First Parkrun

Yesterday was my first Parkrun in our beautiful park, which is just down the hill from our house. Not only was it my first Parkrun, but it was the first time that I had run at all for about 7 years. 

When I was in my late 20s and into my 40s, I was running all the time. My pace wasn’t bad too. In 2004 I actually ran a marathon (which requires a whole separate blog post). 

The Cardiff Half Marathon in 2017 was my last race event. Although I had entered for the 2018 event, worsening IBS symptoms made training and race events impossible. With a heavy heart, I had to give up my place in the race and give up running completely.  

I missed running terribly for a long time. I missed the sense of freedom while training and the thrill of pushing myself to get to the finish line in a satisfying time. 

Gradually, I got used to walking instead and now I enjoy it as much as I had enjoyed running before. As well as being a good form of exercise, walking has its own benefits. One can appreciate the views a lot more readily. 

Three weeks ago, my husband ran his first Parkrun. Last week (before I had even signed up to get my Parkrun barcode) I went down to the park to have a go at Parkrun. When we got down there, it had been cancelled due to the icy conditions. It was the ideal opportunity for me to check out the route and have a go. 

I know a couple of people who regularly do the Pontypridd Parkrun – runners and walkers. I had figured that it’s our park and Ponty people are lovely. If I needed, I could go to the toilet on every lap and it wouldn’t matter.  

Yesterday morning at 08:55, waiting with the other runners (and joggers and walkers – 569 of us) took me back to the race events in my memory. I was transported back to the tension and excited anticipation of the pen immediately before the start of a race. Of course, being completely organised and run by volunteers and none of the runners wearing a number that they have paid for, Parkrun is much more informal than race events. But that’s the beauty of it. Parkrun is inclusive. Everyone can join in – runners and walkers, adults and children, babies in prams and dogs on leads. If you can’t walk the whole 5k, you can just do 2. And if you need the loo halfway round, that’s okay too. 
I meant to include in my blog post that it was a pacer event too. I passed the 40 minute pacer then the 39 then a bit later the 38. I didn’t see a 37 pacer. On the final short lap round the bandstand at the end, I went just ahead of the 36. She was on my tail but it gave me the motivation to push just a little and I came in just ahead of her. I have no idea if 35:48 is a good time for Parkrun. But that’s not the point; I did it and it was great fun 👍💪🥇