| Triumph over adversity |
| It's been a difficult week at parkrun. Our ISP decided to upgrade their email server 10 days ago and the result of this was almost a complete email blackout from us. Those of you who work with ISP's will understand that we were left helpless. I am told that racing drivers experience their highest level of stress when their car is off the ground and they have no control. Well this is how we felt too. |
| Faced with adversity we decided to take control of the situation and due to some fantastic behind the scenes work by our friend and fellow parkrun event director, Richard Leyton, we are now the proud owners of an infinitely more advanced and high-performance email server. We resent last week's newsletter and all the results email in blistering timeframes, much to my delight. If you received any of these twice then you were one of the few. Sorry for any inconvenience that anyone suffered as a result of this outage. |
| While we are now in a substantially different position we are still not out of the woods yet. All mail from parkrun to Yahoo/btinternet accounts are being streamed very slowly. This is a Yahoo is issue and is currently out of our hands. Hopefully this will be the end of these issues and were set to move forward again. However, should you still have an issue with not getting your emails then contact us at updates@parkrun.com and let us know what the issue is. |
| On a slightly different note, we would like to wish everyone taking part in the Sweatshop Reading Half-Marathon on Sunday the very best. Look out for parkrun in the race village and do come and say hi to us if you are there. We would also like to wish Heather Martingell a brilliant Washington Marathon and hope she breaks the 3:45 barrier. Similarly, We wish Danny Norman a fantastic NYC Half Marathon and hoping he achieves all that he hopes to. |
Kingston parkrun kicks off
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| This Saturday sees the inaugural Kingston parkrun. I was browsing some facebook comments earlier this week and someone questioned the value of this particular parkrun with the relative nearness of the Bushy and Richmond parkruns. It’s a good question which I hope to answer. |
| This is the first NHS inspired parkrun. Kingston NHS, in the form of a lady called Shirley Piotrowski who works for the local PCT, had a vision to bring the benefits that parkrun delivers to her local community. This vision includes making it possible for people with minor health issues to be referred for exercise. Anyone who takes part in a parkrun knows that the benefits are there to be had for everyone. |
| UKingston has precious few spaces that can accommodate a parkrun. We decided to start the run in Canbury Gardens and head out to Teddington Lock with the finish back in the gardens. It’s a fabulous course but not without its issues. |
| Fortunately the response from the community for volunteers to come forward has been reasonably good. While we still need many soldiers, we have the making of an excellent committee with 4 race directors ready to go: we welcome Paul Crossman, Brian Moore, Hilary Hillhouse and Nigel Rothwell to the world of parkrun race direction. If ypou are free to help out on Saturday, please email me at paul@parkrun.com |
| We’re looking for a low key start to the Kingston parkrun. Perhaps we could restrict it to people who actually live in Kingston for the first event? The course has a couple of tricky sections which we will discuss on Saturday with the parkrunners. It is not advisable to run this course with a buggy or with dogs and we recommend that the Bushy and Richmond courses are more children friendly. |
parkrun on every Lucozade Lite bottle
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| You can now find the parkrun logo on every bottle of Lucozade Lite. We think Lucozade developed this particular drink especially for parkrun. If your running a 5K then your recovery requirements are different to that which is required when you run a longer or harder event. So the Lite product is a low calorie sports drink with just 50 calories in each bottle. Perfect for a parkrun then! |
| We are also delighted that you will soon see the new Lucozade Lite adverts in some of the better known running magazines with a link to parkrun. |
| You can preview the new advert here. |
2010 Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro 7.5 mile Road Race
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Hi Paul
I'm a member of Glasgow parkrun and have volunteered to help Ally Robb with the Strathclyde parkrun organisation – I also had the pleasure of trying the Heaton parkrun in Manchester a couple of weeks ago when visiting family!
I was wondering if you might be able to put a shout out to those people interested Stirling parkrun regarding an event I am also involved in, the 2010 Doubletree Dunblane Hydro Road Race, which is now open for entries. I'm sure Stirling parkrun will give those who have enjoyed a lazy start to the year plenty of time to start some intensive training in the lead up to the summer run on 30th May.
The annual Road Race sponsored by Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro is the city's biggest sporting event and attracts more than 400 runners every year to support local causes. All proceeds from the race will go directly to Dunblane High School to assist with the development of local young athletes – to keep the cycle going!
I will feedback to the race committee and senior school pupils re: Stirling Parkrun and make sure they are all aware that the team is looking for volunteers to get Stirling off the ground.
In 2009, the Doubletree Dunblane Hydro Road Race raised over £2750 for the students of Dunblane High School. The funds were able to buy much needed athletic equipment and tracksuits for the school's running club.
The seven and a half mile race starts (great for future Stirling parkrunners who want to challenge themselves) and finishes outside the Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro hotel where there will be a fun warm up session with at 12.30pm before the race launches at 1pm.
Special early bird offers are available for those who register early at www.dunblaneroadrace.com.
For more details or to register for the race visit www.dunblaneroadrace.com or contact Stuart Prentice or 07836 765056
Event: 2010 Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro 7.5 mile Road Race
Location: Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro hotel
Fixture Date: 30th May 2010
Time: registration at 12noon, race commences at 1pm
Entry Fee: £16 early registration or £19
Hope you can help!
Thanks
Laura |
Event News
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| We have had some great feedback from the events: |
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It was another massive week with 882 parkrunners joining the family and 4,016 parkrunners taking part. |
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Wimbledon Common hosted the Merton Mini Marathon Trials and in the process broke the 200 mark for the first time. |
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Leeds parkrun also broke the barrier with 245 parkrunners. |
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Gorleston Cliffs, Cambridge and Sunderland all saw a rise in their weekly numbers too. |
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Elizabeth Gilchrist achieved the highest age grade performance with a score of 88.33% at Edinburgh. |
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It was a good week for breaking course records:
- Susan Miles 19:15 at Black Park
- Mark Bruce 16:49 at Bromley
- Tom Vickery 16:14 at Cambridge
- Darren Symes 17:20 at Frimley Lodge
- Richard Ward 17:36 at Greenwich
- Ryan Brookling 17:07 at Swindon
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Bramhall’s 2nd birthday party will be 17th April. By happy coincidence (well thanks to winter cancellations) this is also our 100th run. We’ll have presentations and celebration breakfast at the park café. |
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Checkout the section on ITV presenter Jenny Falconer's marathon challenge on Karl O'Brien's marathon blog. Jenny is is receiving professional coaching and training for her marathon assault from our Richmond Park Event Director - Karen Wier. Go girl!!! |
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
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Hi Paul, just wanted to pass on my thanks to all the wonderful parkrun volunteers around the events for the Stirling work you guys and gals do week in week out.
My regular event now is Cardiff but my first introduction was at the now famous Bushy Park, however I was struck down by a very persistent Achilles Tendon injury which eventually required surgery, last Saturday after 14 months after my operation I ran a PB which as you can imagine filled me with a huge wave of satisfaction and my goal now is to try and lower that time still further, long may all the parkrun events continue.
It was the thought of getting back and seeing all those familiar faces, and new people who have heard about the parkrun event and have now started to run who regularly turn up on Saturday's and run for fun and who gave me words of encouragement to get back and start running again, of course us runners are the world's worst for not listening properly to the advice of Physio's as in my case and try and do too much too soon, but all that is now behind me and here comes the warmer weather whoopee do.
Congratulations to all the teams around the UK for providing such a welcoming Saturday morning.
Jeffrey Cox
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Dear Paul,
It was good to see Karen Christie at Bushy parkrun making her annual pilgrimage to the event. Karen is a running enthusiast from Nova Scotia, Canada who came along with other members of her family from Hong Kong and Hampton. Good to see you again Karen, and another PB!
(Photo of Karen & family is 6th photo in yesterday's t-shirt collection folder id 2010_0313_093918AA, Karen is 2nd left).
PS Good turnout for Danny's Not The London Marathon Today, Holly did a PF (Personal Furthest) 10k = 2x parkrun Freedoms. I reminded people at the start line that they could log their laps on Freedom.
Roger |
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A thought from last Saturday.
As I left Roundshaw Downs last Saturday two people cycled past me.
"I'd like to volunteer" one man said, "but then I'd miss out on my running".
I wish I'd been quick enough to reply, "But those of us who volunteer most weeks do miss out on our running!!!"
Come on running people! Even if you only volunteered once each couple of months that would make a huge difference to those of us who stand and shiver most weeks!
Sue |
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Hi Paul – my name is Karen Christie and I am home visiting my mother in Hampton for a week before flying back to Truro, Nova Scotia, where I currently live.
It was me who wrote the letter to Runners World a year ago that was published in the same edition as the profile of you…I was praising the Bushy parkrun…what a great, well run, healthy, fun event to take part in! I am here a year later, having competed again this past Saturday.
This time I had the pleasure of meeting Roger, Chris and Ray – all wonderfully pleasant chaps who politely nodded and smiled as I chatted on…I just find the whole event so amazing…having grown up running in Bushy Park and competing for Feltham/Hounslow AC, I still find it hard to believe that this event exists right on our doorstep.
I did mention to Roger that I would be very interested in knowing what it would take to set up a parkrun in Truro. I am a part time phys. ed teacher there and will be coincidently starting the school running club next week – a great program sponsored by Doctors Nova Scotia (doctorsns.com– follow the link for the youth running program).
The Truro area probably has a population of roughly 10,000 people, and a new running club (hubtownrunningclub.ca) just started a few weeks ago. There is a wonderful park in the town (Victoria Park) which would be a great setting for the run. Due to the weather, runs could only really be from maybe April – October. There are some very enthusiastic runners in the area, ranging from Boston marathon qualifiers to those who are just happy to be running. We also have a team from the area entered in the Cabot Trail relay held in Cape Breton NS in May.
My question to you is, do you think it would be a viable place to start a parkrun?
Thanks again for all your vision, hard work and dedication to such a great project…
Karen Christie |
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Dear parkrun,
I was amazed to find out that I had won the monthly prize for February.
I was away at the time and a friend emailed me to tell me - that just shows how excited people get about the whole parkrun experience!
I do remember my first run and thinking, what are all these silly sods doing on a Saturday morning at 9am when you could still be in a warm bed (it was January) - and now I am one of them and still looking forward to running it each week.
I even ran on Christmas day at Bushy Park which was really does show how addictive it can become.
As with all the others who run the distance on a Saturday, I have only good things to say except for the younger kids who have suddenly come out of the woodwork (under 14's mainly) - why are they so good and how can they so easily breeze past me?? Still it won't deter me from constantly trying to enter - for me - the magical sub 22 zone.
I think I need a buggy to hang onto for that - or my new trainers!
Thank you parkrun for my prize - I am very touched!
Steve Jessop
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Hi Paul
My name is Merilyn & I am an addict. parkrun of course.
Since discovering parkrun last summer I have run 33 times at Bushy park or Bedfont Lakes and my husband thinks I am mad!
I am now training to run the London Marathon for the 2nd time. I finished last year in 3 hrs 57 min 12 sec so managed to get a good for age place to do it all again.
I am raising money for the "Make A Wish Foundation" who grant magical wishes for children with life threatening illnesses.
I was hoping some fellow addicts would be kind enough to sponsor me via www.justgiving.com/merilyn-davis
Thanks
Merilyn Davis |
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Hi Paul
Well done on making it on to the podium, without cheating!
I thought it might be newsworthy for you to know that last week's two winners and new female course holder at the Edinburgh parkrun, event #20, Sarah and Robert Inglis are in fact two triplets and yes their sister Mhairi is also a great runner.
The three 18 year old Lothian Running Club runners look set to have a great future in the sport.
Ian |
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Paul and particularly South Manchester parkrun team,
Because I live in the Lake District I didn't think that I would run many, if any, of your advertised events, however for my 60th birthday I thought I would try to run 60 races in the year. Not a difficult job particularly in the spring and summer months when the weather is generally ok and runs can easily be achieved mid week. Not so in the Autumn and Winter when days are short and several races are called off.
So it was this winter. My birthday was 28th February 2010 by the 20th February I still had to find 4 races to do within a travelling distance of my home in Kendal. Thank goodness I found event 11 of the Manchester parkruns; only 3 to go!! The finale was set do event 12 at 9.00 get over to Standish for the Trail Race at 2.30 then up next morning to run the Preston Docklands 5.
All went without a hitch and I managed to hear most of the Man City versus Chelsea match on the car radio; 4-2 to City [a second of my passions].
Without the support of my family and indeed the friendly and helpful parkrun team I would not have been able to complete the challenge nor would I have been enabled to make a donation to the Gem Appeal at the event. Thanks again and all the best for the future perhaps we could run an event in the Lake District??
Bill Ridings now Vet 60! |
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parkrunner of the week
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Name: Shaun Cooney
Club: Collingwood AC
Age: 36
Home parkrun: Banstead Woods and Roundshaw Downs
Occupation: Gas Engineer. Running my own heating business in Banstead and spending time with my family.
Number of Runs: 68
Number of times volunteered: More than 15 times
What do you do at parkruns: Mainly setting up and taking down the signage around the course.
How has parkrun changed your running: It has made me keen to keep on improving my fitness and times and introduced running in to my weekly routine which I am really enjoying.
What do you like about parkrun: It has a real and rare sense of community with a diverse range of people and running abilities which makes for a friendly atmosphere and very welcoming to anyone who joins.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: Following a late Friday night out I was not expecting much from my Saturday morning parkrun time, however to date that run has been my biggest success as I actually achieved a personal best by 17 seconds!
Anything else: I have really enjoyed the continuous improvement parkrun has given my running and general fitness. I look forward to many more events.
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| Crispy Corner |
| With many events already switched, or in the process of switching to barcode-only I thought it would be worthwhile to recap on our move to barcode-only result registration. First, I look at what the barcode-only system means to you the runner; then I look at which events have made the switch; I then discuss how to get hold of your barcodes; and I finish with a few commonly asked questions. Obviously, as an avid reader of Crispy Corner you may know most of this already, but I would ask you all to help spread the word to our less enlightened running buddies. |
What is the new barcode-only system?
Those events that switch to a barcode-only system will only be recording the results of those runners who have brought their barcode with them. Unfortunately, anyone without a barcode will appear as ‘Unknown Athlete' on the results page, and will not be credited with the run for either the points prize or the various parkrun clubs (10,50, 100, 250). However, if you have struggled to print out your barcode, we do have the option to enter your athlete number (which is shown on the barcode page) instead of scanning the barcode, so please make a note of this athlete number (it starts with the letter A and is followed by a number of digits) – at the very least, try to memorise your athlete number – we will monitor use of this facility, and we may withdraw it if it slows things down too much, so the best solution by far is to bring your barcode – please! |
Which events have switched or will be switching?
The following will be Barcode-only from their first event:
These runs have already switched to Barcode-only:
- Albert
- Frimley Lodge
- Glasgow
- Heaton
- Leeds
- Roundshaw
These have set a switchover date:
- Bromley (3rd April)
- Bushy (3rd April)
- Edinburgh (4th April – starting with their special event)
And last but not least these events will be switching soon, but have not set a date yet:
- Basingstoke
- Brighton
- Richmond
Note 1: other events may also have plans to switch, but I haven't confirmed yet.
Note 2: even if your event is not listed here, it will not hurt to print out and take your barcode along with you. |
Getting hold of your barcode
There are four ways to get your barcode:
- There is a link to your barcode page in this newsletter email (it appears every week at the top of this column in the ‘Your Profile' panel).
- Whenever you run, there is a link to your barcode page in your results email.
- If you have kept a copy of your registration confirmation mail there is link in that as well.
- NEW! You can now request that a link to the page be emailed to you (at your registered parkrun email); follow the link near the top of every events' results page (and most events' home pages).
If you do not have access to a printer, please forward the mail (with the link) to a friend, relative or colleague who does, and failing that, please at least make sure you have made a note of your athlete number. |
Questions?
- Do I need to register again to get my barcode? – Absolutely not; every existing registered runner has their own unique barcode which they can get hold of as above. Once a parkrunner has registered , they remain registered at all of our events for ever more.
- What if I lose my barcode? – Just print off a new copy – better still print off several now (keep one with your running kit, one in your car, one with your bike,.. you get the idea).
- What information is on the barcode? – very little - the barcode itself is just your athlete number we display your name in writing on the barcode just so you don't mix yours up with your friends and family.
- Won't it get a bit soggy? – Sweat is bar far the biggest enemy of the barcode so we recommend cutting it down to credit card size and laminating with clear sticky backed plastic.
- Ooops, I put it through the washing machine, now what? – Actually washing machines are the biggest enemy of the barcode – I've done it 3 times so far myself. But no worries, just print off another copy.
- Why, oh why, oh why? – The main reason is to make life easier for the teams of volunteers who work furiously behind the scenes preparing the results for publication (parkrun is the proverbial swan – usually elegant on the surface but hectic below the waterline) – the existing name based system is creaking and we had to make their life easier. The barcode system is also considerably more accurate than the keyboard based system. Finally, some of the queues at our events have been getting quite long – not so much of a problem on a lovely sunny day, but not so nice for runner or volunteer when it's cold and wet – the barcode system is much quicker.
- Any other questions? If you have any further questions I will try to answer them in coming weeks (mail me at chris@parkrun.com).
Cheers and Happy Running
Crispy |
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| Reminders |
Barcode Reminder
Barcodes are used at all our events.Please collect and print your barcode here.
Happy Birthday
Bramhall’s 2nd birthday party will be 17th April. Gorleston’s 1st birthday party will be 24th April.
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