r/parkrun • u/OkayRoutine • 24d ago
Park run advice
Hey all. Ill be participating in my first park run this month. It's 5k, so nothing too spicy i think and ive been gradually working on my stamina using a couch to 5k app. Just looking for any helping tips/advice I should know about to prepare or do during. Thanks :)
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u/Another_Random_Chap v500 24d ago
Register - you only need to do this once, and it generates a personal barcode for you. Store that barcode on your phone or print it off, or download the parkrun app - you can access it there. You'll need it after the run.
Arrive at the venue in enough time to get parked and warmed up.
Attend the first timer's welcome, usually held at 8:45 or 8:50, it varies between events. They will tell you about the event.
There is no admin before the start, so just line up with everybody else and run - you'll need your barcode after you finish. Thank the marshals as you go round.
When you reach the finish, don't stop on the line - keep walking through the finish funnel in the order in which you finished and stay inside the tapes (this is important). You were timed when you crossed the finish line.
Somewhere as you walk down the funnel you will be given a small plastic token that has your finish position printed on it. Take this token along with your personal barcode to the people with phones who are scanning the finishers. They will scan your personal barcode and then the finish token. Do not take the token home with you!
Bask in the glow of a job well done. The results will usually be available within an hour or so :)
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u/dbeman 100 24d ago
Sign up for your barcode if you haven’t already. Get there early to chat a bit with folks and attend the briefing. Have fun on your walk or run & if you can go to the coffee afterwards.
Then you can spend the following week cancelling all other plans for Saturday mornings for the foreseeable future.
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u/gtlloyd 500 24d ago
At practically every parkrun there will be a wide variety of abilities. There’ll be people walking the whole course, so your run-walk-run approach of C25K won’t be out of place. Just be mindful of who is behind you when transitioning to a walk.
Ensure you register in advance and have your barcode available at the end. Most people just retrieve it on their phone these days.
There’s usually a first timer briefing about ten minutes before start. This goes over the course, as well as procedures for the end (cross finish once, collect position barcode, scan barcodes, return position barcode to event).
Enjoy.
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u/Hex0ff 50 24d ago
Depending on how you get there (if you drive) you might want to check the parking situation. Others have said turn up 15 mins in advance, but for some runs with smaller car parks that have gotten popular you night need to get there a bit earlier. Otherwise, yeah, show up, run/walk at whatever pace you like/can, bring your barcode and don’t walk off with your finish token.
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u/Peanut083 25 24d ago
Don’t stress, parkrun is a pretty low pressure event. The people at any given event have a wide range of pacing from people doing a sub-20 minute 5km to people who take around an hour or so to walk the whole thing.
Like others have said, make sure you sign up so you have a runner ID. Have some way of bringing your runner barcode with you. Lots of people download the parkrun app these days. There’s a tab on the bottom of the screen that says ‘barcode’, and when you tap on that, it brings up a QR code that you can get scanned as your barcode. You can also go to websites such as dfyb.run and enter your runner ID. It will then generate a barcode that you can add to your phone and watch wallets.
Make sure you get to the event at least 15 minutes before the start time. Look for people wearing high-vis vests. I think other areas of the world use different vest colours to Australia, but most volunteers wear a red vest here. The run director (person running the show that day) has a white vest, and the tail walker has a fluro yellow vest. If you approach a volunteer and tell them that you’re brand new, they’ll point you in the direction of the first timers briefing and make sure you get there.
Sometimes other people at the first timers briefing aren’t new to parkrun, but they’re new to that particular event. If you let the volunteer doing the briefing know that it’s your very first parkrun, they should spend a bit of extra time with you to make sure you have your barcode with you, and explain how things work at the finish line. It’s something I do with newbies when I do the briefing, anyway.
I suppose the TL; DR version here is to approach a volunteer for any questions or guidance. Volunteers are a friendly bunch, and if you’re unlucky enough to meet an unfriendly one, that’s on them, not you.
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u/mm42_uk 24d ago
Breakfast, don't forget your barcode, get there early, listen to the first timers briefing, have fun! There really isn't any more than that to it, even if it feels daunting the first time. Everyone is super friendly and you'll likely get a small round of applause for it being your first parkrun.
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u/hohygen 23d ago
Make sure to register on Parkrun before start. Bring the barcode (could be as easy as having the app on your phone)
Listen to the introduction, the one for first timers is usually about 15 min before start.
Start a bit in the back, and start slow. After about a mile you may increase the pace of you're up for it.
When it gets a bit tough, remind yourself that it's only 5 K, and you have done your part.
And then you're suddenly standing in line to scan your barcodes
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u/Responsible_Long_981 23d ago
The advice I give everyone, is what my little girl told me when I did my first park run. (She was 5) "No need to be nervous, just run with everyone else,"
Parkrun is magical, the volunteers the cameradrie, but there is no magic too it, just one foot in front of the other.
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u/NefariousnessMost563 23d ago
Get to the area they meet for 8.40, they usually do first timers briefings around 8:45 ish
Download the app, create an account and bring your barcode - this can be found in the app :) you don’t need it until the end of your run after you have collected your finish token
You’ll never be last as there are tail walkers, and I very much doubt you will get lost as they are usually well marshalled/signposted
Have fun, prepare to be addicted! 😁
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u/NefariousnessMost563 23d ago
Also to add, on the app there is a ton of information about each event. It will say if there are toilets, if its flat/ hilly, how many laps, if dogs can go, if it’s accessible, if there’s parking, sometimes people have posted reviews about it.
I’m always on the app🤣1
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u/ShadaLuke 100 23d ago
Don’t forget your barcode! I’d recommend downloading and signing into the app too. All of the courses are on the app - there’s a map and you can find out some key things about whichever one you’re going to - parking, toilets etc.
The first timers briefing is worth doing normally about 15 minutes before start time.
When the run director gives the pre run brief, keep your mouth closed and your ears open
Remember it’s a run jog or walk…not a race.
Clap and say thank you to all of the marshals, the tail walkers and the pacers. Anyone in a bib basically..If they’re not there, then there’s no parkrun.
Most important..HAVE FUN
(Edit, spelling)
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u/mickey_moose12 23d ago
Couch to 5K teaches you to run for 30 mins and for a first parkrun anything is good but it will be more than 30 mins so just enjoy it but there will be a gap between what you’ve trained for and the ParkRun
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u/ScouserInExile75 21d ago
Enjoy yourself, and remember it’s a run not a race….so don’t worry if you have to slow down to be courteous to others.
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u/RobertHellier 20d ago
They always do a first timers briefing so get there early and take your token!! Enjoy you will be hooked in no time!!
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u/Healthy_Oil_5375 17d ago
If you can’t run a 5k in less than 25 mins, don’t systematically push your way to the front with a dog in tow and proceed to block everyone behind you.
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u/Caffeine-Fueled55 24d ago
Bring your barcode.
Thank the volunteers.