Nothing. Zip. Diddly.
But Saturday is parkrun day, and parkrun trumps sloth, so at 9am I joined 316(!) other freezing runners for the inaugural Newbury parkrun.
Yes. Despite snow and sub-zero temperatures, 317 people took advantage of the generosity of the volunteers and ran* around the flat, single-lap, hard-packed gravel** course with stunning views***.
And in the throng were plenty of familiar names and faces, including:
- the race photographer that I first met at Southwick parkrun
- a parkrun tourist who I've watched vanish into the distance at Ally Pally, Wanstead Flats, Hampstead Heath, Valentines and Wormwood Scrubs
- the parkrunner who gave me lifts between the longest parkrun's seven venues
- the chirunning coach from a great workshop I went to last March
- a posse of Basingstoke parkrunners I recognised from Eastbourne's inaugural run
- two of the touring party of Burnham Joggers
- and Chris and Linda Cowell, who are at 1st and 5th place on the most events table and who have clocked up a remarkable 77 and 63 different venues respectively.
*jogged gingerly. At least in my case.
**allegedly. Underneath the snow.
***so I'm told. I was too busy watching my step to look up.
