welcome to the newsletter
In this week’s newsletter Chase The Place passes through week five, James Saunders realises a dream, there’s the usual amazing feedback from the field, a Welsh parkrunner of the week and I get down with the kids.
On Sunday I was fortunate enough to see into the future when a whole group of super-amazing junior parkrunners took on two kilometres of Yorkshire’s finest open space. It was of course the inaugural Roundhay Juniors parkrun and alongside Southampton Juniors which launched on the same day (see James Saunders’ corner to my right) marked the re-launch of our wonderful 2km series for 4 to 14 year olds as a weekly event. Founded by Paul ‘Peej’ Graham back in 2010 at Bushy Park we have for a while had four fantastic Junior events taking place on a monthly basis, at the aforementioned Bushy as well as Savill Garden, Woodley and the Forest of Dean. You can see a map of our Junior events here.
As of today we have just over 60,000 children aged 4 to 14 registered with parkrun around the World (8.5% of our runners) and it’s exciting to be able to offer a shorter more accessible distance for those who would feel more comfortable running or walking two kilometres. I must also confess to having an ulterior motive though… I have a two year old daughter who I hope will enjoy running as much as I do. It is of course cheaper than cycling and requires less early mornings than swimming, but my real reason for feeling like this is that running has influenced my life in so many positive ways. It’s a wonderful sport that is simple to do, healthy, safe, fun and most importantly, social. Sadly, my experiences of running when I was a child were overwhelmingly negative. I wasn’t particularly motivated by my teachers and as someone closer to the back of the field than the front at that time they weren’t particularly motivated by me either. This lead to me developing a depressingly common dislike of getting from A to B using my own two feet.
Of course we’d all love to see someone standing atop an Olympic podium one day proudly attributing their life changing achievement to a childhood of parkrunning but really it’s about so much more than that. We as parkrunners have the opportunity right now to not only engage hundreds of thousands of children around the World with the activity we love so much, but to do so in a fun and exciting way. As I stood on the sidelines cheering 66 intrepid juniors over the line the most important thing to me was that each was accompanied with a smile. We all, the parents, the volunteers and the kids themselves, genuinely had a fantastic time on Sunday morning, doing something fun together, as a group, with a common goal. I should also note that of those 66 finishers, 43 had never run any type of parkrun before, how amazing is that!?
As we grow as an organisation my own personal role becomes more serious, I spend more time in meetings talking to people in suits and ironically less time getting from A to B using my own two feet. Having said that, I’m proud to work for a company whose major KPI (Key Performance Indicator) is measured in smiles per miles.
Happy parkrunning,
Tom
five down, three to go... #ChaseThePlace
After week five, there are 5,747 parkrunners left in the running to #ChaseThePlace.
To reward your commitment and to keep you motivated, Lucozade Sport will be giving away two spot prizes this Saturday, week six of #ChaseThePlace. Two committed parkrunners who have logged all six parkruns will be picked at random and will win a case of Lucozade Sport Lite to keep them hydrated for the final two weeks. So, stick with it and log another parkrun for your chance to win.
Follow all the action over the eight weeks on Lucozade Sport’s Facebook and Twitter using #ChaseThePlace.
For terms and conditions please visit here.
event news
Please check your event's news pages for the most up to date information.
Cancellations and course changes this Saturday:
- None that we are aware of.
feedback from the field
Let us know if you have an interesting parkrun related fact, happening or comment that you would like to share with all parkrunners
Hi parkrun UK
I would just like to thank the couple of very kind fellow parkrunners who came to my aid when my car broke down last Saturday. Not only did they help push the car to a safe place, they took my friend and I all the way to a petrol station and back, then waited to make sure the car started. When we tried to thank them they said it was, "All part of the parkrun spirit!”. Lovely people and a lovely run, thank you!
Regards,
Kay Moorehead
Hi parkrun UK
After having a double heart bypass on the 14th of February this year I decided to start running with my wife at our local running group in May. After a few months I decided to give parkrun a go. What an experience that was as I had been told that Barrow parkrun was arguably one of the hardest courses to do. I have now finished 14 parkruns and run 10 PBs. I can't wait for each Saturday to come. I even managed to get my wife to come along after having had a barcode for two years. This Saturday whilst volunteering I got a big shock and was told I was the Sweatshop Monthly Prize winner for October. How proud this made me feel.
Regards,
David Morris
Hi parkrun UK
I took up running two years ago after attending a Run England course. Our 10th week coincided with the first event at Andover parkrun and the rest is history. Now two years on and on my 100th parkrun some of my awesome friends decided to have a ‘Dress As Jan Day’! I would like to thank the Run Directors at Andover - Eggy, Jon, Gemma and Jason for their fantastic work and support plus a special hello to all the great people who turn up every week who make this a place to be at 9am on a Saturday morning.
Regards,
Jan North
Hi parkrun UK
I started running in September as it seemed like a good idea at the time. My first parkrun was a walk/run that took quite a while. I vowed that if I ever managed to run the whole way then I would volunteer. Week eight and I volunteered, week nine and I got my first running PB. Thank you so much to parkrun because I am sure I would never have run this far, so fast, without you. Thank you also for the Sweatshop Monthly Prize, with my magic shoes I am hoping to get even faster.
Regards,
Michelle Hindmarch
Hi parkrun UK
My compliments and thanks to all the volunteers and marshals at Northampton parkrun for encouraging parkrunners so brilliantly at every point, as well as for the simple but effective organisation. As an experienced runner it was great to join my daughter for my first parkrun. Good to see such a community event. Well done guys!
Regards,
Stephen Hansard
Hi parkrun UK
At my first Tilgate parkrun I sprinted off like an Olympic sprinter and was out of breath halfway round the lake wondering how I was going to finish. It was only down to the volunteers and other runners that kept me going until the end. I became hooked and at my second run I got around half way when I felt a sharp pain in my leg which slowed me down, I still pushed on to record a PB, but it was only when I finished that I realised that I had been stung by a wasp. Now I look forward to my Saturday morning runs and catching up with my fellow parkrunners. All being well I will be sub-30 minutes very soon.
Regards,
Tom McLeish
Hi parkrun UK
I'm a regular runner at Telford parkrun and my first parkrun was on the 6th of April this year, after many years of very little exercise, I thought I'd be doing well if I achieved a finishing time of 25 minutes, a time that I'd done six to seven years earlier, as that was my only guide. I managed 24:38 and I was hooked! My daughter came along too and after a bit of encouragement my husband as well. We now all run every week and if we can't run we volunteer. We have met some really great people at parkrun and it has truly changed our life. Thanks parkrun!
Regards,
Rachel Coupe
An old man in his late fifties,
Who hadn’t run for forty-plus years,
Was encouraged to join in a parkrun,
Would it all end up in tears?
So early one morning in April,
Off to Conkers, this decrepit man went,
And he completed the full 5k distance,
In 30 minutes - but his energy spent.
He had to walk for some of the trail way,
And cursed continually soon after the start,
He was amazed that his legs kept on going,
But overjoyed that so did his heart!
He was far from the fastest that morning,
But his achievement he ranked with the best,
He had no fancy designer apparel,
Just old trainers, baggy shorts and a vest.
Now he’s a Saturday morning regular,
It gets no easier - as those who run know,
But if he can do it - you can,
So join us at parkrun and give it a go.
By Alan Argyle
parkrunner of the week
Name: Tracy Elliston
Club: Unattached
Age: 52
Home parkrun: Cardiff
Occupation: Night Care Assistant
Number of runs: 21
Favourite volunteer role: Marshal
What do you do at parkruns: I used to be the last runner regularly, but now pass people along the course which is very encouraging in terms of my fitness progression.
How has parkrun changed your running: I only started running 12 months ago. My husband was and is a regular at parkrun but I never thought it would be my thing. I used to feel a bit intimidated by faster runners but soon found that everyone of all levels of ability are so friendly and helpful. It's a pleasure to run now.
What do you like about parkrun: The friendliness of everyone and the short walk to get a well deserved coffee afterwards.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: My funniest was when my husband finished his 50th parkrun and he accidentally gave my barcode to scan instead of his own. I had a parkrun text that day congratulating me on a 20 minute PB even though I was sat in my house the whole time. It was soon rectified.
parkrun corner
After three years of hoping to set up a Junior parkrun, my (and my eldest son’s) dream came true on Sunday with the first ever Southampton Juniors parkrun.
Earlier in the year, four times Ironman World Champion Chrissie Wellington alongside Jo Sinton-Hewitt, Paul Graham (Founder of Junior parkrun) and a host of other parkrunners, set about enhancing and expanding the existing Junior parkrun series which, up until that point, consisted of four events in the UK which were held monthly. Chrissie wanted parkrun to make a real difference to the health and fitness of children across the UK and to make exercise a regular part of their weekly routine, as well as encourage families to spend quality time together exploring and enjoying time in some of our great local parks and open spaces. The concept of a weekly Junior parkrun was born! Many applications to start a junior event were submitted and the first two new weekly events, Southampton Juniors and Roundhay Juniors (in Leeds), held their inaugural events at the weekend.
Having taken my two sons (seven year old Daniel and five year old Connor) to the oldest and largest Junior parkrun at Bushy Park in Teddington, I knew how special these events were. Daniel came home from visiting Bushy Juniors and asked whether he could have a Junior parkrun in his back garden. If only our back garden were big enough! However, this was all the incentive I needed to do all I could to bring a Junior parkrun to life.
With a great deal of passion from fellow parkrun volunteers, a core team was formed, a venue found and agreed, a child-safe 2km course designed and measured plus funding secured.
Our inaugural event attracted 68 happy Junior parkrunners, many proud parents and a real buzz of excitement for what the event could achieve - to inspire a new generation to get active, have fun and be part of the amazing parkrun community.
James Saunders, Southampton Juniors parkrun Event Director and parkrun UK Ambassador
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reminders
barcode reminder
Barcodes are used at all our events to record your result. Please collect and print your barcode here. No barcode, no result!
all questions answered
Do you have a question about parkrun? How do I collect my club T-shirt? How do I get my barcode? All your questions are answered on our brand new support site
volunteering at parkrun
Every parkrun event relies on volunteers and in 2012 alone over 20,000 of you came forwards and supported your local event. Volunteering is a wonderful way to make friends, feel great and have fun. If that sounds like it's for you then please contact your local event team for more details.
upcoming anniversaries
December
Ally Pally parkrun 7th
Glasgow parkrun 7th
Brockwell parkrun 14th
Congleton parkrun 21st
Darlington South Park parkrun 21st
children at parkrun
Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied at all times by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent's choice. It must also be ensured that children place themselves appropriately at the start so as to prevent a situation where they are being repeatedly overtaken. This is to ensure the safety of your child.
the parkrun show
You can download your copy of the parkrun show here. (iTunes)
The parkrun show is the audible roundup of the "goings on" of everything that caught the teams eye from the weekend in parkrunworld.
Brought to you by Marathon Talk.
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Fuelling You to the Finish Line
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