A lot of people say they want to start running, but have no idea where to start. It can be really embarrassing those first few runs and takes a lot of courage.
Parkrun is growing every week it seems like, with runs often hitting over 1000 people, TV documentaries such as ‘The Power of Parkrun‘ and GPs prescribing patients to give it a go.
So if you want to start running, Parkrun should be the perfect place to start… right?
Now I absolutely LOVE Parkrun, I promote it to anyone and everyone, but I wasn’t always like this!
I’ve been a runner for almost two years now – a bit longer if you count the handful of times I tried Parkrun back in 2015 but I wasn’t doing it to be become a better runner, or to get involved and make new friends. I simply wanted a quick fix in weight loss without it costing tons. As soon as I hit my goal I dropped it and forgot about it. It felt like a chore and I overdid it – I ended up with shin splints at one point! Everyone was lovely, but I didn’t really feel a part of it. I didn’t hang around, I just put my head down and got on with it.
I didn’t start running again until March/April 2018 when one of the gym instructors at my local gym was running some Beginner running sessions. At the time I was trying to improve my overall health and to lose a bit of weight. Even though I’d tried running before and didn’t like it, I thought getting some support might help me a little more.
The group of 4 or 5 of us met up on a Sunday morning and we ran/walked along the canal. We passed a lot of people as we hobbled on and we received no judgement. I was surprised by this. Even now, almost two years later, I can count on one hand the times I’ve received abuse whilst running. It wasn’t nice, but according to Strava, I’ve done over 400 runs!
What also surprised me is the aim wasn’t to be fast, it was endurance. Here I could see the improvement as I pushed a bit further each time. I was soon able to go out on my own. Might have been slow, but I was improving.
I didn’t actually start Parkrun again consistently until January last year, but this was mainly because it was a pain to get to where I lived. It soon became worth the effort, as now I had decided I wanted to run, I became more present. I appreciated the lovely park I was running in and the people I was running with which helped me make more friends. I even began to volunteer! Parkrun is a great place to make friends, as each week you start to see the same faces and pluck up the courage to start a conversation.
So… should I do Parkrun first?
It depends how seriously you want to run. If you want to just get out of the house and do something positive each week, go straight to Parkrun. You can go as many times as you like, there is no pressure to go every week but it is nice to have a routine and see some familiar faces.
Parkrun is very inclusive, with many people just walking the 5k route. No one finishes in last place, as there are tail walkers who walk at the back. One thing I love is that many of the speedy runners stay behind just to cheer us on which I think is lovely. It does give you an amazing boost! 🙂
If you do want to give running a proper go, however, I do recommend joining a beginner running group with a Couch to 5k programme. This will help you learn the right form, to avoid overdoing it and heading into an injury.
There’s plenty to choose from now, from running clubs to Universities to mental health charities! Just Google ‘couch to 5k groups near me’ and you should receive some results.
Running with others who are at the same level can be really motivating and you can support each other to push that bit further…
Alternatively, there is the Couch to 5k app that you can do on your own, which might work best for you. To ensure you stick to it, let some friends know you’re doing it, post updates on your social media or start a blog like this!
There is no harm in heading to Parkrun whilst you’re getting started, as you can put some of the things you learn into practice. Many people walk Parkrun, or why not give volunteering a go?
Here are some handy links about Parkrun and Couch to 5k:
Running with Lindz 
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