parkrunners Assemble! DFYB for a run, not a race!

[FiftyNineOhEight]

Gather here parkrunners old and new. Tell us all about your running, volunteering, juniors, tourism, and cows.

Old thread here for anyone interested.

We are probably the best thread on MN. All are welcome here whether you are brand new to parkrun or sporting your 500 shirt.

Hello parkrunners

RL has been a bit bonkers and I have not run a step for at least two weeks. I volunteered today and it was good to be back.

I have enjoyed catching up on the thread. Hello to new parkrunners, waves to old ones, and special congrats to BlackCat and Kitten

May I join the thread? I started running about 6 weeks ago and did my first parkrun last week and second yesterday where I knocked 2mins 43 seconds off my time , coming in at 30.01. It would have been sub 30 but I went off piste in the forest despite the marshalls waving at me!

Thanks for the congratulations everyone. I'm not sure what's got into me this Autumn!

Well done everyone! I was marshalling yesterday. My first time volunteering. A different experience from participating (obviously) but very enjoyable.

Hiya gypsy, welcome aboard!

Lost you all! No parkrun for me as I had an enforced day off and it was such a lovely day! Will read back later, I'm processing results next week then off to an inflatable Santa run!

Thanks Melanie.

Well done Steffi

Hello gypsy, that's a great parkrun start.

Watching gives such a different view doesn't it fluffi? I enjoyed watching. Saturday and seeing the whole run play out.

Inflatable Santa run sounds fun cinnamon - are there obstacles (thinking of my last inflatable run) or are there loads of inflatable Santas bopping about?

Yes chutney it does. I was at the first marshalling point. It was like a stampede.

Hello! Can I join? I did my first parkrun 10 days ago in 33 mins and was chuffed to bits with myself for running the whole way. I've been doing a bootcamp at the ungodly hour of 6.30am two or three times a week for the last 3 months to get fit and it seems to be working. I work some Saturdays so can't go every week but I am firmly resolved to get there this week. I was a bit at being classed as a veteran at the grand old age of 41, I'm not quite past it just yet!

Welcome milo

I am tail running this week, as I am running our local HM on Sunday. A C25K group is graduating this week, I am really looking forward to seeing new runners and their sense of achievement.

Best laid plans MelanieCheeks, Christmas Eve isn't that far away really well done on your pacing.

That's lovely blatherskite, tail running or rd will get you there without the pressure!

Sounds good chutneypig, you'll have to take it in turns I'm sure you'll miss them after a few weeks solo
It's so not my thing, I'm going along to make up a team of 4. Yes they are inflatable obstacles and I think mainly it's runners dressed as santas, I'm not going that far though

Well done steffibabes!

Well done lifeisabeach wishing ds well soon!

Welcome gypsyfl0ss! Fab time for only being running for 6 weeks!!!

Volunteering is great fluffiphlox, I agree totally different but equally as rewarding. I do always feel lazy when I rd but make sure I have a trek round putting out signs and checking the course so still have walked some.

Welcome miloarmadillo1. Veteran is over 30! I'm in the v35 catergory!

Good luck with your hm FiftyNineOhEight! And enjoy your tail running.

Thanks cinnnamon, have been unwell so haven't made it out yet this week. Don't think I'll be beating my pb this Sat but I'll give it a damn good crack!

Change of plan, I'm having my first stint at marshalling this Sat instead. Hi-vis vest, walky-talky radio and cake. What's not to like!

Morning everyone, hope you have a good run. It's the 200th Hillsborough parkrun today so people are bringing cake to celebrate. DD and I made parkrun gingerbread men. Lots of orange fondant icing was involved. Anyone else do Hillsborough? Totally understand if you don't want to reveal your location.

Morning runners!

Enjoy your cakes steffi and gypsy. DS sometimes runs at Hallam but is usually training for his other sport on Saturday mornings. I don't think he has been to Hillsborough.

cinners you sound as though you cant wait for your event today

Have good runs everyone. and plenty of afterwards.

I'm missing parkrun although I did have some lovely new born cuddles this morning I'm hoping to be back at parkrun in a couple of weeks, looking forward to getting out running again.

Hope everyone enjoyed their runs today.

Hi everyone,
back to Parkrun this morning after a few weeks off with an unrelated injury.

I ran with a friends son who was doing his first ever 5K run and came about halfway overall - he did really well to keep going after looking spent part way through and managed a sprint finish to stay ahead of another kid on the line. My son managed a PB too, and there were muffins at the finish so there were big smiles all round.

Hope everyone else had a good run this morning

FiftyNine ahhh, Hallam sounds mad over 500 people there, not sure I fancy that!

Yay for snuggles MyBlackCat!!

All sounds good miked99!

It was actually awesome FiftyNineOhEight! I loved it and considering signing up to another in Peterborough in April. Really good fun other than freezing waiting 40mins for final obstacle.

parkrun was lovely, one of or regular First Ladies ran with her littlies, one in a buggy and her just 4 year old who ran/walked all the way in 50mins. Processed results while just taking in he post parkrun atmosphere in the cafe and the manager came to chat with me about the festive plans.

2nd parkrun completed today with my 10 yr old, who talked my ear off and barged into me all the way round then sprinted off to the finish leaving me for dust. Knocked a whole second off my time for a new PB despite alternately chivvying him on and then trying to catch up with him. Enjoyed my bacon sarnie afterwards!

Southampton for me this week - number 149!

Wow, enjoy number 149, Melanie!

I forgot to do a post about last Saturday's run. I ran with DD and her friend so it was a slow one as they were chatting the whole way.

I've volunteered for pre-event set up this week, so have to be at the course a 8am, eeek! Means I can run as well, so it'll be worth it. On that subject, how often do you all volunteer? Our parkrun has been struggling to get people to help for the past couple of weeks, and the roster is very empty from now onwards. Just counted up and DS, OH and I have volunteered 8 times between us since our parkrun year started (beginning of July). Not sure whether we should be doing more. Ours is a small one (averages 60 runners per week but last week we only had 33) so I guess we all need to do more than at a larger one.

I aim for at least 3 times a year, but recently its been more like once a month. Some of those I've been able to run as well, though, like pacing.

I rd once every 6 weeks roughly Lifeisabeach but if other slots are needed I do fill in. I think it depends on your event too, we need 8/9 volunteers a week in addition to the rd who does set up and take down alone and all weekly things like emails, volunteer requests, results and run reports at ours. Over a year that means we need ideally 468 volunteers, we only average 80 runners a week so that means that we need people to volunteer more than say a larger event that's more laps so needs les marshals etc. At the end of the day parkrun are very clear that there is no pressure to volunteer and that is something you should want to do because it's fun and it really is fun! My favourite time is when it's 25C at 9am and I'm standing in the sun glad I wasn't trying to get round the course . You get different things from it than running i think but it's great to see those faster runners finish and see the whole field go past, warms my heart