[Closed] First parkrun, what should I expect?

I love parkrun. You get some properly quick runners (sub 16 mins on my local course which goes up and down some steep muddy hills and steps). Others run/walk and take 45-50 mins.

Just run at your own pace. It's a very chilled non-competitive atmosphere. If it's been a while since you've run 5k don't go out too fast and if you have anything left in the tank in the last half mile or so, then give it your all. At least then you will beat it next time and get a p.b.

Enjoy.

Remember there's always next week!

It's what you make of it really. Balls out lung bursting attempt for that PB or relaxed enjoyable bimble round chatting with a pal or turn up late and see how many you can overtake or fartlek session etc etc.

Enjoy!

what should I expect?

Running?

In a park ?

If you're not a regular runner, don't push yourself.

When I started running I had some degree of fitness from cycling but absolutely no idea about technique. I think I came close to giving myself stress fractures in my shins before I realised that no, the pain wasn't going to go away if I kept running (not just from one 5k though so don't let me put you off).

Are you in jail?

http://blog.parkrun.com/uk/2017/10/31/first-prison-based-parkrun-set-to-launch/

Expect a whole load of fannying about at the start whilst the race director makes pointless announcements about nothing in particular. The two occasions I've done it have both started about 15 mins later than the start time. It's alright as an occasional thing but I don't really get why if you live somewhere with easy access to the countryside you'd be on your 100th parkrun or whatever

I've never had that experience in a dozen or more in several different locations. But yeah, I get what you mean about running in a group. Almost as stupid as cycling in a group, why do people do that? I always feel like an idiot when i realise I've just done that.

My 7 year old did her first park run in 39 minutes (actually she was 6 at the time) and my 9 year old did it in 32 minutes but he was going slow....

I've only done one but thought it was good fun.

Expect to get overtaken by someone pushing a pram. Other than that turn ip go at your pace. They get easier if you them regular.

Make sure your barcode is easily accessable and waterproof. Ie not a ctumpled bit of paper thats been in a sweaty pocket for+20min

I've done one with my 8 yr old daughter. Took 56mins, but we weren't last! We had a fair bit of faff. My inhaler jammed so spent a bit of time finding a sharp stick to unblock it. Needed a pee halfway round. Daughter took a fall into a muddy puddle too. I then had shinsplints after, but I don't think I had appropriate shoes, nor had done any training. Still, it was a bit of fun. The following week my daughter ran with my wife and got round 17mins quicker! The weak link appears to be me 🙂
Anyway OP, have fun and don't take it too seriously (at first).

Running in a group is the highlight for me. There are regularily over 400 people in our Parkrun, its like a heard of Wilderbeast setting off only its the local teachers, postmen, councilours, me!!
Love it.

Let’s turn this into a how fast is my child thread! My son did it in 28:50, he’s 6. He was trying to beat his 7yo friend so ran like the wind. He was middle of the field including adults. Very proud dad moment.

Seriously though, worried I won’t be able to keep up when he’s 7. I couldn’t have run 5k that fast whan I was 16. For getting the kids out and encouraging those who aren’t normally active I think parkrun is great. Ours is well organised and prompt. Big thanks has to go to all the volunteers.

Just about to head out to do it this morning....

I went with the SiL at Easter. I haven't run this decade. It was fun, did about 25 minutes with a trip back to the car to get a water bottle. I could hardly walk 2 days later.
Do a little bit of running beforehand to get your body prepared.

...he got 28.16. Slight bit of lego-based bribery assisted there...is lego a banned performance enhancer?

Good advice to do a bit of running beforehand. I just started running again this summer after many years off, mainly so I could do parkrun with the boy as he was keen. I’m pretty fit on the bike but first run was about a mile and almost broke me. Just such a different exercise.

It was shitting it down so yh... 😐 sorry.
I guess there's next week. On the plus side this will enable me to do some jogs before hand.

I did my first run last week and second today. Really enjoyed it. And it proves the physio is working magic for me 🙂

It’s brilliant. I was marshalling at my local one today, 300 people of all ages, shapes and sizes going for a gentle run round the park, first in was around 16 mins, slowest 38. On everyone I’ve done there’s minimal faff, just turn up, run, scan your barcode and all done by 10am.
I’m a huge advocate of it, it’s such a positive way of getting people out and about exercising.
My 66 year old mother did her first one 6 months ago and now turns up every week to try and beat her 38 min PB.

So yeah, do it, it’s awesome.

They are “awesome” for folks that like being with others getting in the way 😆

Quite why the OP didn’t run because it’s raining is rather odd.. it’s just water.

I’m a huge advocate of it, it’s such a positive way of getting people out and about exercising.

Agree totally. I honestly think it's one of the best "fitness" initiatives of recent years. It really should have (more?)government/NHS support. I would also say the success of British Cycling, and cycling in Britain, is of similar importance.
I live in North Devon but today did a park run in Essex. It was sooo much harder than anything I've done in Devon. Who'd a thunkt it!

Parkrun is what you make of it. Lots of people will tell you that it's not a race despite the fact that you start under orders and get timed at the finishing line. Exactly the same as every other running event.
Some people walk it and that's up to them, but judging by the number of sprints to the line between much of the field, I would say most people are motivated by competition. Chasing pb's is addictive ! I love it.

I did my first parkrun a couple of weeks ago.
I’d been avoiding them as I thought I needed to be a certain level not to make a tit out of myself
I needn’t have worried.
I found it really fun.
I normally run solo or in a small group, so running with 300 odd other people was a bit weird, but it helped me get a new PB without too much extra effort (peloton effect ?)
Not sure I would do it every week, but definitely worth it every now and then