I have done it a few times but I found the route boring as it included a few laps of a rugby field. I like to choose where I go.
Re painting metal bistro garden set
Sign up to Gransnet Daily
Our free daily newsletter full of hot threads, competitions and discounts
SubscribeMy neighbour's GP suggested she gets moving and does some exercise to help her get over her low mood after losing her husband. She's 69 and decided to give ParkRun a go having heard about it from her daughter. She went on her own for the first couple of times - she is not at all "sporty" but boy is she determined to get herself back on track - and then asked me whether I'd like to go with her. I've now done four and I am completely hooked!
For those who don't know, it's a free, walk/run on a 5km course, there are literally hundreds of groups, it is not a race, you only compete against your own personal best time. There is always a "Tail Walker" to look out for stragglers and all levels of fitness are welcome. Last Saturday I walked 5 kms in 51 minutes! We were joined by a woman who has lost 7 stone and had a knee replacement in March! I was so impressed by her.
I'm impressed by myself too!
Anyone else do ParkRuns?
I have done it a few times but I found the route boring as it included a few laps of a rugby field. I like to choose where I go.
My brother does park run with his wife and two little boys . For a change they sometimes go to different parks to do them and stay over in travel lodge ?
I do admire all you sporty ladies! Most of my exercise day is get up, have breakfast, look at the computer for a couple of hours, have coffee, do a little housework or gardening, answer emails, have lunch in the garden if nice, in front of the TV if not, go to supermarket (yes every day. I do it for the much needed exercise of walking around the shop!) Go home, have tea in garden or in front of TV, open post, read paper in garden or in front of TV, make dinner(I'm in the South), eat it inside in front of TV, and gradually get ready for bed, while watching Talking Pictures TV. Go to bed. ditto next day...
I do the parkrun in Solihull fairly regularly and done a couple of other venues. It’s a lovely event, you’ll probably find quite a few of your friends doing it and it’s a very friendly atmosphere. I watched the race last Saturday as my feet were blistered from a long walk; I ended up looking after my friend’s dog which had had enough after one lap !
I do it! (Hence my name!)
The best part for me is the social group I now have coffee & a chat with afterwards. It makes my weekend. Mind you, ours is extremely hilly & I walk a lot of it!
I haven’t done a park run but my GS (7) does it every week. I have however been doing the couch to 5 K program just really as a challenge to myself. I’m 69 and pretty fit, I walk a lot and it seemed like a natural progression. I’m in week 6 when you have to run 25 minutes. I’ve done it twice now and though it’s hard I really love it. 6 weeks ago I could barely run for 1 minute! I wouldn’t have believed this training program would work but it really does. I may do a park run when I’ve finished the program.
I haven't done any park runs, but my husband is a runner and I used to go with him and do the fun runs of anything from 1 mile to 5 mile. The gc when they were younger use to do them with me and once, just once mind you, I was announced as the winner but I had to put my hand up and admit that really I was last and still had one lap to go. I am proud of the medals I have. Now I cycle instead.
My son does quite a bit of running, and a few half marathons, to keep fit and to alleviate stress as his work can be quite demanding at times.
He suggested I do park run, which is just up the road from me. I protested that I'm too old (69) but he said there were several older people who did park run. So I went along with him and my 8 year old granddaughter.
Yes, there were about 5 older people but most of them looked very fit and were obviously keen runners.
On the first occasion I ran the 3 laps of the course, miles behind nearly everybody else. It was quite embarrassing and I thought my husband was joking when he said, on my return home, that my face was "purple". In fact it was. I really ached for days afterwards.
I've been a couple of times since but have only run the 1 lap, hoping to build up gradually. I haven't done it recently due to other commitments or the weather being too hot. I am reasonably fit, walk quite a lot during the course of most days and am not that much overweight. But I've never been a sporty person (dreaded school sports). I will definitely go back at some point though because there was a friendly and encouraging atmosphere.
That's me , Annaram
I must be missing the "embarrassed" emotion gene I don't mind at all coming in the last three which is what happens most times (I had plenty of practice on school sports days) .
Thanks for all the replies, an enjoying reading them.
Eloethan - that’s how I felt too! The embarrassment factor was a big thing for me, and the support - the cheering from the very fit runners, some of whom I knew, who had completed the 5k at the point that I was only half way through and looking like a burst strawberry - only served to remind me that I’m horrendously unfit and unsporty. It was like school PE all over again.
SirChenjin I hope that wasn't Hastings Parkrun. Its an out and back run snd there certsinly are some very fast runners, but slso some people who take over an hour to complete the 5k. Even the slowest are never last thats the honour for the Tsil runner..
Im 68 and go when I can, often as the Tail runner, but Saturdays are not good days for me
No not Hastings
My GS used to do something called Parkour ? My nerves were shot to pieces at the time as he balanced on tall buildings in Liverpool and against the night sky he looked as though he was floating or had just been placed there. Thank goodness his age is now against him.
He used to go along with a young chap who did stunt work for films such as the James Bond ones,.Danny Ilabaca. Danny is a popular and well liked professional and his stunts are something else.
I used to be walking alongside my GS and he'd suddenly take a jump and a leap and end up on top of a letterbox !
I’m not surprised your nerves were shot! Parkour is amazing to watch and they’re obviously hugely skill but it must be terrifying if it’s someone you love throwing themselves off buildings and turning somersaults
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.