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Christmas edition of the parkrun news, 2009 |
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Welcome to this week's newsletter
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At this time of year I find myself reflecting on the year and the recent history of parkrun. In next week's newsletter I'll reflect on the achievements of 2009, but this week I want to recognise the contribution made by a few to the success of parkrun.
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The contribution made by volunteers at parkrun events is outstanding and I hope everyone appreciates this as much as I do. If you want to be appreciated, become a volunteer! It's simple and easy and you only have to offer something three times a year. I'd like to specially thank the event directors and committee members at each parkrun who've all set up a successful local community event.
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In addition, we mustn't underestimate the contribution of three key individuals who've all taken parkrun to their hearts, who represent us without hesitation in their business lives, and without whom parkrun couldn't continue to grow. These folks are my key contacts at each of the sponsor organisations and, while they are my business associates, they are also good friends and confidants.
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Shona Hughes picked up the mantle from Lisa two years ago, has steered the parkrun Lucozade Sport relationship to new heights and is enthusiastically focused on bringing added value to the parkrunner.
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Hugh Brasher has been a supporter of parkrun since the start. Hugh's belief in what parkrun brings to the running community is unwavering and he continually renews his involvement. All the staff at Sweatshop love parkrun and are eager to contribute in whatever way they can.
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Simon Charlesworth has taken a sponsorship opportunity and turned it into a personal crusade. As a parkrunner and as a senior manager at Nike UK, Simon helps us protect the core principles we love and at the same time expand our offering to new places in the UK.
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All three of these people are parkrunners first and sponsors second who are committed to offering free running to as many as possible.
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The parkrun model is like no other. There is no comparative regular mass participation event where the participant gets everything for nothing (and plus some!) and enjoys a great local community event. The sponsors allow us to develop the parkrun software, website and results service, set up new events, and allow us to have a General Manager (Chris) to keep everything running and a New Events Manager (Anita). So while many of you (Chris, Anita, Roger, Joanne, all event directors and volunteers) all contribute so much, parkrun also couldn't continue without the sponsors. Please think about them when you make your purchases this Christmas!
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And so it's a Merry Christmas to all parkrunners from Simon, Shona, Hugh and the parkrun team.
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For those events that were able to run, there were many Christmas celebrations held at parkruns last weekend.
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-9 Degrees at Bramhall and yet nearly 200 parkrunner brave the cold to celebrate.
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Paige McLeod wins the Santa Run Handicap at Albert Park. Prizes gratefully supplied by Lucozade Sport.
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Our oldest ever competitor at exactly 100 years old smashes the age grade barrier at Albert parkrun. Kris Kringle recorded a performance of 261.06%.
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Chris Cowell displaces Roy Reeder at the top of the most events list as his plane is forced to stay overnight in Copenhagen giving him the opportunity to take part at Amager.
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Drop me an email if you have an interesting parkrun related fact, happening or comment that you would like to share with all parkrunners. |
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Hi Guys,
A big thank you for all your hard work over the last year. It is appreciated. Another great event today despite the weather! Happy Christmas to all at parkrun. All the best for 2010.
Cheers.
Mike and Maggie
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Hi Paul
It was a great thing that you did setting up the first parkruns but the way that you've managed to replicate the model while keeping the essential parkrun spirit is an incredible achievement. And 1 over million km run!
Bramhall parkrun gives me and the team great pleasure every week - we're putting something back into our sport and encouraging so many people to get involved. This Saturday was our coldest ever at -9C but 200 runners generated their own warmth. But you know every week I see the happiness, friendship and community spirit that is generated by such a simple thing as fun run around a nice park. You and your team should be very proud when you think of all this good cheer multiplied across the land.
Have a great Christmas & New Year
Rob
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Hi Jamie
I entered my first ever parkrun ever yesterday, at Reading. I'm a regular volunteer and a self confessed 'fair weather runner' who doesn't normally 'do mud' but I ran yesterday as a personal celebration. From what I remember most of it was on grass which I remember had a few dips in it where the recent heavy rain had collected and so made for deep and wide puddles, the rest of the route was generally wet and muddy with a gently challenging wind on the way back to the finish. The route was longer than I remembered from when Jamie and Mark gave me a tour of it a few months ago before the first event was held but I really enjoyed my run (although I wish I hadn't eaten breakfast beforehand). The route is basically a 'P' shape with two laps of the loop which is a big loop with a few changes of direction within it. It is almost entirely flat with a very small and gentle hump on the approach to the lake in the Nature Reserve section.
The arrival of a parkrun in Reading, especially at the pleasant and convenient Thames Valley Park location (the only thing missing is the availability of teas & coffees) was definitely one of the highlights of the year for me. parkrun is great both for club runners and for recreational runners like me and it's also great as a friendly and encouraging environment for newcomers to running because you can take as long as you need to complete the course. Even if you're not a club runner, you can still call yourself a parkrunner. It's nice to get your results email because you feel special and part of it and you also benefit from the occasional freebies and discounts from sponsors. It is good to run it as well as being a volunteer because it gives you a good insight into the experience of the runners and the roles of the other volunteers. It also helps to renew your enthusiasm for the event itself because you see more of it and it reminds you just how great parkrun is as a regular, free of charge running event with a community feel to it on a pleasant off road and traffic free course.
I really must commend Jamie and everybody else involved in setting up and managing it (including my fellow volunteers) and I'm pleased to contribute personally.
Cheers
Guy
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Dear Bramhall parkrun team,
2009 this year is important year for me in my life as I started my run (April) and parkrun (October)!
To tell the truth, I regret myself that why I started parkrun in October, I should start more earlier!
Still 5k is not easy, but every time when I try parkrun, I feel happy as all are kind and friendly. Bramhall parkrun course is hilly so I go to Heaton park run sometimes, and come back to Bramhall park when I want to do so.
Thanks to parkrun, I enjoy and keep my run regularly, and could try my first 10k (Tatton pud plod), the time is not fast but I really satisfied with myself to try something new! Since I was small child, I hate any sports in my life so it is as if the miracle to keep running for more than 6 months.
Last week's parkrun, santa run version with breakfast, was really festive and very nice to get together.
I will do my debut for volunteering soon in 2010! I am totally agree with parkrun concept and love to help in return of my enjoying parkrun.
Thank you very much and Merry Christmas to Bramhall parkrun, all of volunteers, see you in 2010! (Because of my holiday plan, I will be back in New Year)
Hiroko
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Name: Janine Ellis
Club: Running 4 Women
Age: Just turned 40. Just about ok to admit this now....
Home parkrun: Bramhall
Occupation: Head of Resources at Manchester Business School. Pastimes: Running/cycling - participating in events and partying afterwards!
Number of Runs: 24
Number of times volunteered: Not sure - about 20.
What do you do at parkruns: Usually help on the results desk
How has parkrun changed your running: Saturday always used to be my rest day so that has gone. I used to hate running short distances as I am not a sprinter and am much better at longer distances and so park run has forced me to do the shorter races as well as continuing with the longer ones. I have had to get used to kids half my height beating me as well. It has also given me the opportunity to help as well as run which I enjoy just as much as running.
What do you like about parkrun: Meeting local runners and the community feel to it all - the main team (Rob, Nick, Clare and Jim) are all great and it has been fantastic to get to know them all. I am always encouraging people to come along and try the race and get into running (they are sick of me on the train into work and people have stopped staying at our house on a Friday night due to the compulsory park run in the morning) . I started running when I was 30 and was relatively unfit before then and believe that anyone can get the bug and that it is a fantastic way to get and keep fit.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: Getting Richard (other half) to start running. He complains about it still but it is a great achievement to get him running! Also enjoyed the Christmas run, despite having to run after a very late works do the night before which led to a pw.
You can find a photo of Janine here.
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Crispy Corner
Christmas Specials
Just a reminder that all special Christmas events are listed in www.parkrun.com/crispy.aspx - Most (but not all) events are running as normal on the Saturdays over the Christmas period (exceptions are also listed). With the cold weather, all plans are subject to last minute changes, so please check on your event's news page.
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Barcodes
Most events will be struggling with volunteer rosters over the Christmas period, so please volunteer if you can when needed, and if you're running please take your barcodes - it will help the volunteers.
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Happy Christmas
That's it for this week. Have a great Christmas whatever you're doing, but especially if you're volunteering in the cold. Wrap up well! - it's bracing!
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Cheers and happy running
Crispy
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