Parkrunners Assemble - the new thread that will remind you to "do not forget barcode" and that "you can walk, jog, run or volunteers"

You can volunteer for pre-event set up which means you can still run - you just have to get up earlier! Or I think some have token sorting or event close-down as a role to do afterwards (mine doesn’t have these though).

My home run is fairly small, averages about 60 runners per week, and me, my OH and 2 older DC attend most weeks. So if we didn’t volunteer it would be very obvious and I would feel bad about not giving something back. I did 11 volunteers in 2017 I think, so almost once a month, but my DC also volunteer - they like to do tokens or barcode scanning - and OH volunteers too.

I’ve seen on my home parkrun FB page that we’re having a minute’s silence for Tracie McGrory, the runner who died at Swindon last week. I expect most will be doing the same.

It's my tenth run this coming Saturday - I intend to email to get on the volunteers list after that, feels like I should really help out a bit if I've been attending for a couple of months. Is there an etiquette on how often you should volunteer? I'm just slightly conscious that volunteering means I'm missing out on a run opportunity for that week, so something like once a month would mean missing almost a quarter of the runs over the year...

Well done @Norbert! Isnt it a great feeling when you finish? Are you aiming to beat your time on Saturday?

You’ll never be last at parkrun, because of the tailwalker. Be brave and go and enjoy it! It’s great fun xx

I did my first parkrun on Saturday, and there wasn't much running involved from me! Did it in 49:57, and wasn't last!

I'm doing it it with two of my DC, my 15yo is doing it for their DofE physical, but has SEN, so I need to accompany him. I'm sure they'd be faster without me! I am doing C25k but only on week 2. I'm sure we'll get faster in time.

It was a really good atmosphere, everyone was very encouraging. It was very busy though as the next nearest one had been cancelled so lots came over to our local one instead.

Mascara you won’t be last - every week there is a volunteer tail walker whose job is to come in last! People walk it or walk/run - the ethos is all about taking part, however long it takes to complete the course. Have a look at the recent results for the one you’re intending to do, to see the times other people do. Parkrun is really friendly and inclusive, so definitely give it a go!

I’d love to do Parkrun but I’m such a porker I’m worried I’m going to be trundling in last (and hours after everyone else) with everyone pointing at me. 😩

I fell off this thread a few months ago but I’m still parkrunning with my OH, DS and DD pretty much every week. I did my 99th yesterday, but not at my home parkrun as it was cancelled. Really hope it’s back on next week as I want to do my 100th at my home run!

Hoping to also get my 25 volunteers done this year, think I’m on 18, so should be doable.

"I'll just have to smash it next week!"

That's the spirit!! Our first Parkrun if the year is always the busiest (New Year resolutions and all that) - up by nearly 2/3rds

DH nobly volunteered to do the token sorting, and ended up with horrible cramp and stiffness. (His own silly fault for doing them on the sitting room floor, not at the table).

Now done 3 parkruns since having DD 10 weeks ago, I desperately wanted to run whilst I was pregnant but had awful morning sickness for 5 months. I did one when that eased off but the sciatica started and despite doing 40.08 I couldn't walk for the rest of the day. I thought I managed a sub 40 yesterday (my watch said 39.55) bit my official time was 40.03. My tag number was wrong so I think I was given the wrong time but no big deal. I'll just have to smash it next week!

@standingonlego which parkrun is that? I touristed at Southwark today (And a new PB!!) I travelled from north Wales and I thought I might get the gold star for furthest traveller but sadly not as someone from Luxembourg piped up 😂😂

I visited two other runs in my city for a New Year's double yesterday, my 7th and 8th. One was half uphill and half downhill, and the other three laps of a park with a short but steep hill made of liquid mud this time of year - really made me appreciate the tarmac paths and not too much hill of my local! It was a fun way to kick off 2018 though, amazing how many people were doing a double including some in fancy dress.

The dog and I took part in our local one yesterday - we did not do a local double as the second one would have been even hillier and more muddy than the first! One of my aims for 2018 is to get round the whole course running - even if it's very slow.

Hi everybody!

My local was doing a Christmas Day parkrun, and I did another local double this morning. So I'm working towards my 200th by end February.

Got absolutely soaked at the 2nd one today, the last km was really me telling myself to put out one big ole foot in front of the other.

Onwards into 2018!

"The dog DH and I were tourists at a nearby Parkrun this morning as our usual one wasn't on. This one was along the seafront in a country park and was very windy but a great start to Christmas Day. Came home to find the two teenagers still semi comatose! Merry Christmas to everyone.

The dog and I were tourists at a nearby Parkrun this morning as our usual one wasn't on. This one was along the seafront and was very windy but a great start to Christmas Day. Came home to find the two teenagers still semi comatose! Merry Christmas to everyone.

Hopefully I will be fitter and it'll be a wee bit warmer by then

I'm in Scotland. Our local PR often gets cancelled the winter months because of bad weather
So on second thoughts I might attemt first one in March, not January.

First ever DNF at parkrun today, stopped after one lap with knee pain 🙁 going skiing for Christmas so hope I have a miraculous recovery 🤞🏻

Thank @Blowitout for it was she who linked it for me

And 'I don't care about the Tshirts' said no runner, ever

I was meaning to look at the compendium, thank you for posting, I want to find some new ones for my NYD double this year.

I am on run 249 and missed last week and have to miss this week - very frustrating! On the plus side it means I can do 250 quietly without all the cake and balloon thing as people will have lost track of me (my local parkrun keeps track of those reaching milestone runs as I imagine quite a few do) , I'm not really into making a big fuss, I just want to earn the t-shirt.