It’s easy to forget that your only job at parkrun is to run your best race.
Not someone else’s.
Yours.
Yet every Saturday, runners make the same mistake.
They let someone else decide how fast they should run.
It Starts Within Seconds
The countdown finishes.
The field surges forward.
Someone just ahead of you seems to be running comfortably.
So you tuck in behind them.
A few hundred metres later, they’re still pulling away.
You work a little harder to stay with them.
Without realising it, you’ve abandoned your own race plan and started following theirs.
The Problem With Racing Other People
The runner beside you knows something you don’t.
They know how they’ve trained.
They know how they’re feeling.
They know what pace they’re aiming for.
You don’t.
They might be chasing a personal best.
They might be taking it easy.
They might be running the first kilometre too fast.
Or they might simply be fitter than you.
Using someone else’s pace as your guide is a bit like borrowing someone else’s training plan—it might work for them, but it may not be right for you.
Run to Your Fitness
The best parkruns happen when your pace reflects your current fitness, not your ambition.
That’s not always easy.
We all want to run faster.
We all want to beat the person just ahead.
But smart pacing is about running the fastest pace you can sustain for the full 5km.
Not the fastest pace someone else can sustain.
Trust the Process
One of the hardest skills in running is letting people go.
Especially early in the run.
But often, that’s exactly what you need to do.
Stay relaxed.
Stay patient.
Stay within yourself.
If they’ve gone out too hard, you’ll often see them again later.
If they haven’t, they were simply having a better day.
Either way, you’ve given yourself the best opportunity to run well.
Measure Success Differently
Instead of judging your run by where you are in the field, judge it by how well you executed your plan.
Did you pace yourself sensibly?
Did you stay controlled early?
Did you finish strongly?
Those are the things that lead to long-term improvement.
Position in the field is only one part of the story.
A Simple Cue for Saturday
The next time you feel tempted to match another runner’s pace, ask yourself:
“Is this my pace, or theirs?”
If the answer is “theirs“, back off slightly.
Return to your rhythm.
Trust your preparation.
The Bigger Picture
Every parkrun is another opportunity to learn about yourself as a runner.
The better you become at pacing your own effort, the more consistent your performances will become.
You’ll enjoy your running more.
You’ll finish stronger.
And over time, the personal bests will follow.
Bringing It Back to Saturday
Next weekend, challenge yourself to run your own race.
Ignore the temptation to chase every runner who passes you.
Focus on your effort.
Trust your pacing.
Because the only race you can truly control is your own—and that’s the one worth getting right.