I’ve been wanting to take part in Parkruns for a long time. In fact, I registered for Parkrun two years ago, but various levels of fitness and hesitation kept me from ever attending—until today!
Over the past month, I’ve been running consistently, and although I can complete a 10k at a slow pace, I felt now was the perfect time to take on my first 5k Parkrun. Running alone is a different experience—you can stop or walk whenever you want. I wondered if it would be the same at Parkrun. But deep down, I was determined to complete my first 5k without stopping.
I arrived at Peter Pan Park and was met by a sea of runners gathering for the start. It was a relief and a pleasant surprise to spot a fellow member of my running club in the crowd. We chatted for a bit and decided to run together, which instantly eased some of my nerves.
Having her by my side was reassuring—she’d run this route countless times before and gave me tips on when to speed up or slow down. The start was a bit slow as we all bunched up, but after a while, the crowd thinned out, and I found my rhythm.
Sure, plenty of runners overtook me, but I also passed a few myself. I tried not to worry about my time, focusing instead on maintaining a pace I could handle. My goal wasn’t to break any records—it was simply to finish.
And finish I did, in 33 minutes! I’m happy with that, and I know I’ll beat it in the coming weeks. What really stood out to me, though, was the support and enthusiasm of the volunteers, organizers, and other runners. It felt like being part of a big community where everyone encourages one another.
I’m already looking forward to my next Parkrun!
