We regret to inform you of the death of regular parkrunner, 41 year old Mike Fawcett, who passed away suddenly early last week. Mike first ran at Hove Park in February 2008, running 23 times with a PB of 21m 26s and as recently as September 26th 2009. He was a popular English and Drama teacher at a local school and encouraged many others to become parkrunners. Mike was in training for the inaugural Brighton Marathon next year. Over 200 parkrunners celebrated his life with a 1 minute applause before the parkrun on Saturday. He will be sorely missed by many in the community. We will be holding a charity event to raise funds for Charity, look at the Brighton news page for information when it has been decided.
Leeds parkrun Santa Dash
The Santa Dashes is a fun run in Leeds where everybody is dressed as Santa!
Don’t forget that the Santa Dash Fun Run takes place on Saturday 12 December in Hyde Park Leeds, in association with Leeds parkrun, starting with the regular weekly event at 9am, with the popular Big Santa Warm Up (an aerobic warm up in your Santa get up) taking place at 8.45am.
More details can be found by visiting http://www.st-gemma.co.uk/santadash.
Feedback from the field
Hi, I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to (as I'm sure many others would like to similarly) all who involve themselves in the organising of Edinburgh parkrun. In light of the biggest field so far I was impressed today by the speed in which the results were published and as such I feel that work of this magnitude deserves to be recognised.
So as a plodder who relishes the Saturday morning challenge offered by parkrun I doff my cap to the volunteer and organising collective who allow me to do just that. Thank you.
Davie Black
Hi
I ran my first park run at Heaton Park this morning after registering earlier this week. Really enjoyed the event this morning, very well organised...well done to all involved!
Thanks
Steven Yates
100 not out!!.What a nice surprise and an early Christmas present for little me. In spite of backache, neck ache, headache and heartache, plus calf strain, knee pain and ano domin EYE(!!!) I made it to 100. Don’t I get a telegram from the Queen??. I suppose one from Paul will have to do. And how can this poor old pensioner get his hands on a free pair of running shoes from the Sweatshop!!??. I have shopped there for 30 years and even ran with Chris when he was a Ranelagh member (Nudge , nudge, wink, wink). Ah well thanks to all you lot for doing such a splendid job each Sat , in all weathers.
Regards one lap Wally.
parkrunner of the week
Name: Philippa Metherell
Age: Nicely matured
Home parkrun: Richmond
Occupation and pastimes: PA - love reading, cooking and visiting my horsey friends in Cheltenham.
No of runs: 1.5
How has parkrun changed your running: Unfortunately I am unable to run at the moment, but it gave me focus as a novice runner, of getting the 5k distance under my belt and time I should aim for initially?
No of times volunteered: 17
What do you do at parkruns: Whatever is needed for the week, bar the running.
What do you like about parkrun: Getting up on a Saturday morning to enjoy the park, catch up with running friends and being able to encourage runners, new and old faces, to get their times in.
Most memorable or Funniest parkrun moment: At Bedfont Lakes marshalling there is a point where the runners can see the finish line but have to go round the mound first to complete the course. Require to gently but firmly manhandle them around the extra distance when they were so focussed on the finish line.
or
Advising two fishermen at Bedfont Lakes to walk with their rather long rods up rather than level, or they may develop a permanent kink when our fast front runners were due to appear around a fairly blind corner any minute.
Anything else: I really believe parkrun is a good thing and if someone mentions they run, I ask them if they have heard of it & tell them what it is so hopefully have got more people out running be they novice or seasoned campaigner. I look forward to running one early next year myself.
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
chris@parkrun.com