Parkrunners Assemble - reviving the thread that will remind you "do not forget you barcode"

[miked99]

Hi everyone,
it's been a while since we've had a thread for Parkrunners to share how their run went. So if you ran today , which event were you at, how did you go and if you have the 5K app, did you get any new achievements?

I'm in Australia, so we are at the start of our summer and it was a sunny morning in the low 20s so great for a run. I was at Mosman (Sydney) with my son, it's a 3 lap, out and back course with a short steep hill at the turnaround , that seems longer and steeper each lap.
I came about half-way and the only 5K app achievement I got was for Date Bingo.

Hope everyone else had a good day too

Lithuania launched today and we were there. It was great!

Could somebody give me a little bit of information about volunteering? I've done enough runs now that I should.

I'm sure everybody will be very nice, I'd just like to have an idea in advance of what the first time volunteering might be like.

I have a couple of busy Saturdays but could volunteer at the junior one on Sunday sooner, but I don't know if that's a good alternative — would I be more useful volunteering at a normal one?

@PolkadotsAndMoonbeams It depends on the role! Marshalling is easy, bar code scanning fine, timekeeping I've never done as it would give me anxiety! Tailwalking or Parkwalking you still get a run credit if you're working towards a milestone.

I can only speak for our local runs but Marshalls are more sought after at Junior Parkrun as they need more to be able to go ahead. Our adult run can get by with just two marshalls at critical points, but 4+ is preferred. At junior the runners always need to be in sight of a marshall, no blind spots.

To follow more practically, it will differ event to event but at our local volunteers arrive by 8.30 to get their hi-vis and any specific instructions.

If you're brand new to volunteering and nervous then tell the RD that at the point you volunteer and I'm sure they'll allocate you an easy / low pressure role.

Again may not be the same for all events but our team keep their volunteer roster pretty up to date so you can look via their web page at what's available on the dates you're free and email / Facebook message to be added.

They would be really pleased to have you at junior parkrun and/or on a Saturday. The Saturday parkruns sometimes have trouble recruiting because people want to run and the Sunday parkruns because people without children are less aware although sometimes parents get involved on Sundays I guess as well.

Go onto the parkrun’s website where you are interested in volunteering and click on the volunteering page and look at the future roster. There is also a page about the different roles. On the roster page you will see where there are gaps to be filled. Although you can always double up roles and if you’re nervous for the first time you could ask to do a role with somebody else. Once you have decided when you could volunteer and what you would like to do, email the parkrun - the email address is on that volunteer page. Include your barcode number so that they can find you easily on the system. if you follow the link from a result you have received it will automatically fill the subject line with your barcode number. You can also opt in to receive emails appealing for volunteers from a particular event and there is a link to that in the email you get thanking you for volunteering or you can do this on the website if you login. You can volunteer weeks in advance if you want to.

There is no should about volunteering but hopefully you will like doing it anyway. The run director on the day will know it’s your first time and will give you lots of help. Marshalling is probably the most straightforward role but most of the roles are reasonably simple, especially if you have been to the course before. For barcode scanning and timekeeping you need to download the parkrun volunteer app. There are usually two timekeepers so if it goes wrong, it will be ok. There are roles that you can do as well as running if you want to for example the first timers welcome, pre-event set up and token sorting. if you are a fast runner, you can barcode scan afterwards. The parkwalkers and tail walkers get a participation credit as well as a volunteer credit.

It is a really good way to get to know people a bit better at parkrun and feel more of a part of things.

You would be very welcome at junior parkrun, as we need more volunteers than the 5k one (as explained by a previous poster) and although parents attend junior parkruns, it is difficult to get them to volunteer. Many run with their child or have younger children to look after or don't want to stay until the end, if their child has finished early or can't commit in advance, as they don't know if their child will want to attend that weekend. At least 80% of our regular volunteers have no personal connection to the participants.
Volunteering is fun. You'll meet new people and find it's good for the soul! And you'll be finished by 09:45!

Agree that juniors on Sunday is a lovely place to volunteer. Our event has a friendly team and we always need marshals - it is genuinely joyous seeing the youngsters go round the course ☺️

I volunteer now and again at the main park run and the junior one. Junior is lovely, very friendly and great to see the kids out running. It's also a lot quicker time wise than the main one, so very little time needed. I much prefer marshalling at the junior as it's great giving the little kids encouragement, although do enjoy it at the adult one too. Sometimes our junior one doesn't go ahead due to lack of volunteers, so I'm sure they'd appreciate you!

All the jobs are pretty straightforward and they explain what to do, or you get partnered with someone who has done it before

Juniors is always fun to volunteer at. The speedy ones crack on and are done in about 8 minutes. The stragglers are adorable spudding along at the end, they (and their parents) always appreciate marshall encouragement.

Very envious - sounds amazing!

Its School Holidays in Sydney and so we had a lot of tourists this morning for Pacer week at my local Parkrun.
I started far too fast and was trying to stay with a bunch but blew up about 3Km in but managed to stick with a pacer after that for my best time in months.
But Date Bingo was all I got
Thinking of being a tourist next week to get another letter for alphabet bingo

Hope everyone has a good run/volunteer this weekend

And that's a pb for me this morning. I last did that course in 2018. I know why I've only done it twice!

4th Parkrun. New extra cushioned shoes felt good. Going from dirt tracks and grass to hard gravel was really hurting my legs but the shoes seemed to have ended that issue.

50 seconds off my time.

First time giving out tokens for me today. It was more full on than I expected. Good though. Great weather for it.

An extra parkrun for German Unity Day for me this morning. Lots of tourists, lots of fun. Fastest run this year. Off to Poland on Saturday.

I was in Germany today too. Will be at home parkrun on Saturday

We were tourists at Rooty Hill parkrun in Western Sydney parklands, a very scenic run with lots of 'watch out for snakes' signs around. I didn't see any snakes thankfully , but being my first 'R' I got lots of challenges, Alphabeteer, Date Bingo, Freyne, Namely, Parkrun and Pirates

Hope you all have a good run/volunteer today

And that's a DNF for me

Oh no, are you ok?

Course PB for me today, which was a nice surprise.

Hope you are OK @SouthCountryGirl

Well done @miked99 and @PolkadotsAndMoonbeams

I had to work this morning and missed parkrun for the first time in months - particularly sad to have missed the 20th birthday celebrations.

I'm ok thanks. My hamstring was a bit tight

It was a tough one for me this morning. I've got out of the habit or parkrun and running in general recently after our holiday in August and then having covid three weeks ago, I still don't feel 100%

I slept through my alarm and woke up at 8.10 this morning and so nearly pulled the covers back over me to go back to sleep. But I sun peeking in from outside and decided to drag myself out and just take it easy. Made it to my local parkrun just in time and was surprised I actually managed to jog the whole way without any walking breaks, so I was really pleased with that, it was hard though.
Up and out in the morning for junior parkrun tomorrow. Volunteering for me and running for the kids. I love parkrun but I do miss Sunday morning lie ins now that the kids are into it too 😂🙈

Cold and windy in Sydney this morning, so fewer people than normal
I was Tailwalker so got a Volunteer credit and completed the parkrun, and got Date and Position Bingo

Have a good run / volunteer everyone

Cold and windy here this morning for us too! 😆

I nearly pulled the covers over and went back to sleep when I heard the rain, but then my 11 year old son appeared next to me with his parkrun shirt on ready to go, I couldn't say no to his happy little face 😆

We went to Millhouses, which was out nendy. It was tough for me having not run much recently after a cheat infection but I did it in about 31mins so was quite pleased with that. My boy cut another 2 mins off his pb! He's early down into the 25mins zone now, getting speedy.

I'm down to be RD tomorrow for our juniors for the first time, which is a bit nerve-wracking, but hopefully will be good!

Happy parkrunning everyone.

Excuse the typos sorry, I need to stop rushing.