welcome to the newsletter
In this week’s newsletter Alzheimer's Research UK profile three races, runbritain click their clocks, Chris Davies welcomes parkrun UK staff to Wales and I get revved up to race Rosie along The Mall.
Over the Easter weekend my family and I travelled south from our North Yorkshire base and spent a few days with my Mum and Stepdad in Framlingham, Suffolk. On previous trips, and with time at a premium, we'd visited the wonderful Ipswich parkrun but seeing as Kesgrave parkrun had started since our last visit we embraced the opportunity to try somewhere new. It didn't disappoint (of course) and brilliantly led by run director on the day Ian Duggan, the volunteers did a wonderful job of making the experience of running 5k so special. A couple of laps of a playing field, an off-road out-and-back, all finished off with a final 800m through the woods were all my lungs and legs needed to start the day in style. Having said that, a cool-down with the best scone I've had in ages accompanied by some quality time with a load of great people also provided my weekly dose of post-parkrun socialising. Aren't people brilliant.
One thing that really struck me about Kesgrave was the large number of children who were involved, not all running, as many were spectating, volunteering or kicking footballs about, but they were there nevertheless. That then reminded me of the value associated with sharing areas of open space with friends and family and how there aren't that many accessible opportunities around where different generations can come together and be active in the great outdoors.
Talking of which, it's only six weeks until the Westminster Mile, a fantastic 1,609 metres starting on The Mall and finishing in style in front of Buckingham Palace. We're really excited that there will be an entire wave dedicated to parkrunners - which you can enter via this link - and most of the parkrun HQ team will be there. What does that have to do with the first part of this newsletter you ask?
Rosie - not her trainers and not on the right feet.
Well, I'm super excited to say that it will be my daughter Rosie's first ever running event. She's just got her first pair of trainers and has been racing Helen the half-a-mile or so to nursery four days a week. The only problem is that she really doesn't like people running in front of her so if you are planning on joining us on the 24th of May could I politely ask you to keep behind my angelic threenager for fear of a race-ending tantrum? Anyway, the Westminster Mile is an amazing event. It's rare that parkrunners come together en-masse in a full-on race environment so if you fancy taking on PSH, myself or my super-competitive daughter we look forward to seeing you on The Mall in six weeks time. The dedicated parkrun wave can be entered via this link.
#loveparkrun
Tom
P.S. In this week’s junior parkrun newsletter Chrissie Wellington walked.
run for ARUK this May
With the weather fast improving and the running event season on the horizon, there’s no better time to consider pulling on your trainers for a cause close to your heart.
Our fantastic supporters at Alzheimer’s Research UK will be boosting funds for vital dementia research by running in no less than six events during the month of May. This week we profile three of these runs, all of which take place on Sunday the 10th. They are the 10k Great Manchester Run, Leeds Half Marathon and Run Hackney Half Marathon in London.
Up to 40,000 runners are expected to take part in this year’s Great Manchester Run – Europe’s biggest 10k running event. Now in its 13th year, the 2015 run has attracted entries from almost 30 countries so far. It was first held in 2003 as a legacy from the Commonwealth Games staged in the city 12 months earlier and will be broadcast live on the BBC.
Forty-five miles away in Leeds, the city will be holding its annual half marathon for the 30th time. Last year the event – one of the North’s leading charity road races – attracted around 7,000 entrants. Event organisers will be hoping for record attendance in this landmark year. The route is just over 13 miles and is one of the highlights of Leeds’ sporting calendar.
In London, thousands of runners will be lacing up for the Run Hackney Half Marathon. The closed-roads course will pass by some of the area’s best-kept parks and key landmarks, including the world-famous Hackney Empire, Broadway Market and London Fields. This year’s new and improved route will also pass through the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, giving runners the chance to follow in their sporting heroes’ footsteps.
If you’re lucky enough to have secured your own place in one of these or any other upcoming event, we’d love to have you on #TeamARUKparkrun – every penny you raise will take us a step closer to a world free from the fear, harm and heartbreak of dementia.
To sign-up to support us with your own place, or apply for a charity place in an event later this year, visit www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/parkrun
Ian Wilson
Director, Alzheimer’s Research UK
#clickyourclock case studies
The runbritain #clickyourclock competition will reward its sixth winner this week and has been in touch with two of the winners from previous weeks to find out how the competition has motivated them to improve their running performances.
Steve Auton (handicap score 6.1) - #clickyourclock winner 18th-24th of March made a 7.93% improvement of his handicap score. Steve claimed his handicap a few hours after he ran the B&Q Eastleigh 10k whilst he was looking at the runbritain website, checking out his boss’s running performances as he intends to upstage him in the rankings!
Steve started running nine months ago, when a friend dared him to do the Great South Run. Eventually he agreed and started training and fell in love with running. He describes himself as having an “addictive and competitive personality” and attributes this to the reason he looked for ways to get a London Marathon place. He managed to secure a charity place with 'Save the Rhino' and so has been training for London since December. Steve said, “The training is going well and I feel fitter than ever, I can't wait for the marathon and will be trying to get a sub three hour time but will still be over the moon with a sub 3:30 for my first”.
Natasha Baker (handicap 12.0) - #clickyourclock winner 4th-10th of March made a 11.49% improvement of her handicap score. Natasha is currently training for the Milton Keynes Marathon in May. Her initial goal, set in October 2014, was to complete her first sub-four marathon but she recently achieved a new 20 mile personal best of over nine minutes and that contributed to her improved handicap score. She has now re-written her marathon goal and is planning to run Milton Keynes Marathon in sub 3:30!
“I have always loved sport but especially running and have always found myself stopping and starting. Last year was different however and I will never look back! In January 2014 I decided that it was going to be my year to get fit. Never did I expect to achieve what I now have. I bought a road bike and started cycling to work and running twice a week. Being more active led to me losing 14kg and, as a result, running became more enjoyable as I could see in the improvements week by week”.
Visit www.runbritainrankings.com for more and #clickyourclock on your next parkrun result.
join us on The Mall
The Westminster Mile takes place on Sunday the 24th of May. For the second year running we have our very own parkrun wave, which is at 12.45pm, and over 200 parkrunners have already signed up to run with us so far.
Enter and join the parkrun community on The Mall using this unique parkrun wave link. Children under nine can run for free and we’d love you to bring your junior parkrunners along as it’s a great day out for the whole family!
parkrun population
Here are this week’s summary statistics for parkrun UK (including junior parkrun)
Number of runners - 66,183
Number of volunteers - 5,680
Number of first timers - 11,588
Number of PBs - 12,546
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
Having just seen a great action photo of myself and my eight year old son, Jim, sprint finishing parkrun, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who makes parkrun, and especially Tring parkrun happen, and the photographers who post great pictures each week. Jim has just completed his ninth parkrun, encouraged by the lure of the 10 Club t-shirt and the encouragement of the volunteers and other runners each week. This week we finished to cheers and a chocolate nest! I really enjoy running and enjoy sharing this enjoyment with Jim and spending quality time with him.
Regards,
Maura Patterson
Hi parkrun UK
Since Cambridge parkrun started in 2010 the whole family have become addicted to the parkrun phenomenon and we all entered the 100 club last year! Whenever we’re away on holiday we research where the nearest one is so we can get some parkrun tourism in. My parents never ran before starting parkrun either and the shared experience has brought the family closer together. In a few weeks time we will all be taking on the challenge of running a marathon to raise money for the Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridge. My parents will be doing the Greater Manchester Marathon on the 19th of April before my brother Chris and I run the London Marathon on the 26th of April. parkrun is definitely our inspiration!
Regards,
Sophie Darling
Hi parkrun UK
After a four year long journey this coming Saturday will be my 100th run. It would have been sooner but for a ruptured achilles in 2013, ouch! Previously, I couldn't run a bath, the only exercise being the annual village fun-run - a drinking excuse really. parkrun turned up one year and hooked me in, and I soon improved by time by almost eight minutes. Nursing the injury, I marshalled on crutches which helped both me and the runners as being ‘part of it’ is what it's really all about. Achilles repaired now, my times are getting closer to my PB again and I still dream of breaking that infuriating 25 minute goal but the new t-shirt will do for now.
Regards,
John Brooks
Hi parkrun UK
I'm trying to break 25 minutes… I thought I'd come close last week but at least had a PB but no, I ran exactly the same time as the previous week which was exactly one second slower than the week prior to that (which had been a PB). How many can say they had run such close consecutive times? Especially as a non competitive runner - I only do parkrun. 25:12, 25:13, 25:13. Sigh.
Regards,
Sarah-Lou Lewis
parkrunner of the week
Name: Harry Harrison
Club: Sunderland Strollers
Age: 47
Home parkrun: Sunderland
Occupation: parkrun Newsletter Co-ordinator
Number of runs: 220
Favourite volunteer role: Run Director
What do you do at parkruns: Pretty much anything, some weeks I run, others I'm happy to run direct so that our ED can get a run. I also really enjoy pacing people to new PBs, it's great to share their delight at achieving a particular time. During the week I co-ordinate the production of all the parkrun newsletters across the world, it's amazing to hear of all the exciting developments.
How has parkrun changed your running: I started parkrunning at Sunderland when I was working away each week, it was a great way to meet people in my adopted home town. Now it has become a huge part of my life, I'm also Club Secretary for Sunderland Strollers and it's great to see so many of my club mates running and volunteering every Saturday morning.
What do you like about parkrun: I've made some great friends at parkrun and it's become a large part of my family's life as my wife and son also run regularly. The friendly atmosphere is brilliant and I frequently find myself eulogising about parkrun to my non-parkrunning friends. I'm very proud to be associated with such an awesome concept.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: So many to choose from at Sunderland over the past five years: having to hurdle a fallen tree; running in deep snow and icy slush; some of the amazing fancy dress costumes including loads of turkeys this Christmas!
parkrun corner
When the opportunity came up to host the parkrun HQ team in Wales I envisaged a small gathering of parkrun core team members from within a small radius of Newport. However, as replies came in it was clear that we were in for a bigger event.
The evening meeting with Tom Williams, Joanne Sinton-Hewitt and Helen Hood did not disappoint nor did the passion and commitment of about 65 parkrun stalwarts from all over the principality, from Colby in the west (a two hour drive) to Conwy in the north (a five hour drive) as well as representatives from Bristol and Yeovil. Subjects discussed were both operational (such as t-shirt supply and juniors awards) and future orientated (such as sponsors and finances). They also included some specific regional topics such as funding and use of bilingual information in Welsh speaking areas.
At the end, PSH himself made a surprise appearance making this a night to remember. So thanks to our hardworking HQ team for taking the time to visit, for answering all of our questions and running at Newport and Pontypool parkruns the next morning. You will always receive a warm welcome in Wales. Come back soon!
Chris Davies
Newport parkrun and Newport junior 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!
children at parkrun
We welcome children at parkrun. Please note that those under the age of 11 must be within arm's reach of a parent, guardian or designated adult of the parents' choice whilst attending 5k parkrun events. Children aged 4 to 14 can run unaccompanied at our junior parkrun events.
volunteering at parkrun
Every parkrun event relies on volunteers and in 2014 alone over 50,000 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.
cancellations
For cancellations please check your event’s news page for the most up to date information.
upcoming anniversaries
April
Chippenham parkrun 11th
Dulwich parkrun 11th
Enniskillen parkrun 11th
Graves parkrun 11th
Huntingdon parkrun 11th
Maidstone parkrun 11th
Peter Pan parkrun 11th
Pymmes parkrun 11th
Strathclyde parkrun 11th
Barking and Dagenham junior parkrun 12th
Bradford parkrun 18th
Bramhall Park parkrun 18th
Conkers parkrun 18th
Preston Park parkrun 18th
Rotherham parkrun 18th
South Shields parkrun 18th
St Andrews parkrun 18th
Helix junior parkrun 19th
Ashton Court parkrun 25th
Darley parkrun 25th
Forest of Dean parkrun 25th
Gorleston parkrun 25th
Hartlepool parkrun 25th
Killerton parkrun 25th
Leamington parkrun 25th
Margate parkrun 25th
Redcar parkrun 25th
Roundhay parkrun 25th
Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun 25th
Winchester parkrun 25th
May
Abingdon parkrun 2nd
Belfast Victoria parkrun 2nd
Fritton Lake parkrun 2nd
Medina I.O.W. parkrun 2nd
Northampton parkrun 2nd
Pontefract parkrun 2nd
Rushmoor parkrun 2nd
Tollcross parkrun 2nd
Chelmsford junior parkrun 3rd
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.
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