So... What is a parkrun, anyway? Trying Out Something New in my Town

So, now for something slightly different...

I did something NEW today, you guys!

Click on the Photo to go to parkrun's website

Over the past few months, I've really been slacking... slacking on my eating, slacking on my training, slacking on just being an active person in general. I needed a kick in the pants to get me going in the right direction again.

Back in September of 2018, my city started participating in the parkrun movement. 

What is a parkrun, you ask? Well, according to their website:

• parkruns are free, weekly, community events all around the world
• parkrun events are 5k and take place on Saturday morning in parks and open spaces
• parkrun is a positive, welcoming, and inclusive experience where there is no time limit and no one finishes last. Everyone is welcome to come along, whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate

There are currently 46 events around the country to choose from (3 in Florida). Globally, there are over 1,400 events.

Founded in 2004 by Paul Sinton-Hewitt, these parkrun events are free, untimed 5ks that take place every Saturday morning, rain or shine. It is entirely volunteer-run, as well, with a little help from HQ staff in the UK. The first parkrun was in Bushy Park, London. The first non-UK location was in Zimbabwe, and USA followed along in 2012. By October 2018, over five million runners worldwide were registered parkrun members!!

Speaking of registering, once you register as a parkrun member, you never have to do anything again, and you can run anywhere there is a parkrun happening. Some people travel to other parkruns, and they're called "tourists." All you need is the barcode you received when you registered!

But Lazy, you ask, I thought you didn't like Running Clubs? Well, you're right, I don't. I don't think this is a running club though...

Anyway, with some of the boring info out of the way...

I'd been reading about parkrun for a while, thanks to a running coworker who told me about the events, and finally after a few weeks of chickening out, I finally made it to one.

So what was it like?

Well, just going off this first visit? It was amazingly low-key, yet very uplifting.

I'll back up...

Our city's parkrun happens at Depot Park, a Central Park style area with playgrounds, trails, and such. It's lovely, and I've run a handful of races there in the past.

The view from the start line

At just before 7, I headed down to the park and saw that there were maybe 20-30 people milling around. There was a small table set up, so I assumed I needed to check in or something, but was told that the barcode I was given during the registration process would be used at the end of the race. Weird, but okay...

See the guy in the yellow shirt? He's blind... and he's faster than me!

The Race Director (and person who brought parkrun to Gainesville) Shauna found me and welcomed me. We chatted for a few minutes about what to expect, how the course was laid out, and other simple things, and then I just kind of hung out with everyone else until it was about 7:25. At that time we all grouped together near the starting line, where Shauna welcomed everyone, said a few housekeeping notes, welcomed first timers (me, yay!), and thanked everyone for coming. After that, we all took a group photo near the parkrun banner, and then it was time to take off.

Look for my blue Celebration visor in the back

Now, since this isn't an actual race, there is no official Start Line or Finish Line, but it was timed, which was one of the reasons I wanted to try it out today... It gave me a reason to push myself, instead of just moseying 3 miles and calling it "training." Also, at every parkrun, there is a person designated as the Tail Walker, whose role is to be the last person to cross the Start and Finish Line to ensure safety, provide encouragement or assistance, and ensure that no one is last. Be still my heart, I hate being last!

So, I took off, had my ears in, sweating like a pig in the humid Florida morning, and enjoyed the day.

Young, old, kids, dogs, all sorts of folks parkrun!

The course is a very easy course, a simple 3.75 laps around the park. Because it was a lap course, faster runners would pass by and encourage us to keep going, you're doing great, etc, which was nice. Any time you passed a volunteer (at the table, at the finish line, on the course) they cheered you on. And best of all, was that lovely lady behind me, acting as Tail Walker, so I would never be last (although, on this particular day there were 2 other participants + the tail walker behind me).

My Garmin page from this race

After the race run, and you crossed the finish line, you were given a small tag (similar to tags you get at Walgreens that you put on your key ring) and told to take it up to the table by the start line. There, a volunteer would take the tag and scan it, along with your barcode, and this would enter your time into the system. Within an hour or so, you'd get an email with your time, and results would be posted online at the parkrun website.

Mary was the Tail Walker today

I didn't stick around too long after I finished. I still felt like a newbie, and out of place. But, being out of my element didn't stop me from, on a whim, signing up to be the Tail Walker for next week! Gulp... but, as I told Shauna... if I'm going to be in the back, I might as well be there for a reason!

Now that I've had time to decompress...

Did I like this adventure? Yes! Will I keep doing it? Yes, at least for next week, since I volunteered to be there. Will I keep going after that? I don't know yet... we'll see what's in store for me next week.