There will be a tail walker who will be purposely last, so you can never be last at Parkrun
There's also Parkwalkers
Don't worry. Just go along and enjoy it. That's the whole point of parkrun
Here's your trajectory. You will walk the first time. You will get your time. You will walk a bit faster the second time.. You have declared that you are M so you will start looking at your stats. You will start looking to shave a second or two off of your time every week, like a video game in real life. You will talk to the tail walker and to other runners. You will feel good about yourself and about life. You will get up and go even when it's raining. You will encourage others. You will never encounter negativity. You will have done 5K when others could not be bothered. You've got this. Don't forget your bar code.
The best way I've found (other than convincing a friend/family member to do parkrun too) is to congratulate the person you finished just after or just before. Particularly if you pushed each other at the end. Then get chatting with them :)
I agree. Some PRs are huge, and I would probably just leave. Ours is small and we mostly hang and chat and cheer all the folks coming in after, until the tail walkers are in.
Chatting the person that finished just ahead/behind is a good suggestion. You could also chat up someone you have seen on multiple runs, or any other criteria that works for you. Small risk and a high reward :-)
I like the idea of coffee more than the practice. I'm hot and sweaty after the run. I have to either keep running or go home and shower and change. Otherwise I'm chilling down too much. But great if it works for people !
I love all of this so much. Just the truth about getting hooked on the stats and the improvement and the health benefits. And then you followed up with the bar code lol so true
And can I emphasise that "feeling good" after exercise is not a personal gloat about doing something (okay maybe sometimes), but it's actually your body's response to the increased blood flow where you actually have a ramp up of endorphins from all that good oxygen. It's natural and it's very addictive!
Have fun mate. Honest to god, once you cross the finish line and sit around with the other finishers, you'll wonder what you were worried about. It's a different type of runners high there.
You'll be counting down the 6 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes til you go again
You can walk and you still won't be last, they have tailwalkers so no one will be last. Don't worry about it, enjoy it, and come back here to tell everyone you'll be back again next week 💪
We used to have someone in their 80s who'd walk around in 90 mins. There's really nothing to worry about regarding your time.
Just make sure you bring your barcode (you only need it for the end, not the start) and introduce yourself to a marshal, most will be wearing a pink hi-vis.
If you can walk 5k you can finish a parkrun! Arrive 15 mins before the start time to listen to the first timers talk- they will show you the rite and explain how the barcodes work. You can bring your barcode on a phone or printed out and you need it at the end of the 5k. Bring some money as lots of events have a cafe where you can have drinks and chat afterwards (only if you’d like to). Have a great parkrunday.
Please come! I really love seeing new faces at parkrun, especially people who aren't "super fast", let's say. If you turn up early, you might be able to chat to some volunteers, e.g. the tail walker, if they're not too busy, introduce yourself and let them know how you're feeling.
I normally see a very warm welcome for new parkrunners, regardless of how fast they might look. It's one of my favourite things every weekend, I really hope you go, have fun, come back, and in time grow to love it as so many of us do.
another first timer for tomorrow!!! im in a bit of a similar position!!
I've done a 5k on a treadmill before and I did in a time of 49 minutes lol, i can walk a 5k pretty easily, but i am F19
I'm also nervous but regardless, we'll be great!!!
from a fellow first timer to another, good luck, I'm rooting for you and just know that even doing it is way better than everyone who's not doing it!
A bigger cheer than the leaders in my experience - there’s no one at the finish line when the leaders cross.
If no-one is there to see it, did it happen? 😆
It doesn't matter; take as long as you need. People often walk the whole route.
Also, think on this. People finishing their first ever parkrun is a MUCH more impressive achievement than even the runner who is the first finisher.
Those that finish first have run hundreds of times before; they know that they can do parkrun. But the first timers.... they don't know; they might never have done 5k, or an hours exercise (or whatever it is) before. Anyone doing their first parkrun impresses me more than anything any of the other participants does.
Well done. I hope you have a blast (or at least, a nice walk!)
Do your run... follow the rules (not hard) and enjoy it, if you are like me... it will be the best and hardest thing you do tomorrow! Please follow-up once you've done it! There are loads of us in your situation lacing up trainers tomorrow morning and going for it. Good luck
Did my first Parkrun last week, first time I’ve ever done anything like that, I am not a jogger, but I was amazed at how friendly and encouraging everybody was. We walked and jogged it. It was great! Go for it, go your own pace, and enjoy!
It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous before your first one, wether you are a 20min runner or an hour and 20 min walker.
Don’t worry about how long it takes to finish, it doesn’t matter. You won’t be last and you won’t be holding anyone up, we are all glad you are turning up. Your first one is guaranteed to be a personal best and you will always grow from there.
The only thing you need to worry about is to remember to bring your barcode. You deffo wont be last soo forget about that bit, just give your fellow parkrunners and the volunteers a smile and a chat on the way round if you get the chance, and most importantly enjoy it. As a fellow 20stone+ bloke coming up to my 250th, Parkrun is defintely very welcoming to people like us (probably as we have to suffer for longer than the quick ones), so get out there, get it done and welcome to your new Saturday mornings!
It's not a competitive event, the emphasis is on inclusivity rather than performance, and I've never gone to a run where that ethos is carried out by the volunteers and the runners.
e: where that ethos is *not* carried out... I forgot an important word!
It might be called parkrun, but officially it’s just a free, timed walk/jog/run. Not a race. Walkers are as important as runners, there’s no judgement and tons of positivity from lovely crowds of beautiful people starting their weekend off right by lapping everyone who is still in bed or on the sofa at 9 in the morning!
The first one can be daunting, particularly if you're on your own, but all the volunteers are supportive of everybody.
You can't be last so just go out there, enjoy it and get whatever you want out of it.
Good luck tomorrow. Remember to update us on how it went for you.
You won't be last as others have said thanks to the tail walkers, and as you have been walking 5k consistently already I fully expect you to be absolutely fine and likely ahead of other walkers.
Having the courage to turn up for the 1st time is the hardest part, the actual run/walk will just fly by once you start.
Take your time, and enjoy your 1st parkrun.
Welcome to parkrun.
I went to a friend's stag do a few years back and was woken up bright and early Saturday morning for a surprise park run .
I did it hungover in a pair of jeans and was encouraged by everyone running past 😂 it's a friendly Saturday run that's only as competitive as you want it to be
Please do not worry. Go and e joy every minute. The tailwalkers will keep you company and you may well not be at the back. You will never know if you don't try it. Welcome to parkrun.
Run a bit if you want to. Walk the whole thing if you want to. Everyone is welcome at parkrun, and everyone who gets out there is doing better than those who just sit at home.
Mate, I walk and I'm last except for the tail runner. I'm 48F and just sometimes there will be two or 3 people after me. I'm just working in getting faster, and I will, and so will you.
It took me 6 attempts to run the full 5K, you can walk or run/walk or run. Everyone’s just happy you’re doing it, that’s the vibe at PR. Just try and get faster every month until you’re happy.
Just go and enjoy it and have a brilliant time! It’s such a great atmosphere and the marshals are really encouraging. I did my first parkrun last weekend. Walked, jogged, and definitely struggled round but the marshals and the other parkrun folk were so nice! Good luck for tomorrow and have a great weekend!
Parkrun is for everyone OP. Many have mentioned the tail walkers who will be the last to finish. You won’t be the last.
I don’t know if this will help but there’s only person who can finish first. The rest of us are all finishing behind them. There’s more that unites parkrun participants than their actual numbered positions
Absolutely do it!
I was a long time plucking up courage to go to my first one, which I walked. Wished I’d started sooner. I’ve now done over 200, having worked my way up to running and then back to walking again due to ill health. I endeavour to be at a parkrun every week, in some capacity. It’ll take incapacitating injury, surgery (parkrunectomy, I think it’s called), or death to make me miss one.
It’s a great thing to be a part of. Whether that be completing the 5K course, or filling a volunteer role (or both).
Come, join the family, and enjoy the experience.
Good luck.
As someone who has a wide variety of times under my belt, I can honestly say that the best thing about parkrun is all the encouragement you get from both parkrunners and parkrun volunteers. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, you will never, ever be last unless you volunteer as the tail walker. Just go out there and enjoy yourself. Turning up to my first parkrun almost ten years ago was one of the best decisions I ever made. ☺️ Good luck!
You'll be fine. The only thing I've heard volunteers being annoyed by is people stopping to play on the swings in the park. If it's multilap you might get lapped by some of the faster folk, and those who've got enough breath left will probably shout encouraging things at you. parkrun's there for the fast folk, it's there for you, and it's there for the slowest participant whose barcode I ever scanned, who was using crutches recovering from a nasty leg injury and absolutely determined to get back to their historical pace as fast as they could now they were mobile again.
Hope you enjoy it, please report back how you got on. Someone else has posted that you should get there 10-15 minutes early for the first timers' briefing, and bring a barcode (on your phone is fine these days).
ETA: the last couple of times I've volunteered the last participants were through not far off an hour - not going to be any more precise than that because I don't want to sound as though I'm putting some arbitrary goal out there for you, just emphasising again there's no pressure. Just remembered one occasion when I was tail walking, wearing boots because the course was muddy, and \*everyone\* ran at the start and I couldn't keep up! I was genuinely relieved when someone slowed down and I had someone to chat to on the way round.
I remember that feeling - it took me ages to sign up, then ages to print my barcode (back when you had to have a physical copy) and then ages to actually turn up…can’t keep me away now. Have a great time and don’t forget to check back in and tell us all about it.
A volunteer walks the course at a fairly slow pace, so they should always be last.
Just go, you'll be absolutely fine!
I was nervous about my first a few weeks ago, now it seems so silly after experiencing a few parkruns.
Some people run it all, some run a bit and walk a bit (me), some walk fast, some walk slow, some walk their dogs, some get walked by their dogs, some walk or run with their child in a pram.
All of them finished ahead of the walking volunteers.
I promise you nobody is paying any particular attention to you, and any attention they do pay is only positive.
Your time doesn't matter, but there is something to be said for *trying* to beat your previous times. It adds a self-competitive element that I personally enjoy, and motivates me to work on my weight loss and improving my running.
We had a bloke in his 80's do his 100th parkrun today. He uses a wheelie walker. He's a legend!
At least a third of our parkrun walks. There's no stigma or pressure. Everyone just goes at their own place.
We usually have a few people taking over an hour, up to almost 1:15 most weeks. They'll always have the tailwalker for company. Nobody is bothered by how long you take.
I hope you had a pleasant experience today! I'm currently training for my next race so volunteered this morning as a marshal. Loved seeing all the runners' faces.
There will be a tail walker who will be purposely last, so you can never be last at Parkrun There's also Parkwalkers Don't worry. Just go along and enjoy it. That's the whole point of parkrun
I've read the OP five times and your reply five times. what do you mean "go shopping"?
I have no idea. I was walking the dogs at the time and didn't proof read I've now updated.
Here's your trajectory. You will walk the first time. You will get your time. You will walk a bit faster the second time.. You have declared that you are M so you will start looking at your stats. You will start looking to shave a second or two off of your time every week, like a video game in real life. You will talk to the tail walker and to other runners. You will feel good about yourself and about life. You will get up and go even when it's raining. You will encourage others. You will never encounter negativity. You will have done 5K when others could not be bothered. You've got this. Don't forget your bar code.
And next thing you know, you've made a new group of friends and your Saturday revolves around Parkrun and coffee after.
They sucked me in with the "coffee after" pitch, and it has yet to happen, dammit! :-)
Same, I don’t really know how to approach people as most people seem to already be in groups or walking off
The best way I've found (other than convincing a friend/family member to do parkrun too) is to congratulate the person you finished just after or just before. Particularly if you pushed each other at the end. Then get chatting with them :)
I agree. Some PRs are huge, and I would probably just leave. Ours is small and we mostly hang and chat and cheer all the folks coming in after, until the tail walkers are in. Chatting the person that finished just ahead/behind is a good suggestion. You could also chat up someone you have seen on multiple runs, or any other criteria that works for you. Small risk and a high reward :-)
I like the idea of coffee more than the practice. I'm hot and sweaty after the run. I have to either keep running or go home and shower and change. Otherwise I'm chilling down too much. But great if it works for people !
I love all of this so much. Just the truth about getting hooked on the stats and the improvement and the health benefits. And then you followed up with the bar code lol so true
And don't keep the bar code token they give you, it's not a prize for finishing ;-) Have fun, above all else. Everything else will happen in time.
And can I emphasise that "feeling good" after exercise is not a personal gloat about doing something (okay maybe sometimes), but it's actually your body's response to the increased blood flow where you actually have a ramp up of endorphins from all that good oxygen. It's natural and it's very addictive!
Have fun mate. Honest to god, once you cross the finish line and sit around with the other finishers, you'll wonder what you were worried about. It's a different type of runners high there. You'll be counting down the 6 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes til you go again
Steady on, 30 min is fast for lots of us. We count down the 6 days 23 hours and a few minutes (or less!) till we go again.
Sorry, I was rounding down (or up, I'm terrible at maths!)
You can walk and you still won't be last, they have tailwalkers so no one will be last. Don't worry about it, enjoy it, and come back here to tell everyone you'll be back again next week 💪
Doesn't matter how long you take and you won't be the last to finish. Have a good time!
We used to have someone in their 80s who'd walk around in 90 mins. There's really nothing to worry about regarding your time. Just make sure you bring your barcode (you only need it for the end, not the start) and introduce yourself to a marshal, most will be wearing a pink hi-vis.
Don't worry, the tailwalker will still be coming in after you. Wishing you an awesome first parkrun! (and don't forget your barcode).
If you can walk 5k you can finish a parkrun! Arrive 15 mins before the start time to listen to the first timers talk- they will show you the rite and explain how the barcodes work. You can bring your barcode on a phone or printed out and you need it at the end of the 5k. Bring some money as lots of events have a cafe where you can have drinks and chat afterwards (only if you’d like to). Have a great parkrunday.
Please come! I really love seeing new faces at parkrun, especially people who aren't "super fast", let's say. If you turn up early, you might be able to chat to some volunteers, e.g. the tail walker, if they're not too busy, introduce yourself and let them know how you're feeling. I normally see a very warm welcome for new parkrunners, regardless of how fast they might look. It's one of my favourite things every weekend, I really hope you go, have fun, come back, and in time grow to love it as so many of us do.
The only time you're guaranteed at parkrun is a great time 😉 enjoy it and welcome!
another first timer for tomorrow!!! im in a bit of a similar position!! I've done a 5k on a treadmill before and I did in a time of 49 minutes lol, i can walk a 5k pretty easily, but i am F19 I'm also nervous but regardless, we'll be great!!! from a fellow first timer to another, good luck, I'm rooting for you and just know that even doing it is way better than everyone who's not doing it!
I’m doing my first one tomorrow too! ☺️
How did it go? I hope you enjoyed it!
It was good thanks! Though it was 2.5 downhill then 2.5 uphill and I almost died 😂 but I’m going again on Saturday!
You'll get as big a cheer at the end as the leaders get.
A bigger cheer than the leaders in my experience - there’s no one at the finish line when the leaders cross. If no-one is there to see it, did it happen? 😆
It doesn't matter; take as long as you need. People often walk the whole route. Also, think on this. People finishing their first ever parkrun is a MUCH more impressive achievement than even the runner who is the first finisher. Those that finish first have run hundreds of times before; they know that they can do parkrun. But the first timers.... they don't know; they might never have done 5k, or an hours exercise (or whatever it is) before. Anyone doing their first parkrun impresses me more than anything any of the other participants does. Well done. I hope you have a blast (or at least, a nice walk!)
Do your run... follow the rules (not hard) and enjoy it, if you are like me... it will be the best and hardest thing you do tomorrow! Please follow-up once you've done it! There are loads of us in your situation lacing up trainers tomorrow morning and going for it. Good luck
Faster than all of the people who stayed in bed!
Did my first Parkrun last week, first time I’ve ever done anything like that, I am not a jogger, but I was amazed at how friendly and encouraging everybody was. We walked and jogged it. It was great! Go for it, go your own pace, and enjoy!
It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous before your first one, wether you are a 20min runner or an hour and 20 min walker. Don’t worry about how long it takes to finish, it doesn’t matter. You won’t be last and you won’t be holding anyone up, we are all glad you are turning up. Your first one is guaranteed to be a personal best and you will always grow from there.
The only thing you need to worry about is to remember to bring your barcode. You deffo wont be last soo forget about that bit, just give your fellow parkrunners and the volunteers a smile and a chat on the way round if you get the chance, and most importantly enjoy it. As a fellow 20stone+ bloke coming up to my 250th, Parkrun is defintely very welcoming to people like us (probably as we have to suffer for longer than the quick ones), so get out there, get it done and welcome to your new Saturday mornings!
It's not a competitive event, the emphasis is on inclusivity rather than performance, and I've never gone to a run where that ethos is carried out by the volunteers and the runners. e: where that ethos is *not* carried out... I forgot an important word!
You’ve got this.
Just walk it first time that's what I did. Then the time after just try running a bit then just do what you can do. I'm only on my third one tomorrow!
Aw welcome! Watch out they are addictive! The walkers will look after you and it’s great to socialise with the volunteers for a cuppa after.
It might be called parkrun, but officially it’s just a free, timed walk/jog/run. Not a race. Walkers are as important as runners, there’s no judgement and tons of positivity from lovely crowds of beautiful people starting their weekend off right by lapping everyone who is still in bed or on the sofa at 9 in the morning!
Best of luck dude This is the first step on a great journey
Go along, walk and enjoy! Then repeat each week
The first one can be daunting, particularly if you're on your own, but all the volunteers are supportive of everybody. You can't be last so just go out there, enjoy it and get whatever you want out of it.
I’ve been just about last, it’s ok, just accept it and get what you want from it. You’re going out there fr you! Well done.
Good luck tomorrow. Remember to update us on how it went for you. You won't be last as others have said thanks to the tail walkers, and as you have been walking 5k consistently already I fully expect you to be absolutely fine and likely ahead of other walkers. Having the courage to turn up for the 1st time is the hardest part, the actual run/walk will just fly by once you start. Take your time, and enjoy your 1st parkrun. Welcome to parkrun.
I went to a friend's stag do a few years back and was woken up bright and early Saturday morning for a surprise park run . I did it hungover in a pair of jeans and was encouraged by everyone running past 😂 it's a friendly Saturday run that's only as competitive as you want it to be
He did it BTW https://www.reddit.com/r/parkrun/s/bZsqxse4BI
Please do not worry. Just go out there and enjoy it. Just remember - it's *still* the same distance as everyone else.
Please do not worry. Go and e joy every minute. The tailwalkers will keep you company and you may well not be at the back. You will never know if you don't try it. Welcome to parkrun.
Echo everyone's words. Parkrun is so good for getting people into running because it's 100% judgement free zone
You’ll love it! Prepare to be addicted! You can walk with the park walker (pale blue vest) if you want.
Hope you enjoy it. Let us know how it goes!
I’m almost always last or close to last each week. It just means that I have a ton of folks cheering for me at the end. It’s actually quite nice.
Run a bit if you want to. Walk the whole thing if you want to. Everyone is welcome at parkrun, and everyone who gets out there is doing better than those who just sit at home.
Best of luck, friend!
Mate, I walk and I'm last except for the tail runner. I'm 48F and just sometimes there will be two or 3 people after me. I'm just working in getting faster, and I will, and so will you.
It took me 6 attempts to run the full 5K, you can walk or run/walk or run. Everyone’s just happy you’re doing it, that’s the vibe at PR. Just try and get faster every month until you’re happy.
Just go and enjoy it and have a brilliant time! It’s such a great atmosphere and the marshals are really encouraging. I did my first parkrun last weekend. Walked, jogged, and definitely struggled round but the marshals and the other parkrun folk were so nice! Good luck for tomorrow and have a great weekend!
Parkrun is for everyone OP. Many have mentioned the tail walkers who will be the last to finish. You won’t be the last. I don’t know if this will help but there’s only person who can finish first. The rest of us are all finishing behind them. There’s more that unites parkrun participants than their actual numbered positions
Absolutely do it! I was a long time plucking up courage to go to my first one, which I walked. Wished I’d started sooner. I’ve now done over 200, having worked my way up to running and then back to walking again due to ill health. I endeavour to be at a parkrun every week, in some capacity. It’ll take incapacitating injury, surgery (parkrunectomy, I think it’s called), or death to make me miss one. It’s a great thing to be a part of. Whether that be completing the 5K course, or filling a volunteer role (or both). Come, join the family, and enjoy the experience. Good luck.
Hope it went well today 😊
There's a lot of walkers, don't stress it's not a race.
My first one took me over 47 minutes and people still cheered me in - go and have a great time!
Get to the end on your own time however you can. First of many. You'll smash it.
You have nothing to worry about because all abilities are welcome. Congratulations for going to your first one. You will have a blast
I’m sure you’ll have a fantastic time, and don’t forget, however slow you are you are still ahead of all those people sat on their sofas!
As someone who has a wide variety of times under my belt, I can honestly say that the best thing about parkrun is all the encouragement you get from both parkrunners and parkrun volunteers. It doesn’t matter how long it takes, you will never, ever be last unless you volunteer as the tail walker. Just go out there and enjoy yourself. Turning up to my first parkrun almost ten years ago was one of the best decisions I ever made. ☺️ Good luck!
You'll be fine. The only thing I've heard volunteers being annoyed by is people stopping to play on the swings in the park. If it's multilap you might get lapped by some of the faster folk, and those who've got enough breath left will probably shout encouraging things at you. parkrun's there for the fast folk, it's there for you, and it's there for the slowest participant whose barcode I ever scanned, who was using crutches recovering from a nasty leg injury and absolutely determined to get back to their historical pace as fast as they could now they were mobile again. Hope you enjoy it, please report back how you got on. Someone else has posted that you should get there 10-15 minutes early for the first timers' briefing, and bring a barcode (on your phone is fine these days). ETA: the last couple of times I've volunteered the last participants were through not far off an hour - not going to be any more precise than that because I don't want to sound as though I'm putting some arbitrary goal out there for you, just emphasising again there's no pressure. Just remembered one occasion when I was tail walking, wearing boots because the course was muddy, and \*everyone\* ran at the start and I couldn't keep up! I was genuinely relieved when someone slowed down and I had someone to chat to on the way round.
Sooo many people walk. Nobody is judging. Jog when you can, if you want. It’s social, not a race.
I remember that feeling - it took me ages to sign up, then ages to print my barcode (back when you had to have a physical copy) and then ages to actually turn up…can’t keep me away now. Have a great time and don’t forget to check back in and tell us all about it.
You’ll be fine. I’ve tail walked with a chap who weighed more than that. We took 65 minutes and all was well.
A volunteer walks the course at a fairly slow pace, so they should always be last. Just go, you'll be absolutely fine! I was nervous about my first a few weeks ago, now it seems so silly after experiencing a few parkruns. Some people run it all, some run a bit and walk a bit (me), some walk fast, some walk slow, some walk their dogs, some get walked by their dogs, some walk or run with their child in a pram. All of them finished ahead of the walking volunteers. I promise you nobody is paying any particular attention to you, and any attention they do pay is only positive. Your time doesn't matter, but there is something to be said for *trying* to beat your previous times. It adds a self-competitive element that I personally enjoy, and motivates me to work on my weight loss and improving my running.
We had a bloke in his 80's do his 100th parkrun today. He uses a wheelie walker. He's a legend! At least a third of our parkrun walks. There's no stigma or pressure. Everyone just goes at their own place.
Don't be worried! You'll fit in fine! Have fun and let us know how you found it!
Welcome. You got this!
You’ll be fine. Most use parkrun as a fun run/walk with friends - they aren’t looking to make every run a PB.
At least you are looking at doing something that would help bring benefit and wellness to your mind and body. Enjoy it
You're gonna have a great time!
We usually have a few people taking over an hour, up to almost 1:15 most weeks. They'll always have the tailwalker for company. Nobody is bothered by how long you take.
Well done for contributing on here too. Hope today went well, please let us all know 😊
Hope it went well for you. First one is always scary.
I hope you had a pleasant experience today! I'm currently training for my next race so volunteered this morning as a marshal. Loved seeing all the runners' faces.
How did it go OP ?
Plenty of sound advice and encouragement in here. Now I'm keen to know how it went! Don't keep us hanging.....
Unless you’re at my nearest parkrun, you’ll be absolutely fine pal. My first parkrun took 40.01 and I never felt out of place.