parkrun returns

[secondchapter]

Parkrun is back on Saturday and I'm quite emotional. Anyone going?

Ah yes, need to print a barcode for middle child who is running with me. His wristband has disappeared over lockdown.

Shrunk in the wash, AuntieStella, clearly! I'm hoping my barcode is where I left it, nearly 17 months ago.

That was great. Very pleased with my time. Lovely to see so many other regulars after all this time!

Yes, went this morning. Lucky with the weather, I think, as it was ten degrees cooler than yesterday, and cloudy, which probably saved the organisers from dealing with numerous cases of heatstroke.

I have to say mine felt surprisingly subdued... I'd guess there were about 400 people there and I would have expected more of a buzz. But perhaps the volunteers had been told to keep it low key and discourage cheering to reduce the possibility of infection.

Time was okay. Not too shoddy. They spread us out at the beginning and it took 30 seconds to cross the start line, so I'm mentally deducting that from the 'official" time.

Wet here, and quite a low turnout. I think the expectation was that it wouid be like New Year, but we were well short of that.

Damp and rather nice conditions to run. And lovely to see everyone again!

We had a storm and rain overnight but the conditions were pleasant this morning. I decided to volunteer as I didn't think I would make it round (course is hilly) - I was a marshal and it was great to see lots of familiar faces and many new ones too and looking at the numbers it was an average turnout. We had a great atmosphere at the start and all were friendly and appreciative on the way round.

Turnout at ours was much lower than expected too, in fact a little lower than average.

My pace was a shocker, but absolutely loved it. Weather was cooler, atmosphere was brilliant.

Beckenham Place Park this morning - and turnout was excellent. Not my fastest time (wore road shoes rather than trail shoes and it was a bit muddy through the woods) but OMG soooo good to get back at it!

So many participants saying how much fitness they’ve lost over the past eighteen months, which is sad.

Fantastic to get back to it. Numbers weren't that high (we had about 30 more people than on 14 March 2020 at ours and that was with several neighbouring parkruns not returning until next week).

Great to be back. Our youngest is now old enough to run it officially (you have to 4+) and we had great fun run/walking it near the back. She did race ahead at one point just where the course splits into different directions for first or second loop. Oops! Still the great Parkrun atmosphere. So glad to be back. Felt as emotional as we did when junior Parkrun started back up again.

Turnout at ours was lower than usual, but it was drizzling and I don't think anybody was expecting huge turnout at this point. School holidays have just started, apart from anything else, so some people will be away. There were still very good numbers there.

Very pleasing to see an erstwhile junior I've watched for years at junior parkrun and adult parkrun turn in a really excellent time - first finisher, and fastest time recorded for a long time on our course, which is not flat.

Ours got cancelled because a bomb is being detonated near by

I saw that story! Well, the bomb and the motorway - buggering up parkrun wasn't mentioned.

And I think I've been a tourist at your parkrun way back when

Timekeeping today, rained most of the time then brightened up at the end. Weather may have put some off but lots of talk on FB yesterday about the rising rates and people being too nervous to come. Will see if numbers go up over the next few weeks.

First time using the app though and I found it v stressful, much prefer the manual stopwatch.

Apparently there’s a way to add a beep when you press it? I wasn’t sure I was pressing it each time so was staring at the screen to check.

@AuntieStella

I saw that story! Well, the bomb and the motorway - buggering up parkrun wasn't mentioned.

And I think I've been a tourist at your parkrun way back when

Actually the BBC article does mention parkrun! I was quite pleased it got a mention, but gutting for it to be cancelled.

I was meant to be scanning barcodes when I finished, but I couldn't get the app to work (which was weird as it worked fine for the timer) so just ended up shepherding people to the other scanners instead.

I don't know if it was because my phone is quite old now. Someone said it was a good excuse for to buy a new phone - they are probably right

Beeb article on the return of parkrun

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57955672

Not in Wales thanks to Dripford
Hope you all enjoyed it on England

I hope Wales and Scotland can re-start soon!

Does Hay on Wye have an 'international' parkrun?

It was so exciting to be back this morning. I was expecting to miss it as DD has a sports club on Saturday mornings, but DH is injured so he took DD. Only 1/3 of our highest attendance, so it felt gloriously unbusy!

We're taking DS to junior parkrun tomorrow which is about 6 miles away and will run home from there (DH will bring DS home) It started a few weeks ago but only for 4-10 year olds and hes 11.
I havent braved parkrun myself but I know I will be appalled at my current form. I might do a different (more hilly) one so I can blame the course rather than my lack of effort!🤣

We went today. Loved being back.

It was so lovely to be back (and emotional as predicted) we have a new course and I had to run to my marshalling position relying on the first runners to know the way as they got there first! I got my email for my 25 club volunteer shirt and ordered that yesterday, so I'm excited for that arriving now I've not run for a few weeks but looking forward to Saturday to put in a slow time and my partner has promised to pace me