausted after 3 but I have to remember that 11 weeks ago I was struggling to run 1 minute. C25k is amazing!

[notbad Graduate in reply to ellerunner]

I'm watching the Great North Run too, would love to do it... 'one day' (like you I can't believe how far I've come so we should never say never). Some of the stewards who cheered us on yesterday are out there running those 13.1 miles today, my turn to cheer now.