parkrun 2020 - all welcome !

I ended up doing the double run and also a volunteer double. Stepped in at the second event to scan as was so busy.

Both events got a record attendance. Good fun but I could do with a nap now!

I got a PB!!! So chuffed! It really is a killer hill and I hate hills. Been on the same times for ages, I managed to shave just under 2 minutes off.

It was rather quiet though, nowhere near as many as we normally are. Didn’t do a double, went back to bed after a shower 😂.

And I think I was the only ‘redder’ too!

Hungover and dragging a tired LittleLegs around the course today for our slowest time ever! Still faster than everyone tucked up in bed though. Love parkrun, even when it’s not pretty! Looking forward to Saturday.

I did my first this morning! Used C25K (week 2) and whilst I definitely got lapped (lots!!) I didn’t finish last. Was at the back though! Don’t care, am just pleased I finished.

Now soaking in a magnesium bath!

I was a tourist at an exceptionally busy parkrun in the south west. I did fairly well considering I was freezing for the first lap and it was packed.

@bulletjournalbilly that's lovely if I've inspired you! I hope you get out and enjoy running.
Did my home run today, but wishing I'd attempted a double! Happy New year park runners!

Have recently completed c25k at 57 and will be starting park run soon. I promise.

My New Years resolution is to not find excuses not to run! I did my best time ever last Saturday.

Morning all. Was going to do the double but overslept slightly so now off to the later event! I love park run but refuse to set an alarm as up so early all week. My runs are normally after work or about 10 am at the weekends. Our nearest is also about 25 min drive so don't get there as often as I'd like.

I really do encourage new runners to take the plunge. The best thing about park run is it's inclusivity. Yes there are the athletes lunging at the front but a 45 min finish is to be embraced and celebrated as much.

Morning park runners!
About to set off to my local (has a stupid gradient, it’s a killer). I can’t say I enjoy running up the hill, but I love it once it’s finished 😂.
I am aiming to get my 50 T-shirt this year, I’ve done 11 last year. I work some Saturdays, so I won’t be able to do 50 in 2020, but if 2020 gets be a red T-shirt, I’m happy, even if so count the previous ones :)

Please please please, anyone who is scared of park run, come give it a try, even if you walk it all, it doesn’t matter! We’re a friendly bunch, one of us will walk with you, you’re not slowing us down and would love to chat to you when you go at your own pace. See you there!

If you're in Ireland (or Scotland) it's a 9.30 start!

Thanks Gasp, I'm in Ireland and my nearest one is a half an hour drive away, but I think I'll try and find a 5k walking route closer to my house and attempt it every Saturday at 9am. I'll have two kids with me, one in a buggy and one walking, so it will be a walk for me not a run, but sounds great to have a target of doing it at 9am in the morning. I think I'd feel great after it.

Yes, every Saturday at 9am. Free 5k timed run or walk. The parkrun website will show you the nearest parkrun to you. You can register online and print off your personal barcode, which you need to take with you to get a timed result. You can still do the run if you forget it, you just won't get a time. No need to tell anyone you're coming, you just turn up.

I love parkrun. I hated PE at school and was hopeless at all sport. It's no exaggeration to say that parkrun has changed my life. I'm very slow but that's OK. The founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, is very proud that every year the average finishing time goes up, indicating that more and more non-athletes are getting involved.

Happy New Year to all parkrunners!

Hi all, I'd like to join. So it's just a once a week thing?

As others have said unfortunately no rules as to volunteering but if everyone done three stints a year it would help.
Even one in 10 runs or once a month would be amazing!

I would say please if you parkrun regularly and haven’t volunteered yet to go and give it a go. Would take some pressure off your core team and you wouldn’t have parkrun without volunteers.

If you are worried about the different roles speak to the RD and they will happily explain what’s involved if that helps you choose which role you want to try. Or ask away on here and I can fill you in. And you always get briefed before you start of the event.

My parkrun goals this year are:
to hit my 100 runs/100 volunteers on the same day. Hopefully by the summer.
Get my tourism up to 20 events. Currently on 11.
A few more stopwatch bingo times and alphabet letters would be good but not going to chase them.
And finally to get back into running sub 24mins again and to break the sub 23min barrier by end of the year. (PB is 23.12 so feel it’s doable if I put the work in)

Undecided on whether il do the double today. Definitely volunteering and running at my home run then il see how I feel about making a mad dash to the next event!

Have fun parkrunning today everyone!

Thanks @AuntieStella! We will hopefully be at a parkrun soon then

There is also a nice park and cafe at our local one, bonus!

Yes, you can accompany your DC round juniors.

Over 14s don't go through the finish funnel though - so let them do their sprint finish All By Themselves

I'm nowhere near fit enough for actually running parkrun but would love to join and walk it! I don't have anyone to leave my DC with though; they've just turned 4 so would be able to do the junior one. I'm guessing I wouldn't be able to walk/ run it with them?!

I was tail walker for my last parkrun of 2019.

I'm planning a New Year double - same pairing as the start of this year. It was a great morning!

I volunteer about once a month, almost always at my home parkrun, but I have done some voluntourism. Our event director reckons that, on the basis of our typical weekly number of runners, if everyone volunteered 3 times a year we'd never be short of volunteers again.

I just ran my first park run yesterday! Rest of my family do it and I’ve been doing the C25k and this was the last run. Turns out my inner criticism of the c25k was correct - I definitely wasn’t running 5k in 30 mins, but I will at some point! I used to run loads and could run a sub 50 10K, but I am ten years older and two stone heavier - I’m going to use park run to measure some goals!

@gnome ..... you've just inspired me ... I'm 43 next year and need to get my butt moving

There are no "rules" on volunteering, do it whenever it suits you.

I quite often choose a role that means I can still run (tail walker, pacer, sighted guide. pre course set up, take down etc), and I also volunteer at Juniors nearly every week. I was injured for a few months this year, so I used those non-running weeks to volunteer.