welcome to the newsletter
In this week’s newsletter adidas get ready for a Jantastic start to 2014, Chase The Place enters the home straight, runbritain close in on 40,000 runners, there’s some great feedback from the field, a wonderful parkrunner of the week and I get ready for a parkrun Christmas.
On Wednesday this week Amanda Barnes (King’s Lynn parkrun Event Director) and Craigie-Lee Paterson (Mile End parkrun Event Director) travelled into London to represent parkrun at the annual Sweatshop Awards for the Running Industry. We had won Best Running Participation Programme due to the votes of several thousand wonderful people, thanks so much if you were one of those. It was of course a very proud moment for us and recognition that we are doing a reasonable job of getting people running.
Amanda Barnes, Nick Pearson (Sweatshop MD) and Craigie-Lee Paterson
As we grow however it becomes clearer and clearer that we are really more about community engagement than running, which although sounds odd for a running event and is somewhat unintentional, is absolutely the case. Many parkrunners could or would run anyway, lots wouldn’t and I know there are thousands of amazing stories where we’ve been the difference between someone running or not but when I see the real differences we make to people’s lives it’s almost always about friendship and support through the creation of small but perfectly formed parkrun communities.
One of the most obvious examples of this takes place over the festive period when many of our event teams will put on additional runs on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. When we first started putting on Christmas Day events lots of people were doubtful that anyone would turn up but last year we had over 5,300 wonderfully unique individuals kicking the day off with a run round their local park. I’ll be at my Mum’s in Framlingham, Suffolk on December the 25th and a quick glance at our Christmas Compendium shows a few options for a festive family 5k.
There is of course one more newsletter before Christmas and as we’ll take a small publishing break during Christmas week that will be the final newsletter of 2013.
Hasn’t time flown!
Tom
P.S. I can’t believe we don’t have a parkrun in my Mum’s home town! Interested?
are you a parkrunner who likes a challenge?
Looking for some motivation to get you running, keep you running or transform your running? adidas are pleased to announce the launch of Jantastic 2014.
We are proud to be supporting Jantastic, a free running participation challenge developed by Marathon Talk that is designed to give your running a boost in the spring. Jantastic is suitable for all running ability levels and open to everyone.
It’s all about setting yourself personal running targets during January, February and March to help stay on track with your New Year’s fitness, health and performance goals. Whether you want to run a parkrun PB, improve your personal fitness, or are in training for your first or fifth marathon, Jantastic will help you along the way and keep you motivated.
Sign up is open now and closes for the full challenge on the 5th of January 2014.
For more information visit www.jantastic.me
Get running, keep running, transform your running.
Twitter: @jantasticme #jantastic
Facebook: facebook.com/Jantasticme
The adidas running team
only one week remaining to #ChaseThePlace
The finish line is almost in sight, after seven weeks of commitment we have 4,113 parkrunners left in contention to #ChaseThePlace.
There is only one week left so if you’re still in the running to win a 2014 Virgin Money London Marathon spot don’t give up now. Put down the mince pies and mulled wine and get involved this coming Saturday.
Congratulations to Medina parkrun who have the highest percentage of parkrunners still left in with a chance. In the battle of the sexes 1,254 are female parkrunners and 2,859 are male.
If you’re still in, let the World know and join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using #ChaseThePlace.
Even if you’re out you can still support your fellow parkrunners and encourage them to make sure they are in the draw at the end of the competition.
For terms and conditions please visit here.
runbritain prize for 40,000th handicap claimant
runbritain now have well over 39,000 runners enjoying the benefits and motivation offered by the runbritain handicap scoring system and have an adidas miCoach ready for the runner that takes the score to 40,000. In addition they have adidas bags for every 25th claimant along the way! Read more 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 am a new wheelchair user and recently took to taking part at Bryn Bach parkrun. After years of running, participating as a wheelchair user was both daunting and emotional but I didn't need to worry, the support and friendship shown to me has been outstanding, thank you all! Thanks again Bryn Bach parkrunners.
Regards,
Sian Hughes
Hi parkrun UK
Last week I abandoned my local parkrun of Newport in favour of catching up with a few friends down at Longrun Meadow parkrun, Taunton. One friend, Katie, used to run Newport parkrun every Saturday where we ran together and enjoyed many a sprint finish, but then she moved back to Taunton. Another friend came up from the South Coast to see what parkrun is all about. Through the excitement of getting up so early, running with friends and a new course I set myself a new PB! parkrun, not only good for meeting new friends but great for keeping in touch too.
Regards,
Nigel Foulkes-Nock
Hi parkrun UK
Many parkrunners I read about in the newsletter are new to running and I never stop being inspired by the stories they tell. I have been a runner for many years so parkrun did not have the same impact for me. However, I was not running for over a year with a mysterious foot injury and doctors told me to forget about running. I kept hoping that one day I would do a parkrun again. October saw my first attempt and I walked part of the way as it seemed so far to run. Now I am regularly running at Banstead Woods parkrun and loving it so much. Without parkrun I would not have this great sense of achievement, so I just want to thank everyone involved with parkrun, especially the wonderful friendly volunteers at Banstead Woods.
Regards,
Cathy Davis
Hi parkrun UK
Here is my son Albert. He was a ‘mini-marshal’ at Blickling parkrun and he enjoyed keeping the runners amused by jumping out of a pile of leaves as they ran past.
Regards,
Keiron Cole
Hi parkrun UK
I've just completed my 49th parkrun and must say when I arrived at my first ever parkrun it was under friendly duress. I was influenced into going by some running friends including avid parkrunner Sarah Brown. I am now just one away from the 50 Club and loving it. I feel parkrun is the perfect start to the weekend. I love the buzz every Saturday morning. Since that first morning I've met great friends and had many amazing running experiences. Just seven years ago I was 19 stone, I've shed six stone since then. parkrun has pushed me further than I thought possible and have achieved so much through you guys. Thank you to Hayley Gwilliam (Event Director at Arrow Valley parkrun) for all her support. Thank you all so very much.
Regards,
Ernie Heaton
parkrunner of the week
Name: Charles Castleton
Club: Unattached
Age: 60
Home parkrun: Brighton & Hove
Occupation: Carer
Number of runs: 68
Favourite volunteer role: Finish token sorting
What do you do at parkruns: I run, volunteer, have paced runners to a PB and recently I have started doing a ‘World Tour’ of parkruns. I’ve completed parkruns in the USA, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Denmark, Poland, Wales, Scotland and of course England.
How has parkrun changed your running: In March of 2012 I was diagnosed with diabetes and weighed 20 stone. I took up parkrun to help me get my weight off and improve my fitness. In the first six months I lost eight and a half stone and improved my PB by over seven minutes and I'm happy to report my diabetes is now fully under control.
What do you like about parkrun: The friendly atmosphere and how helpful runners are when you first start doing the parkrun plus the welcome you receive when you visit other parkruns.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: Seeing a very good friend Gillian Askew receive her result and upon seeing she had got under 40 minutes proceed to dance around my front room.
parkrun corner
Isn't a PB a wonderful thing? The thrill of knowing you've achieved something, that your training has paid off and you have bettered yourself. It gives you that adrenaline rush and makes you proud of yourself for the rest of the day.
Recently at Camperdown parkrun in Dundee a number of our runners who have been running for years have achieved new PBs. It does make me immensely proud of those who have been running for so long and are still managing to knock off seconds and push themselves that little bit further. It is what we all hope for every week, whether we admit it or not.
The brilliant thing about a PB is that it is your personal best, so it doesn't matter if you finish first, tenth or even last. If you get a PB, you have done better than you ever have before and that's what counts, no matter where you are in the field. It’s a great way to challenge yourself and a reason to celebrate. A few of our runners have decided they are only allowed post-run cake if they get a PB, which makes their cake extra special when they get it.
But what is it that these people are doing differently to achieve these PBs? Is it their training during the week? Is it about speed training or cross-training? Is it a special breakfast or new shoes? Or maybe it is the benefit of running the same route every week, knowing exactly when to slow down for the corner and how fast to push yourself up the next hill so that you can make it to the top without walking.
Any number of factors can affect how you perform and one of the fun parts of running is experimenting. Try out a new training plan, or that new sports drink. If it doesn't go to plan, remember you can come back and try again next week!
Elaine Omand, Camperdown 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
Brockwell parkrun 14th
Congleton parkrun 21st
Darlington South Park parkrun 21st
January
Barnstaple parkrun 4th
Wimbledon Common parkrun 4th
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.
our sponsors
all out performance
adidas has been focused on athlete's performance since the first running spikes were made in the 1920s earning the first Olympic gold medal in adidas shoes. Today, adidas is proud to be supporting parkrunners everywhere. Explore adidas running adidas.com
Helping people be the best they can be
For 39 years, Sweatshop the award winning running store, has been helping runners find the perfect products for their individual needs. Find your closest store at sweatshop.co.uk
Fuelling You to the Finish Line
Lucozade Sport has all the tips and advice you need to have a great parkrun - come and find out more at lucozade.com/running
Health insurance that rewards you for living well.
We want you to live life well. Our health insurance makes it cheaper and easier for you to get healthy with discounts on things like gym memberships, sports shoes and bikes - and motivates you with rewards like free cinema tickets to savings on holidays. And importantly, if you do get ill - we'll always ensure you have access to the best possible medical care. Discover Vitality wellness
our supporters
Inspiring runners of all levels
For information on all events organised by the London Marathon, please visit london-marathon.co.uk
Delivering your results earlier
For information on the company powering the mobile messaging, please visit aql.com
Connecting parkrunners everywhere
For information on the mobile communications company, please visit three.co.uk
Today I found my Freedom
For more information about BOB running strollers, please visit bobgear.co.uk