We went from 11,992 parkrunners running a total of 61,579 times in 2008 to 24,151 parkrunners running a total of 112,260 times in 2009. Together you all ran 561,300 Kilometers in 2009 and we broke the 1 million kilometers mark a few weeks back. You have now completed 204,321 runs since we started back in 2004.
1,945 folks volunteered in 2009 covering a total of 11,187 responsibilities. The number is probably a lot greater because we know that many of you do your bit every week without recognition too.
In January 2009, Chris Wright became the first parkrun staff member and the team doubled when Anita Afonso joined shortly thereafter. Chris and Anita have separately and collectively had a huge impact on the parkrun experience with many new events started and with our redesigned and re-engineered website.
The creation of our first event in Denmark was a major milestone and with 33 runs behind them Denmark is looking forward to a great year in 2010. Good luck to Jonathan Sydenham as he focuses his attention on growth.
Altogether the parkrun race Directors and Volunteers officiated over 841 events in 2009. Show me another running event that put on 10% of this number in the same period.
We strengthened our relationship with Nike, Lucozade Sport and Sweatshop as we worked together to offer the parkrunner an improved experience. Sweatshop gave away 170 pairs of running shoes in their Monthly Prize. Lucozade Sport shared their nutritional advice and knowledge with us as they supported at least 20 of our events over the year. We helped launch the very successful Nike LunarGlide+ and a number of parkrunners received a free pair of these shoes in the trial. To crown this we have just announced our newest partnership with the London Marathon.
I am very excited about the prospects for parkrun as we move into 2010. I will be giving up my day job and joining Chris and Anita as an employee from the 1st March. In addition to offering many improved services to the running community we will be looking to improve our delivery the event results to you the runner. Additionally, we hope to start at least another 25 new parkruns in 2010 with the first two kicking off on the 9th January (Newcastle and Milton Keynes).
Happy New Year to all parkrunners from the parkrun team and our Sponsors.
Announcing our partnership with The London Marathon
I am delighted to announce that The London Marathon has decided to support parkrun and is now our forth sponsor alongside Nike, Lucozade Sport and Sweatshop.
The team at The London Marathon is always looking for ways to help the local communities. In the past their charitable work has largely been in the London area where many communities have benefitted as a result. Now, the London Marathon has decided to spread their reach to all running communities across the United Kingdom.
This philanthropic gesture on behalf of the London Marathon will help parkrun to create many new events in London and across the United Kingdom.
If you would like more information on this new partnership please email me or refer to the press release (http://parkrun.com/about/news.aspx)
Nike Achievement Awards 2009
At parkrun we seldom focus on the fastest amongst you. We try to reward perseverance and personal accomplishment at whatever level you find yourself. In a small departure from this Nike would like to recognise outstanding achievement at a parkrun event during the 2009 calendar year with the following awards.
To qualify the parkrunner may not be considered a professional athlete.
Each recipient receives a pair of soon to be announced Nike Lunar Racer. The new Lunar Racer combines the Flywire technology with the lightweight Lunarlite foam and will be available in Sweatshops across the country shortly.
Each winner will receive a certificate acknowledging their award and will be able to redeem their prize by contacting Simon Charlesworth at Nike from a link provided on the certificate.
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Category
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Winner
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Achievement
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Event Date
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Event #
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Fastest Junior Male (under 19)
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Simon Lawson
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M
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15:31
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Cardiff
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07/11/2009
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91
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Fastest Junior Male (12 & under)
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Tom Holden
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M
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18:15
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Banstead Woods
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17/10/2009
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125
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Fastest Junior Female (under 19)
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Abbey McGhee
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F
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17:31
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Bushy Park
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07/11/2009
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275
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Fastest Junior female (12 & under)
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Mollie Williams
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F
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20:22
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Bramhall Park
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28/02/2009
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45
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Fastest non-professional Male
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Ross Houston
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M
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14:38
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Edinburgh
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12/12/2009
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9
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Fastest non-professional Female
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Katrina Wooton
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F
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16:20
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Bushy Park
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03/01/2009
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231
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Please join me in congratulating each of these winners.
Event News
Highlights from our events across the world:
- Gorleston Cliffs celebrated a record turnout of 58 parkrunners on Boxing day.
- Unusually, Richard Ward was knocked off the top spot at Banstead Woods on Boxing Day and Wimbledon Common on Christmas Day. Consolation for him is that he remains ahead of Rachael Elliot with the most number of wins (55).
- Scotland has its first Christmas Day parkrun at Glasgow with 30 hardy participants including Richmond Park Race Director Karen Weir and Basingstoke's Race Director Euan Bowman. Reminds me of Bushy on its first Christmas.
- Sweatshop's Hugh Brasher volunteers at Bushy Park on Christmas Day and provided a 10% discount on all finish times!
- Chris MacTree (Richard Stannard) wins the Bushy Park Christmas Day event.
Drop me an email if you have an interesting parkrun related fact, happening or comment that you would like to share with all parkrunners.
Feedback from the field
Dear parkrun Team,
It is always wonderful to receive your newsletters', I really appreciate it, many thanks.
I was so sad to hear about the death of Mr Mike Fawcett, god bless his soul and give strength to his family and those who still miss him very much I am sure, although I don't know him but it is like if I did and I felt for him as we shared the same passion for running.
It has been over Year since I ran one of your races and then never went back because of illness. I have just started again to run slowly and I just can't wait to get stronger so I can go back to my club and your race, my first race with you guys, it was a great experience as I enjoyed myself so much.
I send special wishes for a brilliant Christmas and continuing success for 2010!
I look forward to seeing you all in the near future.
Love from
Emilia Freegard
Hi Paul
From an occasional humble park-runner, I wanted to thank you on behalf of all park runners for lifting the profile of free running and getting big organisations like Nike, Lucozade Sport, Sweatshop and now the London Marathon to tune in to what we are doing. You've managed to attract commercial partners and still keep the event true to its roots, which is no easy thing to do. I congratulate you and your volunteer colleagues for your hard work and vision.
All the very best for 2010
Mike Doggart
parkrunner of the year
Anyone can be nominated for the parkrunner of the week acknowledgement. All you have to do is email me with the nominee and I will do the rest. When it comes to parkrunner of the year then this is an entirely different matter. This is when I am judge, jury and executioner.
The person I have chosen as the parkrunner of 2009 has had an impact on parkrun which is often unknown by many. Roger Wilson is both a close friend and an important cog in the parkrun machine.
Roger first ran Bushy Park on the 23rd October 2004 at our 4th event as a novice who had recently decided that running occasionally would help his tennis. Little did he know how this event would change his life! 177 parkruns later and a total of 474 for the whole family (I'm sure this is some kind of record in itself), Roger now takes part in many running events, has been a member of a running club for some time and has even gone on to take part in a number of triathlons and duathlons. Roger is also an intricate member of the parkrun team and a vociferous exponent of the parkrun movement.
Rogers's fastest parkrun took place at Bushy on the 24 June 2006 and was a smidgen over 20 minutes (20:04). He ran his slowest ever parkrun in the same year on Christmas Day (35:01) - I seem to recall that he was in a full Father Christmas outfit and carrying a bottle of champagne at the time. Roger has taken part at 11 different parkruns so far. His best position at any parkrun is 7th while his worst is 367 and his average 114. His highest ever Age Grade is 70.68% achieved at his fastest ever parkrun.
Roger is both a parkrunner and a parkrun volunteer and like many of you has given hundreds of hours towards the cause with his only reward being the pleasure he gets from seeing the good that parkrun does for individuals and the community. In the early days he manned the timer, registration, marshaled amongst other responsibilities. He also wrote the newsletter for a period however his greatest contribution is the work he does in his spare time helping to grow the parkrun family.
It is fitting that as we announce the parkrunner of the year that we also announce the partnership with The London Marathon. Why? Because Roger contributed to the successful negotiation of this relationship. Roger works with me on all sponsorship related opportunities. Well done, thank you and congratulations Roger.
Happy Running!
Paul from parkrun
Crispy Corner
That was the year that was
It has been a phenomenal year for parkrun: just under 16,000 different runners had taken part in a parkrun at the beginning of the year; by the last run of 2009 on Saturday that figure had grown to 33,283. We welcome everybody who joined the parkrun family in 2009, and look forward to seeing you again in 2010. Of course all of our events exist only because of the dedication and determination of our volunteer teams around the country. Many, many heartfelt thanks to everybody who has volunteered, whether it was in one of the more prominent roles such as event director, timer, marshal, or registration computer operator; or one of the ‘backroom' roles such as results administration, volunteer roster management, photography or report writing. If you get the opportunity to express your gratitude to the volunteer teams it's always appreciated.
Things to come
2010 looks like it will be just as busy, with many new events already in the pipeline, kicking off with Newcastle and Milton Keynes, both starting on 9th January. If you've registered, but been putting off your first parkrun, what are you waiting for? Come down this weekend; the weather may be cold, but the welcome's always warm.
Happy runny
Crispy