parkrun has its place
I am deeply grateful to everyone for their support of parkrun. Following the unfortunate article in the Northern Echo last week, I have received many letters of encouragement and support. I am touched by the depth of feeling, the strength of your commitment and the resolve amongst you. If I needed a boost to my convictions that parkrun is doing the right thing then this was supplied in abundance.
I think we have all had about enough of this issue and so the less said from now on the better. But before I close the door on the issue, I thought I'd share the comments we received from you. I have not included the emails that were marked confidential and I've made small edits to some of those published. You can see the whole report here: www.parkrun.com/newsletter/feedback_elder.html
Happy Birthday Cardiff parkrun
On a joyous note, Cardiff parkrun turns 2 this Saturday. Phil Cooke and the team of volunteers are inviting anyone in the area to join the festivities. Apart from the usual run, there is a “bring and share” picnic style post race feast planned. Did I say that “EVERYONE IS WELCOME!”
Great start at Frimley Lodge
Congratulations to Steve "Wally" Osborne and the local team at Frimley Lodge for a great start. Of note, Luke Wilson scored his first parkrun victory as Mike took a short detour at the end of the event. There are some great photos on the website of the mayor and members of the council who supported Steve in getting Frimley started.
Lucozade Sport to visit more parkruns this weekend
Lucozade Sport will be in attendance with their sports scientist at Bushy Park and Albert Park this Saturday. Please embrace them as you clamber to discover more about sports nutrition.
Feedback from the field
Dear Charles,
I wanted to highlight the great work of Peter Brunnen, photographer at the Wimbledon parkrun.
Peter has given me some fantastic shots of me in action on the parkrun course and all at his own time and expense.
I haven't got many photos of me running so it was a real treat that Peter was kind enough to have some prints made for me.
It was a lovely gift from Peter and I look forward to seeing more of his valued work on your website!!!
All the best
Adam
Hi Paul
After a funny old week press wise up North – your reply was excellent I thought – measured and totally worthy of the moral high ground you so rightly hold – I thought these photos and the tales behind them would go some way towards reminding you – if you needed it - why you are so worthy of that spot.
In the first picture say hello to the Scheuer family (I think that's their name – I had to use the results and my own brand of logic!). They arrived on bikes; all ran the race and were about to cycle home when the youngest boys spotted the cakes on the t shirt table and so they stopped. The oldest boy wears a ten tshirt and his brothers are aiming for their own.
Then meet Jude and Lucas Roberts, brothers with their granddad Dave Hall. He comes over from Whitton every Saturday, picks up the boys from his daughters house in Teddington and since last September has gently encouraged them around the Bushy course, slow and steady but with ever increasing times. Jude proudly collected his 10 t shirt today and Lucas is only 1 race behind.
I forget the name of the last chap but he collected his 50 t shirt with baby, buggy and pride.
What running club could arrange a race that enabled these disparate and diverse folks to come out and exercise together? Richard Stannard and Danny would run anywhere anyhow but we all have something unique at parkrun. Keep that 5k flag flying high, we need you!
Thanks
Suzan
Hi there
What a lovely surprise, thank you so much. I nearly didn't make the run today as I was working (at the Royal Brompton on a project looking at the effect of chemotherapy on the heart) but my colleagues managed without me until 11.00.
I run with my 2 lurchers and the parkrun is the highlight of our week. My big dog gets so excited he yodels at the start (especially if Helen is there with her greyhounds). We have to start at the back as we dont want to 'take anyone out' but try to catch up as we go along. We compete in cani-cross and went to Hungary last October as part of the UK team. I feel naked running without my dogs so it's great that dogs are allowed to join in the park runs which is unusual for most events. I just love the fact that everone, be they old, young, slow, fast are made so welcome. It's inspirational.
All the best
Gill (& Toby & Lola the lurchers)
Not sure what you think about adding a little local race news into a parkrun midweek news item but congratulations appear to be in order for Clare Elms who was first lady in her age group in the Sidcup 10 on Sunday.
I arrived back from Berlin in time to take part in the Sidcup 10 mile on Sunday morning along with a few familiar faces from Bromley parkrun including Clare Elms who crossed the line as 1st in her age group in a time of 59.09 and second lady overall.
Richard Selway finished in the top 50 in a time of 62.29
Taking part in my first 10 mile event I crossed the line some time later in 79.35, really struggled during the last 2 miles weighed down by my mobile phone ( in case i needed assistance ), a pack of energy chews, an energy drink, my hat, gloves and the hat i offered to carry for Georgina Selway when we passed after the first lap of the course. I don't think i quite have this running business quite right yet and will have to ditch some of my little 'comforts'.
Georgina finished in new PB of 80.00 minutes
Finally Liz Wilkinson who only 5 months ago struggled to run for more than 10 minutes or for a mile without stopping ran her first 10 mile finishing in a time of 110.00 minutes. A perfect example of the spirit and ethos behind parkrun in giving everyone the opportunity to take part, develop and improve at their own pace and gives the motivation and confidence to enter local races.
I expect that there were other Bromley parkrun regulars in the race, my eyes were watering too much to recognise faces. Congratulations to all who took part.
See you Saturday, not sure if i will be running or volunteering ny legs are still trying to work out what happened to them yesterday!
all the best
Kevan
parkrunner of the week
Name: Chris Cowell
Club: Unattached
Age: 64 to my continual astonishment.
Home parkrun: Basingstoke, though started at Bushy Park before Basingstoke parkrun existed.
Occupation: Freelance Aircraft Pilot.
Number of Runs: 70 or so.
Number of times volunteered: To my naked, now public, shame, only the once AND got turned down because there were quite sufficient volunteers already (at least, that is what I was told !). I greatly appreciate all those generous volunteers and organisers, particularly those that do it week after week after week. Some venues are better served with helpers and marshalls than others but I always carry a map of any new course just in case ...
What do you do at parkruns: Run, of course. Try not to come last (failed at least twice !) or make my now dodgy knee worse. This last one more tricky. Try to speak to someone new every week..
How has parkrun changed your running: I just about live for Saturday mornings and will plan family visits, holidays and, where possible, my work around them. I know I am far from being alone in this and it shows how very highly we regard the parkrun initiative country-wide.
What do you like about parkrun: The cameraderie, the mutual supportiveness, seeing beginners' elation on completion of their early runs, the competition even among the tail enders, the exceedingly rare and sweet PBs, visiting and notching up another venue (the only parkrun table requiring no athletic ability whatsoever !), comparing stats afterwards (c'mon, admit it : you do it too !) and it keeps my wayward weight down. It is a wholly absorbing activity and I just love being a part of it.
What do you NOT like about parkrun: Trying to find a new venue by car in a strange place without GPS and with the clock ticking ! Leeds and Finsbury stand out as very nearly no-shows. Then finding the toilets locked ...
Easiest venue: Cardiff; flat and fast and impossible to get lost.
Toughest venue: Glasgow .. or maybe Bramhall, both with steep, strength-sapping hills
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: Oh, gosh ! Lots .. first time I beat 30 mins (I wish I could do it still !); getting my 50 runs tee-shirt; also my treasured Sweatshop Monthly Prize of new running shoes (boy, did I need those !); being beaten by a 6-year-old at Basingstoke (a low moment); in Copenhagen on a Saturday at last and being able to run the friendly Amager parkrun. My parkrun experience is a kaleidoscope of fond memories ... long may it live !
The photo is one taken 25 April 2009 at Albert Park, Middlesbrough 5K
Happy Running!
Paul from parkrun
Crispy Corner
The only Topic of the Week
There really is only one topic this week, so I won't mention that most events are moving over to a barcode only system; nor will I repeat my request that everybody helps us by obtaining their barcode and take it with them whenever they run. And I shall also definitely avoid mentioning that a link to your barcode can be found in this very newsletter email (at the top of this column), or in your results email (right at the bottom). No, I won't mention any of that.
Many thanks to everybody who responded in such eloquent style to Mr Elders' comments in the Northern Echo after last week's newsletter. It was really gratifying to see such positive comments from runners all around the country. The article in question leapt to the top of the Northern Echo website's most-read list for several days (not bad for an article that would have been tucked away in the back pages of the print version).
As so many people pointed out, parkrun has been used as a highly effective recruiting tool by many running clubs around the country, as well as helping to promote club organised runs. In fact one of the founding principles of parkrun is to encourage our runners to join their local running clubs. Back in September 2008 I wrote a series of articles for the newsletter, explaining why we believe running clubs are so great, how to pick one and how to get the most out of them. I thought it would be timely to reissue them now, but in a single ‘cut out and keep' form. The Guide can be found here.
Anyway, thank you from all three of us at parkrun HQ, and from the hundreds of volunteer organisers at our events around the country.
See I managed to avoid mentioning the barcodes once!
Cheers and happy running,
Crispy