welcome to the newsletter
In this week’s newsletter Intersport ask for our vote at The Running Awards, Vitality have race places up for grabs, Paul Sinton-Hewitt prepares to run the London Marathon for Alzheimer’s Research UK, Fitbit race the streets of Paris, parkrunners get priority tickets to the Athletics World Championships in London, and we meet Helen Hood.
I first went along to a parkrun with my family on 9 July 2011 and from that very first experience I knew it was something really special. Despite the fact that I wouldn’t really call myself a runner and I haven’t done a PB since 2012, being involved with parkrun has changed both mine and my family’s lives beyond all recognition.
Between the three of us we have run, walked, popped on our bobbly hats and volunteered, visited parkrun courses far and wide, enjoyed numerous café experiences, met hundreds of lovely people – our parkrun family – and heard some incredible parkrun stories. We’ve also had a whole heap of fun along the way and I sincerely hope it’s the same for you too, or will be as we jog along through 2016.
I am also privileged and proud to work for this amazing organisation and a big part of my new role as Head of Event Delivery for parkrun UK is to ensure that as we continue to grow, we continue to keep things simple and safe. parkrun is a truly wondrous thing and we shouldn’t underestimate the value of what we are doing every week when we invite people to come along and run, walk, jog and volunteer with us.
We have the ability to change people’s lives and build powerful communities that extend beyond a Saturday morning, and I believe we are doing just that!
#loveparkrun
Helen
If you like what we do
If you like what we do, could we ask you to take five minutes and vote for us at The Running Awards 2016?
The Running Awards is an independent annual awards ceremony celebrating the best of running and its culture, and Intersport has been voted into the top 12 shortlist. Thank you. We would, of course, love to win the sought-after ‘Best National Retailer’ trophy, and we need your help to do this.
It takes just a couple of minutes to vote, and voting is free, quick and simple – the only details required are your name and email address. We are in the Sports Retailer / National Retailer category, just click on this direct link to vote.
Voting closes on 22 March so make sure you cast your vote as soon as possible. Runners like you are voting independently so to us it is a true accolade that you support us and like what we are doing.
Keep tagging us in your pictures on Twitter and make sure you like us on Facebook.
See you at your next parkrun!
last chance to enter!
Don't forget, parkrun’s official Health and Life Insurance partner Vitality – who reward you for getting and staying active – are offering parkrunners the chance to win a free place in the Vitality Run Series. The closing date is 14 March, so don't delay!
A mix of 10k and half marathon distances are available, in both London and Oxford. Furthermore, courtesy of Vitality, one lucky winner will also receive the ultimate post-event recovery with an overnight spa break for two people at a Champneys resort. Simply click on the image above and answer a couple of quick questions for your chance to win a free place. Best of luck!
Races available:
Vitality Hackney Half Marathon – Sunday 8 May 2016
Vitality British 10k – Sunday 10 July 2016
Vitality Oxford Half Marathon – Sunday 9 October 2016
Paul’s London Marathon update
We are getting to the pointy-end now. The big day in London is looming! I’m starting to fill my head with thoughts of the actual day. How will I feel when I cross Tower Bridge? Will I want to turn left instead of right? Who am I going to bump into on the journey? What will I do when I arrive at the ‘parkrun to go’ spot? Who is going to be scanning my barcode at the finish? It’s going to be such a wonderful day shared with so many friends and family. Of course you are the family – the parkrun extended family.
These past few weeks my mileage has hovered at about 45 miles a week. I’ve included a couple of big and challenging runs just to help put my mind at ease. I’m no longer frightened of the distance. Well, that needs some explanation. As long as I run to my plan then I am no longer frightened of the distance. I have a history of setting off too fast, and if I do then all bets are off.
I recently visited Moors Valley, Canterbury, and Winchester parkruns as part of my marathon training. These are the only occasions when I include a speed quality session. My age grade is hovering at about 75%, which means I am not trying to run too fast and am therefore less likely to injure myself. That's the big issue we are all trying to avoid at the moment. Staying healthy for the big day. We’ve worked hard and are looking forward to the reward that comes with completing the marathon.
Fundraising is going very well. Collectively we have raised almost £4,000 so far! Thank you all for your contributions. This money will be welcomed by ARUK as their pioneering scientists continue to try to find preventions and treatments for dementia. If you haven’t already done so, please consider making a small donation to this brilliant and worthy cause. Do this for me please.
Good luck to everyone running the London Marathon and any other races, which have previously been out of your reach. I hope parkrun has helped prepare you for this journey.
a whole hearted half marathon
Last weekend Team Fitbit packed their trainers and took flight to Paris for the Fitbit-sponsored Semi de Paris – one of the most popular half marathons in Europe.
Among the almost 40,000 strong crowd of runners were our very own Karen, Caroline and Vincent from our Dublin and EU offices. They were taking part in the race as well as spreading the good word of Fitbit to other participants at the runners’ village.
After two days of sleet and grey skies, sunshine filled the sky on Sunday 6 March ready for the race. Tens of thousands of excited runners hopped from foot to foot, eagerly awaiting the starting pistol to signal the start of their race.
The iconic course pushed the runners along – after all, what could be more inspirational than running past the Place de Bastille and along the Seine on a sunny Sunday morning?
Soon runners reached the finish line – the first male was Cybrian Kotut with an incredible time of one hour and one minute, and the first female was Dibabe Kuma with an impressive time of one hour and nine minutes. Our Team Fitbit runners smashed their personal goals too, with times of under two hours for both Karen and Caroline.
Running a half marathon is a goal that takes a lot of hard work and dedication to reach. A positive mindset is just as important as training, which is why we think parkrun comes in so handy for those on their own journey to reach a similar goal. The encouragement you get from running with others is incomparable, as well as the atmosphere!
Are you inspired to run a race soon? Let us know what your goals are – we love to share your stories. Reach out to us on Twitter or Facebook, and read our blog for running tips and other updates.
Remember to take your Fitbit with you to track your progress. If you haven’t got one yet, parkrunners enjoy a £15 discount off selected devices. Click here to shop.
London 2017 parkrun priority tickets
Next summer, two athletics world championships will descend on London, making it the biggest event held in the Olympic Stadium since the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
parkrunners are invited to access tickets before they go on-sale to the wider general public. More information about timetables and pricing will be available from next month, but for now, to be entitled to the priority ticket access all you need to do is register your details by 31 March 2016.
Don’t miss out!
parkrun population
Here are this week’s summary statistics for parkrun UK (including junior parkrun)
Number of parkrunners – 74,397
Number of volunteers – 7,936
Number of first timers – 8,747
Number of PBs – 13,620
random stat of the week
The most common first names amongst registered parkrunners – both in the UK and worldwide – are Sarah and David. In fact, 2% of all our 2.3 million global registrants are either a Sarah or a David!
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
Last Saturday at Burgess parkrun, my 13-year-old Godson ticked off his 50th different parkrun (and has done 113 in total). To top it off, he even managed a PB of 23:12 for the occasion. Here is a pic of him and his Dad, also known as ‘provider of transport to enable parkrun tourism’! Ewan really enjoys parkrun and at school he has been tasked with devising a training plan, which is to do 5k in under 23 minutes. Clearly his training plan is paying off – only another 13 seconds to shave off.
Becky Sugden
One of the qualities that first drew me to parkrun, is that barriers to participation are removed. Almost anyone can have a go. One of the few remaining barriers disappeared at Hull parkrun last Saturday when four of the 428 parkrunners wore blindfolds – not normally a recommended strategy for a 5k run. But, fear not, help was at hand as recently qualified guide runners helped them to integrate fully, by safely negotiating all obstacles (apart from the considerable number of puddles). Although the pre-run announcements alerted fellow parkrunners to their presence, we hardly noticed them during the run. For the record, the blindfolded runners and guides swapped places half way round, so eight newly qualified guides gained valuable experience and increased confidence.
Paul Tremere
On 11 February this year the Colin Glen Trust, which is home to Colin Glen parkrun in Northern Ireland, received their part-funded defibrillator from the British Heart Foundation. The rest of the money was raised by the Colin Glen Youth. To do this, they organised a stay-awake and bag-packing events. Such was the success of these events that we were also able to buy a second defibrillator for our sister site. We are very proud of all our young people and especially thankful to them, the local businesses who permitted the bag packing, and the local community for supporting this community project. Here they are presenting the equipment to Colin Glen Trust Chief Executive, Colin O'Neill.
Anthony Rogan
I've been inspired to contact you as my dad and step-mum have just received their 25 volunteer t-shirts. I'd like them to have a big thank you from me – I didn't realise how much they would fall in love with parkrun when I asked if they'd help me out when I volunteered to be an RD at the new local parkrun. They are there to support me and the other RDs in all winds and weathers and I can't thank them enough for always supporting my often crazy ventures! I wish I could tell my teenage self that one day I will enjoy Saturday mornings with my parents.
Sian Pearce
I never thought I would reach my 100th parkrun! After meeting a friend in Tesco complete with muddy trainers and legs she inspired me to have a go. So with a little trepidation on St David's Day 2014 I set off on my first Worcester parkrun, with the warning about 'Badger Hill' on my mind. I was well-pleased finishing in just over 40 minutes – my time is now around 30. Since then my husband Russ and I enjoy running at other parkrun venues, each with their own appeal and terrain. Wherever we visit, there is always the same fantastic friendliness, a great welcome and awesome volunteers. Three cheers for parkrun.
Sue John
Our event director Helen Conner and a group of volunteers were invited to the Guildhall in Bath recently for a civic reception with the Mayor of Bath, Councillor William Sandry, so that he could pass on the city of Bath’s thanks for providing parkrun every week.
Bath Skyline parkrun
I would like to say a huge thank you to the lady at Delamere parkrun on 27 February who stopped to hold my Border Collie, Sybi, after my trainer came off in a bog! Trying to negotiate the mud, Sybi had other ideas and went straight through it and I thought, 'oh well, that's it’. But a lovely lady stopped and offered to hold Sybi's lead while I re-tied my lace. I set off, at a lick! Sybi is learning to go slow enough for me, she's only 15 months old, and I didn't see the lovely lady again. I really wanted to thank this good Samaritan properly.
Rachel Inns
Peter Perrin celebrated his 83rd birthday at Thurrock parkrun – his first.
Trevor Rawson
parkrunner of the week
Name: Alan Brown
Club: Metro Aberdeen
Age: 60
Home parkrun: Aberdeen
Number of runs: 116
Favourite volunteer role: Funnel manager so I can encourage all the runners as they finish to go quicker.
What do you do at parkruns: I go down before the start and really enjoy the recce jog around the course with a couple of other runners to check nothing is amiss and that there are no hazards.
How has parkrun changed your running: I run with the Metro Club in the week but really look forward to Saturday parkrun where you can run as fast as you can or just have an easy 5k in great company. Running has helped me get over many personal problems, but more than that it’s a great thing to be part of every week come rain or shine, wind or calm – usually wind at Aberdeen!
What do you like about parkrun: I really enjoy meeting the runners, whether they do 15 minutes or 50 minutes. I love pacing people and running with them so they can get a PB, which really gives them and I a real buzz! The social gathering afterwards is a must with a runner’s coffee and a teacake, a chat about the run and also planning a run on a Sunday if we can manage it. Great camaraderie.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: Arriving at parkrun only to discover the run director had left the finish tokens in his garage. I had to jump back in my car, drive to pick up the tokens from his wife five miles away and get back to the finish before the first runner. There were 14 sets of lights each way but I made it with 10 seconds to spare – stopping in the middle of the road and throwing the box of tokens to the run director!
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reminders
barcode reminder
Printed barcodes are used at all parkrun events to record your result. No barcode, no time, no exception. To retrieve and print your barcode, click here. To order a barcode wristband, which can also include your name, emergency contact details, and any medical conditions, please follow this link.
Don't forget your barcode #dfyb
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.
You can read the latest junior parkrun newsletter here.
volunteering at parkrun
Every event relies on volunteers and in 2015 alone more than 68,000 of you came forward to support the parkrun community. Volunteering is a wonderful way to make friends, feel great and have fun. If that sounds like it's for you please contact your local event team and get involved.
cancellations
For cancellations please check your event’s news page for the most up to date information.
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.
official charity partner
our sponsors
Changing health and life insurance for good.
Vitality is insurance that rewards you for being healthy. It's there to protect you when things go wrong unexpectedly but it's also there to help you lead a healthier life - meaning you don't have to claim to be able to benefit. If you keep well, then you're less likely to claim. That means it costs us less to look after you. We think that if we're saving money, you should benefit from that. So as you get healthier, we offer you discounts to encourage you to be healthy, rewards to keep you motivated and to help you rest and relax, and cashback so you've got more money to spend on doing things you love. Find out more about Vitality
Sport to the people
parkrun has been a key player in promoting running as an accessible participation sport to the expanding community of runners. The parkrun model of local volunteers delivering weekly runs to people of all ages and abilities in their local community fits perfectly with the Intersport philosophy of bringing sport to the people. Together we look forward to encouraging more people to get their running shoes on. Find out more about Intersport
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
The world’s leading achievement award for young people
For more information on The Duke of Edinburgh's Award please visit dofe.org