Am I really the only C25k-er doing the Edinbur... - Couch to 5K

Couch to 5K

132,591 members158,675 posts

Am I really the only C25k-er doing the Edinburgh Parkrun?

wilmacgh profile image
wilmacghGraduate
18 Replies

We had 391 runners at Cramond today but I seem to be the only one admitting to C25k.

Lots of people on this site do the Parkruns but I'm not sure if everyone realises you can put your club as 'NHS Couch to 5k' as your club. The results get collated to admin on this site.

Come on folks - let's spread the word!

Written by
wilmacgh profile image
wilmacgh
Graduate
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
18 Replies
greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate

I wondered how those posts about parkruns knew who was on here! Now I know. When (one day maybe in a few months/years) I do a parkrun, I must remember to credit this group! Rather like the idea of it being an official club.

Aha! I am a member of a running club! How hilarious! Thank you for pointing this out - my family will love that! (Too many exclamation marks there - no, maybe not.)

Fingalo profile image
FingaloGraduate

When I registered, it didn't give me the option of my club being C25k. Think I better check back, thanks Wil.

And Greeners, what's this months/years lark?

We're at about the same stage of the programme, what say we set a day and go for it? It's not as if people don't run/walk them.

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply to Fingalo

It's just that my nearest one doesn't often seem to have anyone slower than 35 min, and there's no way I'll be able to do that for ages (see post about age gradings etc).

However... This week there were quite a few slower people, so I'll look next week and see, and then I'll seriously consider it. I don't mind being amongst the last, but am not keen on being about 10 minutes behind everyone else! I'd prefer to be invisible, not having people cheering me on because I'm being so determined etc etc.

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply to greenlegs

Just looked again - I'd have been 2nd to last on my today's time - BUT - my route doesn't have the big hill in it that the parkrun does (well, it looks big to me) - so I'd have been last. But maybe not by so very much. I am weakening!

Fingalo profile image
FingaloGraduate in reply to greenlegs

I've not the slightest idea what my time would be as I don't know how far I'm actually running/walking. What do you use?

greenlegs profile image
greenlegsGraduate in reply to Fingalo

I'm a bit spoilt because I've got a garmin gps beast (not a runners one, a walkers one with maps on - posh Christmas present) which is a brilliant toy. It tracks my run and then I can download my route and view it on google earth, with my running pace and all the hills and things in a neat little graph - which suits my geeky side very well. I can spend hours playing with it, finding which bits were fastest.

But before I'd got that working I just mapped my route on one of the free mapping sites (I used wtp2.appspot.com/wheresthep... or SparkPeople) . I worked out a 5k circuit from my front door. I like being able to time myself walking/running it about once a week, to see how I'm getting on.

Then again, maybe it's better not to know, and just get on with it. I do tend to overanalyse things!

Fingalo profile image
FingaloGraduate in reply to greenlegs

Ha ha!

Thanks Greeners. I think I'll continue to focus on getting through the programme for now but will check out that mapping site sometime soon.

Fingalo profile image
FingaloGraduate

Done. The drop down options are copious and while I checked C25k, Couch to 5k etc, I didn't spot it started 'NHS' Couch to 5k.

Malcy profile image
MalcyGraduate

Just ran my first Parkrun today (well, second - my bar code didn't work first time), but it was at St Andrews. Didn't know about being able to register as C25K. Will do that now and probably come to Cramond sometime in the spring. See you then!

wilmacgh profile image
wilmacghGraduate in reply to Malcy

I've thought about doing St Andrews sometime when the weather improves.

pinkhat profile image
pinkhatGraduate in reply to wilmacgh

I've committed to doing my first one on the first Saturday in Feb, which should be bang on target for me finishing week 9 - I know a few people who do it regularly and I've been repeatedly reassured that first time slowcoaches are warmly welcomed!

pinkhat profile image
pinkhatGraduate in reply to pinkhat

At St Andrews, that is!

Esprit profile image
EspritGraduate

Wow, 391 runners at Cramond yesterday? That's impressive! I hope to do the Edinburgh parkrun one day but I'm still working on doing 5k in 30 minutes so I think it will be several months. I'm way too slow, all the organisers will have gone home by the time I reach the finish line! I must also admit that I need to build up my confidence - I'm really nervous about doing a parkrun, mainly because I don't know what to expect. Anyway wilmacgh, hopefully you will see me at Cramond one day and I will definitely register as C25 k.

Fingalo profile image
FingaloGraduate in reply to Esprit

I mentioned on another blog/question yesterday that I was in the same boat with regards to parkruns so what I did was go along and see for myself. I didn't run, just turned up and chatted with folk there. It completely reassured me that times are really only a personal thing, many people walk sections and even as I left (about an hour after it had started) people were still completing their runs. Not many but enough to convince me that I wouldn't be causing anyone any delay.

Try doing the same, you'll see for yourself it's a really friendly atmosphere.

Esprit profile image
EspritGraduate in reply to Fingalo

Thank you Fingalo, I will do what you suggest and I'm sure it will put my mind at ease

swanscot profile image
swanscotGraduate

I'm the only one registered as belonging to the 'club' NHS Couch to 5k' at my local Parkrun - Inverness. Not that I've been for a while. My son is the only one running under the 'Vegan Runners' banner.

wilmacgh profile image
wilmacghGraduate

For those thinking they might be too slow for a Parkrun, of the 391 at Cramond, there were 65 people between 30 and 41 minutes. There is always a tail runner who brings up the rear to make sure everyone is OK. they chat and encourage the people at the end and don't put them under any pressure. Not sure if all the Parkruns do this. The only other one I've done was Kawana in Australia but it was a much small event (30 or so) and also still in its first few weeks.

The ethos is to be welcoming and you'll see from the posts on this site that almost everyone has found them really friendly.

Esprit profile image
EspritGraduate

Thanks wilmacgh, that's really encouraging. I will definitely do a parkrun at Crampnd this year, but think I will get my time down to 30 mins first.

You may also like...

I graduated today at a Parkrun! And 5 things I've learnt from doing C25K...

improves your general self esteem and makes you realise that you can achieve a lot more than you...

Did I really do that?’

don’t think I would have done it without this lovely site, so inspiring and encouraging 😊

Absolutely the worlds worst C25k-er

redo the w4 run anyway as exercise is meant to help your mood. My trainers were still soaking wet...

Putting NHS c25K on Parkrun running clubs list?

touch with parkrun as regards having NHS C25K put on their drop down list of running clubs. This...

Team C25K @ Richmond Parkrun!

from a photo here on this very site - I had a good old squint to make sure before sidling up to say...