This morning another group of my beginner runners finished their 10 weeks of training with a 5k run around Hampstead Heath. It’s always the best run of my week when I get to run 5k with those who are completing the distance for the first time.

After 10 weeks of training I know that they can do it, but as we start the session the runners usually have a few doubts in their mind. I remind them of week 1 when they were running for a minute at a time, I remind them of the time they ran for 10 mins non-stop for the first time and how they thought they wouldn’t manage it and I remind them that whether they run 5k today or not, they’ve come a long way.

I don’t think anything I’ve done in running has been as hard as that first few weeks building up from 0 to 30 mins of running. Not running an 80km ultra, not the 26.2 mile run at the end of my iron person and not my first marathon. These were all hard, but they weren’t as challenging as going from non-runner to running 5k.

By the time these latter challenges came along I had more confidence, I enjoyed running and I didn’t feel like an imposter. My body had adapted over years of training to be ready for what it was about to do. The doubt, the aches and the self-consciousness I felt every time I went running in those early weeks was far more challenging.

On Saturday my beginners group will take on their first parkrun. It’s the same distance as they ran today but it’s another significant milestone. For the past 10 weeks they’ve run together as a group of beginners. Running among a field of 200 runners of varying abilities is a new experience and one that it’s easy to underestimate for those of us who have been turning up to races and parkruns for a while now.

So while I know parkrun is a friendly, inclusive event, those new to it and who started running recently usually have the same concerns: will I be last, will I have to walk, how many people will be there, are there hills. No, maybe, lots and yes.

It’s easy to forget how it felt when you’re just starting out in running. Running with my beginners keeps me connected to that which makes me appreciate how far I’ve come and makes me a better coach to all my runners, not just those starting out. Too many training programmes take the science and practices used for elite and competitive runners and dilute them down for amateur and beginner runners. I like to start from the ground up.

So this weekend, you’ll find me at the parkrun, celebrating my runners and being pleased that they let me be part of their journey.

I know not everyone can make it to my groups, so last year I created a 0-5k programme that you can download and follow anywhere.