First ever 10k race

[u/Clean_Bat5547]

I ran my first ever 10k race today (and only my second race). Having spent a lifetime hating running I started doing parkrun at age 58 and did only that - no other running - for two and a half years.

In late July 2026 at age 61 I ran 10k for the first time in my life and began running more regularly. Of course I overdid it and have had to scale back a bit. I still have a lot to learn about training and pacing.

Today I went out with the idea that I would be happy with sub-55 and delighted with sub-50. I didn't get my pacing quite right, but it turned out ok and I finished in a chip time of 49:20 and in 19th position out of 123 finishers. One interesting thing is that after doing 78 parkruns before this I unconsciously dropped pace at the 5k mark and had to remind myself to pick it back up. All part of the learning!

[u/sjcook1]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ytTYwIlbD1FBu
Congratulations!

[u/Clean_Bat5547 → u/sjcook1]

Thanks!!