You need a compilation of outtake edits of times where your wife gives you withering looks or slaps you for your comments 😂

@Alexander Morrison you the park run polis? Am no weclome

Great vid. Only been up for an hour, but its not your usual L/D ratio. I've got no insights there. Hope your desire for incremental improvements in data doesn't get in your head! I'm closer to your age, and your vids give me the most motivational boost. You started late, and are very clear about what works for you, how long things took you, and all your setbacks despite good consistency from the perspective of over a decade. I'd love to hear your in-depth thoughts on HRT for people over 40. I think such vids would get consistent views, but what do I know? I'd read your thoughts on HRT if you have a blog. I get that HRT talk has weird vibes and stigma, and isn't a core of this channel. But its content! I hope any reticence on your part isn't of the "sitting in the car and watching a parkrun" variety. Glad you're in a great place right now 👊. Have an awesome summer.

Nice to hear that you are, possibly, going to volunteer. Volunteering is all the pleasure of parkrun without getting sweaty!

➡️🚪 Mark's kids

This. Couldn't agree more.

Yep - every now and then it's nice to just chat to camera for a bit.

That’s a really good time you should be proud

Congrats!!

30 mins for a first try is really good!

Congratulations! Keep up the good work, you're doing the right thing, and doing it well!

Congrats! Keep going :)

What an amazing suggestion! Yes that would be awesome!

uni party days were the times

same here mate

That's an awesome mindset - one I wish I would've known in my 20's. I used to do the same thing. You're on the right path faster than I was!

a good team sport or training buddy can help a lot, atleast for me american football did the trick :) went in the span of a year from fat, always out of breath Olinemen to bulky, kinda fat, not always out of breath Dlinemen ^^

Very similar age to when I started Ben. Game changer! Now running ultra marathons and as Mark says, shorter distances become a walk in the park then. Good luck pal!

Ben - definitely give Parkrun a go......

I agree - its an amazing start to the weekend.

Mean and old and kicking 20-year-old ass!!!

It’s all great fun until you realise that those pre-diabetic youngsters are supposed to pay our pension 😮

Alright Billy big bollocks we've all done a run 😊

You're a big lump! We have to stick together!

@@MarkLewisfitness fluctuating between 25 and 28 mins at the moment. But I binge eat too. Got to get to grips with all that. I’ll join your patreon soon. Keep up the good work

@@pauliddon I love your honesty, Pauliddon. Hang in there!

I wish you the best in your journey. 2 things come immediately to mind: 1) be gentle on your needs, e.g. not a bad idea to lose a bit of weight *before* you start running or increase distance 2) if you've never really exercised, or if it was a long time ago, make sure you have a doctor clear you for activity, and go very progressively

duh I meant knees not needs, weird auto correct

Absolutely, tourism keeps you fresh and brings new memories😀

Agreed you dont have to race it every week. And on the off weeks could always do some tourism, there are challenging ones that arent fast! My local parkrun does pacing sometimes, that's an easy run, a volunteer credit and a different challenge of trying to get it right to the second

That's pretty much my take.

you could easily go sub-20 if you train hard for it

@@ALEX15here meanwhile I managed to finish a Parkrun at 24:39 which is a PB. This was only possible as I train hard and guided. Garmin thinks that 23:09 should be possible, and I consider Garmins Race Predictor "optimistic". So, even with dedicated training there will be a ceiling for me. Maybe it's even a sub 20. But it will not me "easy" to achieve.

@andyCliffMTB Only 23:43….that is fantastic!!! Be proud of that and work at getting faster if that is what you want. My advice as a long time runner is to be proud of all your accomplishments and dont undermine your hard work with negative comments such as “only”.

Yay Bob

⁠​⁠@@Lifeover60Thanks, it took a lot of training to get that PB, I was just comparing it to Mark’s sub-20 performances. I won’t stop working to improve that’s for sure. Oldham Parkrun tomorrow, number 93😀

just remember that for most people with fitness goals, when they're working out - they're focused on themselves. The elite runner you see isn't judging your speed or form, they're focused on their own form and likely not even noticing you. Just do you bro

Hi Kevin, we all feel like that at the start, i remember going to my current club meeting and hiding in the car (twice) before feeling brave enough to go over and join in. Everyone was so welcoming and i find that at every run/race i go to, runners are just delighted that someone else has joined in, whaterver their pace or personal goals. I'm not very social but running with company, more often in silence 'cause i can chat or breathe but not both, helps me feel, better. All the best for the future and go for it.

Thanks

Honestly, I'd wait until you're

@gary Tommy you don’t need to practice before going. You can just walk it if you want , it’s just for fun. I understand how you may feel, I’ve been there. A mind hack to maybe try, go to walk it, but jog when you can. Take it easy and reward yourself with a nice coffee afterwards, the key is to make it easy to go back again. Don’t for get to smile and say thanks to the marshals 🙂

Just go and walk!

Oakwell Hall is one of my absolute favourites. I hope you gain the confidence to give it a go soon! Your weight and fitness level don't matter at all; you'll find nothing but support when you take part, and certainly no judgement.

@@laurah108 Spot on. There are tons of people who are just starting their fitness journey at park run. Just walk when the running gets too hard; nobody will judge you - if anything you'll get lots of encouragement.

It's more a case that, having got as fast as I ever will need to get, I just feel that I have got all I need to have had from Parkrun.

Mark, do you think that peeling off before the finish line when you're running with Jen/a friend seems a bit holier than thou? To me it gives the message of 'I care so much about my stats/journey that crossing the line where your best is isn’t good enough for me'. Not trying to start anything, just want to hear your perspective as this could be demotivating for some.

@@thomaswalsh1829 possibly, in which case they are free to not run with me 😂.

It's really not a shame, just a choice 🤣🤣🤣

I'll get my pills out 😂

Worth pointing out, the channel is not going to become all about horseriding from now on 😂. I can pretty much guarantee you, as a parkrun fan, you will still find useful content here 😂

We had it too 😂

19min is insane for 5km honestly. At least here in Denmark we have a 5km test in highschool, where if you do it in 25min you have a good conditioning. 19min means you are the top 1% I believe, unbelieveable.

Its fast, but if you run a few times a week many should be quite close.

@@ShaneBoy Nah man, unless you got great running genetics, sub 19min is insane for just running a few times a week. Takes years to get to that level. I've run for 7years, still around the 24min mark, tho tbf I have long breaks every now and then because of knee issues.

@@Ascasc1980 To run sub-19 at nearly 50 year old shows that Mark has got the right genetics. For most of the general population that would not be possible at any age. I've run under 21 minutes as a 56 year old with not much training (due to constant injuries) and I realise that I was just born lucky in that respect. I know several people of a similar age who train 10x more than I do who still can't crack 25 minutes. I would guess anyone who can go under 20 minutes would be in the top fraction of a percent of the general population.

Oh yes - entertainment for all!

While I value those roles, they just don't appeal to me. And I like to think that I have given parkrun a boost, in my own way already.

@@MarkLewisfitness fair enough.

I hope that only applies to races!! :)

Is her name Mutley?

🙏

That’s a seriously impressive time for your age. I’m 60 and just broke 24 mins. But getting sub -22 seems insurmountable