To continue the theme from my introduction last week, I planned to run my 16th different parkrun at Bromley last Saturday. Being a determined person, I woke at the agreed time to the sounds of a tropical storm but decided to ignore this. I told myself that it never rains at 9am on a Saturday.
It takes about an hour to get from Twickenham to Bromley by car at this early hour. All the way there I could see the lightning strikes across the horizon and the windscreen wipers never ceased. The sky will open and all will be fine I kept telling myself. The closer I got to the event the more I started to question my judgement but by this time it would be wasteful for me to back out.
I arrived at the event with 20 minutes to go. I sat huddled in the car as the rain beat against the roof. As predicted the rain began to subside and people started getting out of their cars. Just before the start I noticed David Rowe and joined him for a warm up. We arrived at the start line as Ashley and her team started the pre-race presentation. That’s when the rule “it never rains at 9am on a Saturday” died.
“parkrun”... It would have been apt to call it parkswim. The Bromley course is run mainly on grass. It’s usually soft underfoot and very forgiving. However with the rain it turned into a swimming pool. The local were wise to the conditions and so only 25 runners made it to the start giving me a chance to podium for the first time.
Apparently, if you read the other news reports, life was just as dismal for many of the other parkrun events. So, hearty congratulations and buckets of thanks to those of you who turned up and ran. Praise and thanks to the volunteers for getting out of bed and operating in the worst conditions that I have had the misfortune to run in in the past 5 years. Keep up the grand work that you do.
Quick bits
· Banstead Woods say a fond farewell to race director David Sinclair who moves on to a new career elsewhere in the country
· Work on the train line disrupts Black Park parkrun – see news report
· Presenting your parkrun barcode at any Sweatshop will give you a 10% discount when purchasing non sale items and not using a credit card
· Only 10 runs were completed in under 17min runs at the weekend (Weather and XC)
· After 77 events, race director and local hero, Andy Fisher completes his 7th event as Albert Park
Feedback from the field
Hi Paul,
You may be interested to know that 2 parkrunners took podium positions in the "Cyprus Amathunta 10k" road race on Sunday 15 November.
In the M70 class Fred Ashford (Black Park parkrun) took first place. John Hanscombe (Bushy Park parkrun) was placed third. 90 competitors finished the run.
Regards.
Fred Ashford
Black Park
In response to the birthday greeting: What a nice surprise! Thank you.
I ran (as I do every Monday, Thursday and Friday) up in the park (Richmond Park, of course - THE park) this morning in lovely autumn sun, before the rain this afternoon. 6 years ago (in January 2004) I got a group of non-running women "of a certain age" running and we are still running! The average age of our 10 runners (plus 6 honorary runners who actually walk) must be about 56 - oldest 63 (me / my birthday today as you so cleverly remembered!!) and the youngest 49.
Since starting, we have collectively run 8 marathons, a dozen half marathons, a few 8 miles, lots of 10ks and 5 kms and thousands of miles in Richmond Park. We are not superfast but we usually run for 50 - 60 mins and have raised loads of dosh for a range of charities. 6 of us recently ran the Chase 10k at Loseley Park on the wettest day of the century - we LOVED it. This is not a boast but rather a letter in praise of running. The fun and friendship has changed and enhanced lives. The splendour and scope of Richmond Park has a lot do with this.
Yours in running,
Celia
parkrunner of the week
Name: Carl Assmundson
Age: 19
Home parkrun: Richmond Park
Occupation and pastimes: Student and work as a part timer in a running shop. Pastimes centre on sports like running and football.
No of runs: I've done 11 park runs... (8 in Richmond and 3 in Bushy Park). Or that I run about 5 times a week on average when I'm training properly.
How has parkrun changed your running: When I'm not at uni it has become part of my training routine. I don't train any harder because of parkrun but it is something to look forward to throughout the week to see whether my training is working.
No of times volunteered: I think about 12 times as a race reporter and several times as a marshal and first aider, sometimes all 3.
What do you do at parkruns: When I'm marshalling, shout and clap a lot - I always have sore hands when I get home! I know it pushes me along when someone gives me a cheer, so I try to encourage all the parkrunners, especially those at the back who I'd normally be running with.
What do you like about parkrun: The distance... It's not too far but still a challenge.
The tactics involved in the race when running against someone who's at the level as you.
The atmosphere and that everyone enjoys themselves.
The dedication shown by the volunteers who turn up every week to help.
Most memorable or Funniest parkrun moment: Talking to lots of people after the 100th parkrun in Richmond. The general sense of goodwill among everyone after that race was excellent. But mainly when I think about parkrun though I think of the good weather on a saturday morning just before the race is about the start.
Here is a picture of
Carl
Happy running
Paul
Crispy’s Corner
Crispy’s Challenge
24 of the 101 challengers have now beaten their PBs since starting the Crispy Challenge (
www.parkrun.com/results/challenge.aspx). Apart from our two jokers at the start of the challenge, nobody has yet cracked their target; I thought Chris Cowell, had smashed his target to smithereens at the weekend, but alas, after correction it wasn’t to be. There are two runners both within 5 seconds of their targets (Caroline Forbes and Kevan Wilkinson) – one more push and they should break through. There are still four of you who’ve not been out since the start of the challenge – what are you waiting for? – it’s bracing.
Out & About
Actually, not so out and about this week, as I had a lie in on Saturday for the first time in I don’t know how long. And from the look at the numbers, quite a few parkrunners took a peek out of the curtain on Saturday morning and had the same thought. Many congratulations to all the brave volunteers who battled through storms, wind and rain, to keep parkrun afloat this week. I suppose I should mention that it’s important to not get too cold after the runs (all too easy in the rain); have something dry and warm to change into at the finish. Isn’t that right PSH?
South Manchester parkrun
Well done to Gail and her team at South Manchester which became the latest member of the parkrun family on Saturday. 104 runners fought the storms to attend their maiden run. That’s the last new event of 2009; this year we have started 13 new regular events as well as running the one off Morden Hall parkrun and the Stewart Park mid week summer series. Well done and thanks to all the teams who have started their events this year.
Christmas Roundup
Regular parkrunners will know that parkrun doesn’t just stop for Christmas, oh no! The juggernaut keeps on rolling with some events putting on extra events on Christmas Day and/or New Year’s Day. If you’re visiting friends or relatives it’s an excellent time to try out a distant event and introduce new people to the parkrun phenomenon. I hope to bring you a full roundup of Christmas parkrun events in the coming weeks.
Happy running
Crispy