What stage to start a Parkrun?

[notsporty]

I'm just starting Week 8 and a friend wants me to do a local Parkrun with her-it's quite hilly and I am worried it might be a bit beyond me. Does anyone have any experience on this ?

[BettyJane Graduate]

Yesterday was my first parkrun, it was also my W8R1, so I'd say go for it.

[notsporty]

Thanks-hmmm, may give it a go...

[ellerunner Graduate]

I waited until I graduated, I counted it as my next goal. I only ever ran the times that Laura told me to in the podcasts, when it was 28 minutes and Laura said stop - I stopped, I know that many folk carry on and see how long a 5k takes them. I guess it depends on how you are doing your training. I did my first parkrun this weekend and it was hilly - I would have been much slower in week 8, I graduated 2 weeks ago.

[Deryn61 Graduate]

I waited till I had run 5k a few times weeks after graduating as I was/am very slow! I then checked my nearest parkrun results before I went to see how I would fare - I thought I would be last but I found I ran faster on the day (despite feeling I was struggling at the time!) and came in last but 3.

Dont forget parkrun is all about you so even if you are slow and/or have to walk sections that doesnt matter, the idea is to keep going back as often as you can/want and see your times improve!

[notsporty]

Thanks for the replies-I am slow and I think my confidence might take a knock if I was way behind everyone else . At the moment I am running to time and not distance so I need to start seeing how far I am actually running before I move on to this next stage.

[Jtatum Graduate]

Apologies for my ignorance but what is a park run?

[Oldgirl Graduate in reply to Jtatum]

Go to parkrun.org.uk its a 5K run which takes place in many towns/cities all over the UK and indead other countries too. Its run by volunteers and is free for all abilities. We had an older lady walked ours yesterday with her little granddaughter, they both did very well too. They start at 9.00am in England, Wales & 9.30 in Scotland.

Hope this helps.

[Greg_M Graduate]

What might be worth checking out whether you local one has a half-way finishing point. Mine has a 2.5K and 5K finishing point and you can just choose which to do. That might be less intimidating?

[notsporty]

Thanks for the suggestion-that would work really well, and would definitely be less intimidating!

[wilmacgh Graduate]

Don't be put off. We have people finishing after 45 minutes. There is always a volunteer marshall at the back at they are very supportive. Also the people round the finish will clap you in.

I think if you are at week 8 you should be fine. Try the course during the week but don't worry if ti seems hard - you'll find the atmosphere on the day spurs you on.

[totalbeginner Graduate]

i waited until graduation too but like you i was paranoid i wouldnt be able to do it. I would say try it - the thing i found hardest was i had always stopped after my 30 min time was up, i never felt really motivated to keep going to cover any further ground. also after i graduated i got in a rut as i find it hard to push myself and didnt seem to go any faster with my runs.

everyone at Parkrun was lovley, there was a real family feel to it and very supportive. I didnt find it competetive at all and so dont let that put you off.

get registered get your barcode today if you havent already and see how you feel on saturday morning. if the weather is good and you feel up for it then i would go along. I wish i had gone sooner really as i went about 6 weeks after i had graduated and only ended up going once (So far) though i am fully intending going again. there is no rush to complete in a set time so dont let that worry you. you will probably surprise yourself and run it with no problems whatsoever.

[totalbeginner Graduate]

forgot to say not sporty i am not fast either but i ran it with someone who is a seasoned parkrunner, but doesnt call herself fast (despite running in sub 30 min in past) usually she told me she runs it in around 35 min with her daughter. I had (or rather my hubby) had worked out if i continued running for the full 5 k rather then stopping after 30 min it would take me 37 min to complete.i asked my friend if she would run at her usual pace of 35 min i would see how it felt and try to keep it up to pust myself.

It worked - i did push myself and i didnt realise until the end i was all blotchy and red. in my usual runs after my cool down walk i have never looked like that! although i wasnt ready to collapse in a pile at the finishing line so part of me thinks i could have pshed myself harder, though whats the point if youre not going to enjoy it. im not a competetive person- i wanted to finish and i did. at what i thought was half way point i kind of wished i had started slower i was strating to struggle and slowed down my pace though i kept running. my firend was great kept encouraging me and stayed with me, and said well we are 80% done not 50%.

it doesnt matter if you dont run all way round, if you wanted or felt you needed to slow your pace or drop to walking for 1-2 min then start running again you can do, there are no 'rules'

see what times your running partner usually runs and see how you go, though you can run on your own with your podcast rather then be worried about keeping up. in my 30 min runs i covered about 4.2 k so it was nice to see that i can run 5k and i am sure you can too good luck