Inaugural runs: Gunpowder parkrun (22 October 2011)

The Gunpowder parkrun started up this morning (near Waltham Abbey, between 12o'clock and 1o'clock on the M25) and it's an absolute cracker. Its two and a bit laps are gently undulating, simple to follow but meandering enough to be fun. Underfoot is well-kept, buggy-friendly path, and if the thin layer of fine gravel isn't to your taste, then you can run the majority of the route on the grass verges.

As usual, the organisation is superb, and the marshals and volunteers are welcoming and friendly.

Icing on the cake? Crossing paths with Ron Hill and Tim Williams again, meeting budding tourist Rick Oliver, chatting to father and daughter team Marc and Nicole Bibaud (who are well on their way to joining the 50 club and 10 club respectively) and chatting to parkrun newcomer Liz Lord and her friend Tony Browne, who had persuaded her to give parkrun a whirl.

And what a whirl! Best woman by age grade. Not a bad debut at all.

After which I went home to make two lots of ganache, one of the few recipes I can do from memory. (Heat cream. Add chocolate. Stir. Pour into bowls. Put in fridge. Lick spoon. Lick saucepan.) The first batch went well. For the second, I experimented by adding alcohol, and I'm not sure whether it's going to harden. Unlike my arteries, which are hardening already in anticipation.

It's the Killerparkrun

A few photos of the Killerton parkrun on the 31st March... from the position of tail runner.  From the gathering of the clans at the start to 1k... 1.5k... 2k... 2.5k (close that gate!)... 4k-ish and the finish.  One loop as you can see from the course map (thank you National Trust - our hosts).  Click on an photo for the full 'Killerton' effect.

New Contributor: Michael Ross

Name: Michael Ross

Home parkrun: Durham
Date of first parkrun: 8/10/2011

Total Number of parkruns: 21

Number of other parkrun locations run: 0

Number of times volunteered: 7

My parkrun history: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/durham/results/athletehistory?AthleteNumber=172656

Parkrun for me started with the launch of Durham parkrun on 13/8/11 but due to a very frustrating 2011 injury wise for me I began by volunteering. My first role volunteering was marshalling at Kingfisher Bridge, one of 3 bridges on the course that you cross.

My injury kept me to volunteering and spectating until October, when I finally decided after weeks of pent up frustration watching everyone else to pull on my shoes and have a jog round. I made it round but my injury still niggled, but I then thought ok I've made it round once, I'm going to run once a week at parkrun and that's what I did right up until new year, when I was finally injury free.

Parkrun was a real life saver for me during my injury period as I desparately missed the camaraderie and banter I was missing out on with not being able to run as usual with my work colleagues on a lunchtime. Ever since the first run I've witnessed the camaraderie that exists in parkrun and the support that everyone gets no matter fast or slow you are, there is always someone cheering you over the line.

After the run there is the post race breakfast in the splendid canteen to look forward to and the chance to re-live your morning's run with friends.

Getting up early on a Saturday and heading to parkrun is now something I look forward to. Addictive, enjoyable and social are the 3 words I'd choose to describe parkrun as.

 As a runner I'd say I'm fairly average and perhaps best known for the sound of my feet, there's no chance of me stealthily passing you by as you can generally hear me from about half a mile away.

Enough ramblings for now, you can follow me on twitter @run_rossy_run if you wish :)