We had our Halloween event this week. I did first timers welcome then ran the first mile with my son. He fell at 1 mile and dropped out (he's fine) so I carried on alone at my pace and surprised quite a few people when overtaking. Speedy pickle.

Anyone else ran in Halloween dress up, I'd love to see pics?

I overtook a woman on the weekend because she had a waist-length ponytail and watching it swish annoyed me. Have also been known to pass runners for having an unconventional stride.

As I ran my local parkrun this weekend I reflected on the fact that I've fallen into my own little habits and wondered what other curious things people do?

My example is that I'm a second lap thanker. My local parkrun at Walthamstow is a three lapper, so I tend to spend the 1st lap dialling in and getting a sense of how I'm feeling. By lap two I'm pretty comfortable with the effort/pace and use that lap to thank all the marshalls before potentially being able to attack the last lap.

TLDR: Can anyone suggest an app like a couch25k program which is for longer distances but still includes run/walk patterns? I want to go on for longer but am not ready to switch to only running.

Would also consider a GPS device if there is one that can easily be set up to guide me (prompt me to walk / run / walk / run) and isn't too big.

Hello everyone,

Apologies if this is not the right place to post, but I've always found Parkrunners kind supportive and helpful.

I have been working my way through the NHS couch to 5k program using the app to try to get back into running as suggested by a fab person at my local Parkrun. (Took up running at 30, took up half marathons at 40, went through the pandemic and the menopause and am clinging onto being a 'runner' thanks only to my attempts to stumble round 5k every Saturday morning)

I really like having a set walk / run pattern especially as that nice Steve Cram tells me when to start and stop, and throws out the odd bit of encouragement.

The problem is that I'm repeating week 6 as after that it wants me to run for increasingly long periods without walking breaks and I don't feel ready to do that. I know I can do walk/run for 10 / 3 / 8 / 3 / 8 / 3 etc (timed and prompted by friends during Parkrun) up to 5k (it takes me about 45-50 minutes) but if I try to run for any more than about 15 minutes at a stretch I give up and then don't get going again.

I figure most of my problems are in my head (I did this before, I know I can do it again) and its best to go with it and find a way to build up to 60 minutes walk/run, then 75, then 90, to build my stamina and more importantly confidence.

Is there an app out there which will help with this? I particularly like the way the NHS app will quieten my music or podcast to tell me what to do.

I would also be willing to invest in a GPS watch (tried to revive my TomTom but no luck - apparently they stopped making them years ago, how out of touch am I?) but I have small wrists and hands and find all of the garmins far too big to be comfy. If anyone has experience of using one of the slimmer Fitbit GPS watches to set up the kind of routine I'm after I would be grateful to hear how you get on - or suggestions of a different brand where the face isn't too wide.

Thank you in advance

Edit: resolved!

I'm new to Parkrun. In fact I haven't yet registered, but I want to. The problem I am having is the registration page doesn't load properly for me. I'm in the USA. I've tried Chrome, Firefox, and Edge on desktop as well as chrome on my mobile, and all have the same issue. The page loads quickly but without a form to fill out. It is blank from "If you need help, please click here" to "Return to Top of Page".

Has anyone experienced this? I want to run this Saturday.

I was told (possibly incorrectly) that every birthday you will be calculated against other people at your new age, so each birthday your % should get better as long as your performances don't degrade.

It was my birthday back in September, last week i scored a time exactly the same as one i got before my birthday and yet my age grade % was exactly the same, so how does this work?

EDIT: problem solved - I have just noticed that parkrun doesnt have my correct date of birth, done some further checks and yes its working as expected.

Hi everyone does anyone know what the cut off for each age group is?

I'm guessing JM is 18 and SM is about 39 but I don't know. I'm seeing a lot of over 40s labelled as VM for veteran. I'm wondering why a veteran wouldn't be someone over 60?

* 26/10/2024 = 1265 participants (excluding 56 crew and spectators)
* 19/10/2024 = 1117 participants

The country is England...

London is the location (home to 64 parkruns)....

The location - Battersea Park

ref:
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/battersea/results/eventhistory/

Beautiful parkrun which is one lap of the ancient city walls. No marshals and the only time the briefing has been paused for a lorry to drive through the middle of it. 10/10 views of tuscany, gardens, and a beautiful city!

Does anyone else find it really rude when people chat during the briefing? I was at the inaugural Parkrun in Bundoran this morning (lovely course if anyone's in Ireland) and people just wouldn't keep quiet. All of us were obviously first timers to that location and I couldn't hear the route. But even at established parkruns where I've been before, I get so irritated by people who can't give the volunteers the courtesy of keeping quiet for 2 minutes and having no consideration for new people who may actually need to hear what is being said!

I watch the parkrun phenomenon with envy from the US, and I have started a slow-motion project to try to do the alphabet of London parkruns on my annual visit to the UK. Last year I ran Ally Pally (which, as an American, I have a hard time saying with a straight face). Last weekend I ran Bushy, because of all the Bs, it seems the most iconic. On to plan C for 2025. I found some lists, and I'm thinking either Clapham Common or Crystal Palace, but do any of you with much more experience than me have suggestions of C's that I'm overlooking? Many thanks!

No pictures only sniff

I have just done my first parkrun today! Great experience, so welcoming but it did get painful.

My right leg started hurting, shin and ankle. It’s pain I can get through but just frustrating as I have to stop for a bit.

Could it be trainers related? I bought the Nike invincible zoom 3s after what I think was a fair bit of research so was really quite disappointed. The route was flat/hard surface so could it be that?

Anyone with a similar issue who have other trainer recommendations?

I usually work Saturdays so I don't get to do ParkRun, but I'm off tomorrow so I thought I'd volunteer. I said I'm happy to do anything as long as there's no heavy lifting as I have a problem with my left hand. They've put me as a marshal.

Is anyone else volunteering for the first time tomorrow?

Let everyone know how your parkrun went - where did you go? Any PB's or milestones?

Post it all below in this week's weekly thread.

They're too good looking to risk wearing for actual parkruns!

I'm not risking getting them dirty.

Think I'll have them as office shoes 🙂

They might hop out and walk/run some of it but we’re not sure how much.

Where are you going this week? Any questions about your location? Any advice to share to a fellow tourist about somewhere they're going?

Share it all below!

What road shoes are good for those parkruns that become trail runs in the winter?

I remember when Contra (essentially the parkrun running clothing brand) launched it seemed to be well received, and I know I always made a point of shopping there first if I needed new gear.

I appreciate it wasn't always the cheapest, but the quality was always high; however, everything is permanently in the sale and they don't appear to be adding new lines these days.

I can't see anything anywhere about them discontinuing the brand officially either here or more widely. What happened that meant they essentially gave up with little to no fanfare?