New Contributor: Darragh Murray

Name: Darragh Murray
Home parkrun: New Farm
Date of first parkun: 09/06/2012
Total number of parkruns: 9
Number of other parkrun locations run: 2 – South Bank, Wynnum
Number of times volunteered: 1
My parkrun history: View my parkrun history here.

I always loved distance running in high school and had some ability, but my love of distance running was eventually challenged and temporarily beaten by a then newfound love of beer throughout the majority of my twenties. Unfortunately, when beer took over, it failed to mention to me that it was going to dump pounds and pounds of weight on my feeble frame, and after coming to realise this sobering reality as I entered my thirties, I sheepishly had to return to running and ask for a second chance. 2012 saw me return to running and parkrun has played a significant role in keeping me motivated.

A friend of mine recommended parkrun last year and I haven’t looked back since. I live in Brisbane, Australia and we’re fortunate to have five parkrun events in and around the city. For a while there, New Farm was the only event, and consistently was the most popular parkrun in Australia. Since then Wynnum, South Bank, North Lakes and Sandgate have come on board and helped spread the parkrun brand and philosophy. I plan to run all the local events in due course.

While I’m still a relative newbie to the scene, I’ve used parkrun as a springboard for other running achievements. In 2012, I managed to cut my 10K time from 56 minutes to 49, rip apart my 5k time for 30 down to 23, and also complete a half marathon in an hour and 56 minutes. Parkrun has played a big role in keeping me motivated. I factor parkrun into my training schedule, and it’s going to play an integral part in my training for my first marathon in July.

In 2013 I plan to add at least another 23 parkrun events to my athlete history and get my PB down under 21 minutes. Of course, I also hope to volunteer a bit more and give back to the community. I’ll be chasing that 50 shirt, but don’t imagine I’ll get there until 2014. I also hope to visit Bushy Park when I’m in the UK later in 2013.

In the meantime, I hope to write a bit about parkrun, particularly about its phenomenal growth in Australia. I also blog here on running and other subjects of interest on my own personal site as well as use runkeeper and you're welcome to follow my progress on there.

Would you like to write about your parkrun experiences?

Have you been reading what others have been writing about their parkrun experiences (and their parkrun course descriptions) recently on the parkrunfans blog?

Would you like to have a go? You don't need to be a great runner or a great writter, just enthusiastic and willing to share your parkrun experiences or course description on the blog for other parkrunners to read.

The main aims are to allow everyone to share their parkrun stories and to help spread the word about parkrun in a positive light. Everyone is welcome, so please feel free to tell your friends about this blog.

If you would like to contribute then please contact me in one of the following ways:
Twitter: @parkrunfan
Facebook: parkrunfans blog page
Alternatively add a comment against this post leaving your email address.

If you are unsure about contributin,g please feel free to contact me by any of the means above and I will explain more. I can assure you that you will not be committing yourself and you can contribute as much or as little as you like.

Would you like to contribute to this blog?

I would like every parkrunner to have the chance to share their own parkrun thoughts and experiences with the parkrun community by posting on the parkrunfans blog.

Everyone is welcome, whether you want to post something every day, on Saturdays or just the once. You are even welcome just to read what other contributors write. As I say, everyone is welcome.

I have been writing my own parkrunfan blog for the last year or so and I must say that I find it very rewarding.

If you would like to contribute by writing about your own thoughts and experiences of parkrun then please contact me in one of the following ways:

Twitter: @parkrunfan
Facebook: parkrunfans blog page
Alternatively add a comment against this post leaving some method by which you can be contacted.

If you are unsure about contributing please feel free to contact me by any of the means above. I can assure you that you will not be committing yourself to anything and you can contribute as much or as little as you like.

New Contributor: Aileen Elsbury

Name: Aileen Elsbury
Home parkrun: Leeds Hyde Park
Date of first parkrun: 03/09/2011
Total Number of parkruns: 10
Number of other parkrun locations run: 0
Number of times volunteered: 1
My parkrun history: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/athleteresultshistory?athleteNumber=180576

I have NEVER been a runner; never. I couldn't run at school, I didn't run in University and I wouldn't run in my early 20s. I have no idea why I chose to run in my late 20s; I think it was because I knew that running was a heavy calorie burning activity, and if you've met me, you'd know I have a lot to burn!

I had tried Couch to 5k, but every time I got to level 3 I ended up with an injury, a cold or a holiday and had to revert back a week! I have no idea what made me skip straight to the 5k parkrun but I'm so glad I did! I've found a group of genuinely nice people who are positive about my effort and proud of my achievements and are vocal about it!

I now have found I work my holidays around parkrun! I am going to visit my parents in two weeks, but I have booked the train ticket with enough time to go running beforehand and then go down. When I was away at a folk festival in December, I went to the gym and ran my first 5k on a treadmill! It was an absolutely shocking experience and I hated every second of it (give me outdoor running any day), but I felt virtuous as hell as I walked back to the chalet!

I'm very glad to be contributing to this blog, I hope that my amateur slant on everything will amuse the seasoned veterans and encourage anyone who, like me, thought there wasn't a chance in hell of running 5k.

New Contributor: Jenny McClelland

Name: Jenny McClelland
Home Parkrun: Wythenshawe
Date of first Parkrun: March 2010
Total Number of Parkruns: 24
Number of other Parkrun locations run: Bramhall

Number of times volunteered: 4+
My Parkrun history: click here


I started running in 2009 after entering a Cancer Research 5km Race for Life. After a couple of training runs in the three weeks leading up to it I was chuffed when I finished the race in 37:52mins. I was hooked and ready for more!

I started to get bored going out on my own and didn't feel confident enough to join a running club, but after browsing the internet for ideas I stumbled across Parkrun and have never looked back.

After a few emails back and forth to the organiser of the Bramhall Parkrun I was reassured that Parkrun was for everybody, fast and slow, younger and older, and it was the norm for 'newbies' to do a walk/run around the course at their own pace.

I now do a more local parkrun at Wythenshawe which was set up in July 2011. As it's still a fairly new venue the numbers can vary each week, but with the 'regulars' who turn up religiously every Saturday to either run or volunteer, there's a real community feel about the event and you never see anybody without a smile on their face.

Since starting the parkruns in 2010 I've seen my speed increase by over 11 minutes and I've made a lot of new friends of all ages. It's also given me the confidence to progress onto 10km races, join my local running club, and train for a half marathon.

If you've not done a Parkrun before then give it a go, I promise you'll get hooked too!!

...and they're off!

On 12 February 2011, wearing a pair of clapped-out trainers, a matching set of 'holiday' shorts and t-shirt and some 'sports' socks I presented myself at Oldham parkrun...

...and much to my dismay, the place was deserted! Hmm - well it was still quite early (around 8am), so I decided to have a walk round the park. Strange how hills don't seem all that bad when you are strolling along!

On my second lap of the park, I noticed a guy in a tracksuit carrying some sort of equipment heading for the band stand area known locally as the Lion's Den (probably something to do with the stone lions on either side of the structure!) and headed towards him.

"Parkrun?", I asked (in those days I didn't realise it was pronounced with a small 'p')

"Yeah, we start at 9", came the reply. "I'm Mark. I'm the Race Director."

A couple of minutes later, a couple arrived, picked up one of the bags Mark had brought, said "Good Morning" and set off up the path to the side of the Den. This was my introduction to the world of parkrun volunteering - although it was quite a while before I actually put my name forward for duties. Tony and Angie have been involved with Oldham parkrun since the early days and continue (whenever possible) to arrive early and put out the signs.

As the time approached 08:45, I mentioned that it seemed a bit quiet. Mark assured me that there wasn't any reason to worry and that people usually start arriving 'any minute now'. As if they had been waiting in the wings for the cue, half a dozen people seemed to appear from out of nowhere. Then a few more arrived, and a couple here and there and in next to no time there were about 25 of us (most of whom had either nodded my way or introduced themselves) and a few minutes later, we all started to line up at the start.

Mark read out the day's notices and then explained the course in detail. He explained that we only had a couple of marshalls and so there wouldn't be one at the second point and to be sure to follow the signs. With the sponsor notifications and future local events out of the way, it was time to run! I must admit, I had 'butterflies' - something I hadn't experienced since my schooldays (more years ago than I care to admit!)

As we set off, I decided that somewhere not too far from the front would be OK...and ran the first couple of hundred metres at a comfortable pace. Following the lead runners up a sharp chicane-like incline first to the left and veering to the right, we reach a steady climb. And I didn't even make it to the first park bench before I had slowed to walking pace. Not the ideal start to my new running career but one that soon taught me to respect the course and learn how to run it. As we reach the top of the first climb, the signs send us right and onto the long, sweeping downhill stretch. This was more like it! By the time it levelled out a little, I was fighting for breath and had to slow right down - repeat lesson about knowing the course etc. The course was well sign-posted and taking the right-angled left onto a short downhill, I could already see we were turning right at the bottom and positioned myself accordingly. Rounding the turn and crossing the bridge, we start to ascend...quite gently at first but gradually getting steeper. About halfway up the hill, I'm back to walking and beginning to question my sanity! But, I can see the nice flat bit coming up and put on a bit of an effort, only to discover they hid another little hill behind some bushes! And finally, I'm on the 'flat'. Oh, yeah? Ya think? It turns out that even though it is relatively flat, there is a slight incline which is quite unforgiving to those struggling to get round. As we approach the Lion's Den to complete the first lap, the rest of the volunteers are all shouting their encouragement and the spring comes back into your step. Knowing what to expect on the second lap at least allows you to form some sort of plan, though I swear that the hills were steeper this time round! Even worse, half way up the long sweeping hill, I was 'lapped'.

I was seriously considering calling it quits as I approached the Lion's Den for the second time but the finishing funnel was out and the volunteers were again out in force, cheering the stragglers (for by now, that is what I'd become!) and coming the other way to complete the run was Tony who'd put out the signs earlier. I dug in and set off for the final lap. This was just as punishing but as we reach the top of the sweep, and about half way up the 'hidden' hill, the marshal directed me up a small pathway - Woodland Walk. I had no hesitation interpretting this as an instruction and slowed my pace accordingly! The marshall shouted something to the effect that this was the last bit and I responded by breaking into a trot again. By this time, my legs were the consistency of warm jelly and I was back to walking. It took me several weeks before I ever managed to run that last little trail and I still don't look forward to it even after 40 odd times! Coming off the trail, we run around to the right, downhill all the way and as you hit the 'home straight' you can't help but try and raise a bit of a sprint finish. To be honest, there wasn't much difference between my sprint and the rest of the run but I felt I had made the effort. I finished the course in 31:02 and was 16th home of 21 participants.

I'm not saying that I was immediately transformed by my experiences - I didn't even learn my lesson as the following week, I ended up going even slower! What I did discover was a group of like-minded people, all willing to help out in making Saturday parkrun an enjoyable experience for the fit and not-so-fit alike. I made several new friends that day...not least of which was parkrun!

100 Coventry Parkruns

100 Parkruns for Coventry and Debs first!

It was so good to see the cricketers and the super hero today shame I couldn't dress up as I had to drop Debs home and then go straight to work!

Debs has done a lot of big running events and was pleasantly shocked to see how well the parkrun was managed and supported. She was surprised to see so many runners with different abilities and well they all interacted and supporting each other. I think she really felt the atmosphere we all feel. Not surprisingly she is coming back next week and looking to beat her time!

It was really good to run with Debs and a honour to introduce her to the Parkrun!

Thank You Coventry!!

Coventry 100th Parkrun 14/1/2012

Alarm set for 8am as usual on a Saturday, the sky seemed a lot lighter than it had done over the past few weeks. Makes you feel much better when the mornings get lighter. By 8.40 I was dressed and prepared for the 100^th Parkrun at Coventry, my 60^th run.

On reaching the start line my first sight was of the lads in their cricket whites bearing the slogan 100 not out! This was followed by the appearance of a superhero. Felt ashamed that I had not even put on my tradition tutu for this memorable event. Note to self must do better for the 2^nd birthday event in February. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Anyway onto to the run itself, weather was fantastic chilly to start but you soon warmed up once running. Started the race well running alongside a fellow Massey club runner, unfortunately dropped off during the 3^rd km, have always struggled on the hill beside the tennis courts. Found the energy to do a final sprint passing at least 2 runners before crossing the finish line.

Sadly no Parkrun for me next week as going away with the cubs, scouts and explorers, did look up the closest Parkrun to the youth hostel but too far away.

100 Not Out!

Coventry parkrun celebrated it's one hundredth event today in a very crisp and wintry War Memorial park.

A couple of days ago some bright spark (my brother Andy) had the idea to mark the 100th event by running in fancy dress. Thinking "100?", Andy (obviously!) came up with cricketers and of course batsmen (scoring a century) so a few us discussed turning up as cricketers. Turning up in whites would not be enough though, oh no, we had to wear full cricket whites, cap, batting gloves, "100 NOT OUT" signs and, of course, a bat! Foolishly five of us agreed!

I would have to say that running with a cricket bat is not to be advised. Cricket bats are actually quite heavy, and runners around you need their wits about them as you switch arms every few hundred yards. I'm not sure if it was the different running action, or perhaps the build up of ice on the bat itself, but the bat gradually felt heavier and heavier!

Cricketer runners have to be very careful of other runners - no one wants a cricket bat in the face when out for a parkrun. Luckily we managed to avoid almost everyone. I did manage to catch Andy at one stage, but that was just to slow him down a bit - only joking Andy!

Knowing that we wouldn't be looking at PBs this week three of us agreed to run together. Unfortunately for me that meant that I was the weak link, slowing the other two down. To be honest I think we all just enjoyed the run waving our bats at anyone willing to clap of cheer us and we weren't at all bothered by the time, finishing in a very respectable 21:29 as it turns out. Not bad given the outfits and carrying those bats!

We tried our best to pose for the cameras where possible with a few decent shots on the official photos. A bit of a mix-up, forward defensive and saluting at the same time:

Completing the run:

Hopefully we brought a few smiles to peoples faces. It was certainly a great deal of fun, but the next time someone suggests I do a parkrun carrying a lump of wood, I may have to think twice before saying yes.

Me and My first Parkrun

So here I am the night before my first parkrun and I am excited to say the least.I have been a recreational runner for the last 5 years, running the occasional 10k race a couple of Great South Runs and a half marathon chucked in. Then after a couple of unsuccessful ballot attempts to the London Marathon , I decided to run the 2011 London Marathon for a great local charity. This was an amazing experience and despite a slight knee kniggle between miles 15 and 19, all went well and I finished in 4:43:03. As soon as I crossed the line I knew that I truly did love to run and that I could continue to do this. So in December I decided that I would set myself a challenge to run at least 2 miles everyday in 2012 ( this will include my first parkrun on January 14th and the London Marathon again on April 22nd). I will try and blog every week after the parkrun and give some insight onto how the race has gone and also an update on the runstreet 365 challenge. Thanks for reading and speak to you soon !Chris.

A Landmark Weekend for parkrun

Unless there is a massive downturn in the number of parkrunners attending parkrun events across the UK and around the world this weekend, we will see a couple of major parkrun milestones reached.

Way back at parkrun's humble beginnings in 2004, when just 13 runners took part in the first event in Bushy Park, who could possibly have foreseen the incredible growth ahead and the way that parkrun has captured the imagination of runners and non-runners alike across the country (and more recently around the world)?

Only this week parkrun has been awarded the Best 5k Event in The Running Bug's 2011 Awards. This and other awards shows the amazing impact that parkrun is having on the running scene in this country.

And now my attention must turn to the impressive statistics that have caught a few people's eyes this week. Last weekend saw a parkrun event with 1000 finishers for the first time ever, fittingly at Bushy park where it all began. However, the stats that follow are the reason for this blog post and signify why this will be a landmark weekend for parkrun.

The current stats for parkrun are as follows:
- Number of Runs: 993,639
- Total Distance Run: 4,968,195 km
- Total Run Time: 49Yrs, 203Days, 7Hrs, 38Mins, 0Secs

My maths skills may not be a slick as they used to be, but this means we only need 6361 finishers this weekend to reach the magical figure of 1,000,000 finished parkruns (and yes I did use a calculator, but only to be sure of the figure I had already written - honestly!). It doesn't take a genius to realise that this will also mean a total of 5,000,000 kilometers run (5 x 1 I can manage by myself).

As a complete coincidence, it just so happens that we will also pass the 50 years of total running time this weekend. That is unless far fewer of us turn up and/or we all run at world record pace. Perhaps we have 10,000 parkrunners up for doing a sub-18 minute parkrun this weekend? No, I thought not, maybe next weekend for that one!

This means it is pretty much inevitable that both these landmarks figures will be reached this weekend.

These are incredibly impressive figures and I hope that parkrun shout these from the rooftops as they are symbolic of just how well parkrun has taken off in the last couple of years. It can't be much more than a year ago, I think, that Crispy announced that we had reached the half a million run mark.

With the doubling of event numbers and runners year on year, I suspect that these figures will also continue to double at a similar pace in the future.

Ok, so what, they are just numbers I hear you cry. But unless I'm mistaken I think many parkrunners are into their numbers: personal PBs, 50/100/250 events run, event anniversaries etc, etc.

Just think for a minute though, in 5 years time these figures will almost certainly seem pretty insignificant in comparison as I'm sure we will pass into tens of millions of runs and hundreds of millions of kilometers (wow, don't those figures sound impressive!).

Happy parkrunning this weekend everyone, we should all be very proud of ourselves and these landmarks!

PS. For the real stats fans out there, this all means that we have a collective average parkrun time of just under 26:14. I think we should all try very hard and work as a team to bring this down over the coming months!

My 100th Freedom parkrun

I ran another couple of freedom parkruns today, which finally saw me join the freedom parkrun 100 club.

Though this isn't actually an officially recognised parkrun club, I am still very pleased with myself. It's taken roughly 16 months I think.

According to some stats supplied by freedom parkrun king, the fantastic Mr Ken Fox (267+), this makes me the third centurion of freedom parkruns. Following a long way behind Ken himself and a bit closer behind my brother Andy (about 125).

If you don't know already, a freedom parkrun is a 5km run on a parkrun course at some time other than 9 am on a Saturday morning. Simple. I can recommend them highly.

It was a lovely day to do a freedom parkrun today. The temperature must have been over 10C and it was certainly warm enough for shorts and a short sleeve top. More like spring than winter. I took a look at photos from exactly a year ago today and we were building snowmen in the back garden!

So will we (Andy, myself or anyone else) ever catch up with Ken in the freedom parkrun table? Not that a table exists (apart from the one I imagine to be in a frame on Ken's wall). I can't see anyone catching Ken for sometime. I'm not sure I have it in me. It will certainly take a concerted effort.

Anyone out there fancy trying to catch Ken or break into the freedom parkrun 100 club this year?

New Contributor: Colin Scooby Doo Rowley





Colin Scooby Doo ROWLEY

Name: Colin Scooby Doo Rowley

Home parkrun: Coventry War Memorial Park
Date of first parkrun: 24/07/2010
Total Number of parkruns: 60

Number of other parkrun locations run: 1 I have ran at pollock park in Glasgow twice

Number of times volunteered: 6 times when I was injured but never got accepted only because at this period in time we had so many volunteers everyone wanted to support the parkrun! To be honest I only wanted something to do to take me mind of the fact I wasnt running as I am not a very good supporter. I get mardy and grumpy I'm not a good advert for the parkrun. "SORRY!"

My parkrun history http://www.parkrun.org.uk/athleteresultshistory?AthleteNumber=83332

What I can never understand is why people run through the week and train and pay to enter races. "WHY?"
The parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5km, friendly, challenging and well organised by fantastic local volunteers. "What more can you want?"

I think Coventry is the best parkrun but then I'm bias.
Because of the family atmosphere mainly due to the Douglas family to me they are the parkrun.
I see every one at the parkrun as part of me family because its the only time I'm really happy from 8.30 till 10.30 Saturday morning! You have probably gathered I'm a bit of a moody and selfish!
I aint really got many mates but at the parkrun for a couple of hours a week I have few!

I don't tend to go for times at the parkrun because I wont it to last while so I tend to start at the back and have a bit of fun!

I some times worry what some people think of me and Baloo me mate. We tend to get a bit carried away with the banter. "I hope people don't find us to annoying!"
Got to be honest i find Baloo really annoying all this high five rubbish! "Whats that all about?"
You don't see me making a fool of myself like that.

I love watching the fast guys going round in the sub 20mins I may do it one day just to show you guys that I can run!

But even more I love watching the slower runners and non runners having ago!
I like to start at the last and get in with the slower runners to try and help and encourage them to improve and reach their goals!

Any way better get of now you lot have probabily had enough!

All the best
Scooby

Fledgling Parkrun Tourist

Name: Richard Hill
Home parkrun: Brueton, Solihull
Date of first parkrun: 21/05/2011
Total Number of parkruns: 31
Number of other parkrun locations run: 6 – Cannon Hill, Coventry, Killerton,Bushy, Nonsuch, Riddlesdown
Number of times volunteered: 3 (must do better)
My parkrun history: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/athleteresultshistory?athleteNumber=147284

To the bewilderment of my nearest and dearest, I leftSolihull at 6am on New Year’s Day, with my bike in the back of the car, boundfor Bushy Park and the parkrun “Trifecta”. The only explanation I could offerthem; “It’s calling me”.

Ok, so why not just run 3 times in Brueton park then I was asked? Why goto London? A good question.

I think it’s because I’m a numbers man. A run in the parknow, is just training. It has to count towards something, sort of like adding anothernotch to the bed post. The opportunity to get 3 new notches, at 3 locations, onone day, and not even a Saturday at that, was just too much to resist.

I use to be like this following Birmingham City. I had to doevery game in the season, count the away grounds I had visited etc. If youthink giving it everything you’ve got in a 5k parkrun is punishment, trywatching Blues for a whole season.

So, Bushy park started at 9am, Nonsuch at 10am, andRiddlesdown at 11am. And apparently some people were going to bike it betweenlocations. Wow! Awesome!

Once at Bushy, I did find other cyclists who knew where theywere going, fit triathlete types they were, but not surprisingly they were allgoing to be long gone by the time I had finished the Bushy 5k in 24 minutes.

Reluctantly then I stuck to the car, and it was a good jobtoo. I still got lost and after legging it half a kilometre from the wrong carpark, I missed the start at Nonsuch park. I caught up with the tail runnerafter a couple of minutes though, and eventually finished the run in a recordedtime of 27 minutes.

Then more stress trying to find Riddlesdown, but I made iton time, and dragged myself round the extremely muddy course, in a personalworst time of over 28 minutes. Great fun though!

Amongst my numerical goals for 2012, I want to do each ofthe 9 midland parkruns at least once by bike. No doubt there will be morestrife to report in the weeks ahead then J

New contributor: Simon Bruce Lake

Name: Simon Bruce Lake
Home parkrun: Oldham
Date of first parkrun: 12 February 2011
Total Number of parkruns: 40 (as of 7 January 2012)
Number of other parkrun locations run: None - yet!
Number of times volunteered: 25
My parkrun history: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/oldham/results/athletehistory?AthleteNumber=83952

They say that life begins at 40...well, if it does then I had more than my fair share of practice for the main event! At the time, I was a 'weekend alcholic binge drinker' and a 50 a day smoker. At the age of 43, I had 3 strokes - only minor but losing the use of one side of your body for even less than a week is a bit of a wake-up call! The weekend drinking became the monthly binge and then the occasional binge but the smoking was a bit more of a challenge. At the ripe old age of 9 (yes - nine) I had my first cigarette and it was disgusting! But I got caught in the act and my dad decided to teach me a lesson by having me smoke 20 Capstan Full Strength one after the other! Apparently, after throwing up a couple of times, kids learn their lesson and stay clear of the evil weed...or they become hopelessly addicted to nicotine! Even after nature's warning, I continued to smoke. It wasn't until I changed jobs that I finally managed to kick the habit. But as everyone knows, every silver lining has a cloud...and my cloud arrived in style - an additional 4 stones in weight in less than a year. My wardrobe was now looking like a Primark rack with waist sizes 28 through 38 and I decided that enough was enough!

In 2007, several people from work decided it would be great to run for Sport Relief. I immediately signed up for the 3 miles version. The reasoning behind this was that if I signed up for one mile, I would probably not bother with training and just turn up on the day. To do 3 miles was more of a challenge! It turned out that everyone else 'forgot' to register in time or thought that somebody else had registered us as a team! I was on my own! I have to say that guilt is a brilliant fund-raising tactic and helped to take the total above the £1000 mark. The run was switched at the last minute from the roads to a local sports track and I actually ran 5k because it was easier to calculate! This gave me my first ever 5k time of 28' 22" and got me thinking about taking up running.

After much Googleing and a fair amount of procrastination, I signed up to Oldham parkrun on 22 July 2010...but around that time I was going through a depression phase of Bi-polar disorder and didn't go. Towards the end of the year, we were offered a corporate gym membership provided we could get enough people to sign up and I decided that this might be a good step towards shedding some of the excess baggage I was still toting. I tried spinning but that just gave be a sore bum! I tried lots of different equipment in the gym but nothing seemed to be geared to losing weight and the treadmills were often occupied by 'fit' people pounding out a few miles. Instead, I discovered Zumba! I can highly recommend Zumba classes for getting a bit of motivation into your workouts. But something was still missing...

On 12 February 2011, wearing a pair of clapped-out trainers, a matching set of 'holiday' shorts and t-shirt and some 'sports' socks I presented myself at Oldham parkrun...

To be continued...

Andy sees a chance to win a parkrun

Chances to win a parkrun don't come along too often for people like us.

parkrun is far from being about winning, but someone has to come first and if any of us thought we had a realistic chance to come first, most of us would probably give it a good go.

Andy and I tried our hands at a quick Audio blog to discuss Andy's chance to be first at Coventry parkrun this weekend. Click here to listen to the Audio blog.

It may not be that slick, but it was our first effort at an Audio blog, we are amateurs and amazingly we did this in one take! You will probably be able to tell! Don't worry, if this Audio blog doesn't go down well, we won't do it again.

New Contributor: Ali Virgo

Name: Ali Virgo
Home parkrun: Coventry
Date of first parkrun: 04/09/2010
Total Number of parkruns: 29
Number of other parkrun locations run: 3 - Leamington, Poole and Sewerby (Bridlington)
Number of times volunteered: 7 or 8, I think!
My parkrun history: http://www.parkrun.org.uk/coventry/results/athletehistory?AthleteNumber=85190

Me? I am now more than 'middle aged'! I hated running long distance at school (100 metres was far enough) but then ran in my twenties and did the London Marathon in 1985, then had my two wonderful children and was too busy (lazy?!) to exercise so nothing since then, until three years ago.

Started exercising to help with my CFS, which I've had for seven years now. I am 'almost' well and consider myself lucky to be able to do the things I do now.I love taking part in the big events, I did the Great North Run in 2009 then in 2010 decided to give triathlon a go, I did two supersprints and a sprint which I loved but the training was too much and I am a rubbish swimmer and always will be!

2011 I was back to running and did the Bristol, Coventry and Birmingham halves to raise money for the Alzheimer's Society. I always run/walk so my times are slow but for me it's the taking part that counts.....

And so to parkrun and what it means to me......

I can't remember where I saw it advertised but I couldn't sign up quickly enough and get down to Memorial Park. When I turned up I was terrified to see all the fast club runners and thought I was out of my league but I needn't have worried, there were others like me there! Unfortunately after that first one I fell off a step (I am known for not looking what I am doing) in Durham the day before the Great North Run and was not only unable to take part but was out of running for two months. I volunteered a few times over that winter and got to know Jason and the 'crew'. My next parkrun was Christmas Day 2010 but it messed my ankle up again so I left it another month before I did my third.

I'm not sure exactly when I got to know the 'Dog & Bear' pair of Colin Scooby Rowley and Baloo Challenor but I'm so glad I did! They encouraged me so much and have the 'spirit of parkrun' which to me is that it is one big family that helps and supports each other. I have done other events with them as well where they have gone much slower than they normally would to help me around. There are also too many other people to mention (one of them I shared a very exciting time with going to do the Windsor Women's 8k, you know who you are!) that have become friends and I value the social side of parkrun as much as the running.

Is it an obsession now? Absolutely! I can't wait to get my 50 shirt some time this year and get a sub 30 :)

Nicola Forwood

Name: Nicola Forwood

Home parkrun: Leeds Hyde Park

First parkrun: 03/11/07
Total parkruns to date: 105
Different parkruns to date: 18
Number of times volunteered to date: 3 or 4 (not enough!)

My parkrun stats: click here

Twitter: @NicolaForwood

Blog: http://nicolaforwood.blogspot.com/

Hi, I’m Nicola, or if you listen to ‘the parkrun show’ then I am Nicola Forwood or ‘She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’! This all started after I made a flippant comment about my parkrun dream being to get a mention on the show, since that dream was achieved I dreamt about entering the 100 club and getting on the ‘Most Events’ table, both of which I have also now achieved. 2012 needs bigger parkrun dreams and believe me I have been dreaming :) sub 25 would be AMAZING and hopefully it’s possible although it’s something I never thought I’d be able to achieve.

I didn’t fall in love with parkrun when we first met. In fact I was not overly enamoured at all. I didn’t parkrun again for over 6 months. In fact, the grand total of parkruns I had under my belt after the whole of 2007 and 2008 was a measly 7! My obsession with parkrun has only really developed in the past two years; I ran 44 parkruns in 2011 taking me into the 100 club on Christmas Eve when I SMASHED my PB of 27.11, running 26.06! I also became a parkrun tourist, running 15 different parkrun courses in the year and I am now fixated on the ‘Most Events’ table and climbing my way up to the top (a girl can dream). parkrun resulted in me joining a run club (the amazing Hyde Park Harriers) and getting a whole new circle of friends, running friends. It's great to have loads of lovely people to run with any day of the week, now my running is not just on a Saturday morning.

This week I was visiting friends in London and their local parkrun was Brockwell which happened to be where ‘the parkrun show’ presenter Danny Norman was running. It was most amusing to witness his OTT introduction; I made good use of my extremely loud whistling, ironic whooping, cheering and clapping; “YEAH DANNY WOOOOOOO”! A good way to start a parkrun; lots of giggling! :) I almost got away with swapping my 0120 tag for Danny’s 0001 tag but unfortunately he noticed! Probably the closest I’ll get to ever winning a parkrun! :D

My favourite part of parkrun is the community feel when having a coffee or going for breakfast afterwards followed in close second by my sprint finish (always my favourite bit of running!). Next week sees a new parkrun starting in York and after then who knows; the parkrun world is my oyster! I hope to meet some of you all on your parkrun journeys……until then, happy parkrunning everyone :)

New Contributor: Jo Hudson

Name: Joanne Hudson
Home parkrun: Banstead Woods, uk
Date of first parkrun: Sept 2011
Total Number of parkruns: 4
Number of other parkrun locations run: 2 (Banstead Woods and Nonsuch Park)
Number of times volunteered: 0

My love of parkrun is probably a lot different to many other parkrunners. I love the feeling of a 'community', and the positivity from all who volunteer and attend. What probably makes me different, is that Parkrun has been one of many contributors in helping me to go from incredibly unfit, very overweight and very very unhappy, to a healthy, slim and very happy woman. I know, it sounds corny, but believe me. I tried running on my own at first and failed. I went to my first Parkrun with a friend and was hooked from then on.
Managing to knock my time down by over 3 minutes feels like a massive achievement, and I honestly don't think I would have done it without Parkrun.
Anyone involved in parkrun deserves a massive pat on the back for making it the unique event it is.
My favourite Parkrun so far has to be Nonsuch. I attended this one on my own, and was greeted by the most friendly volunteer who made me feel very welcome.
One of my new years resolutions is to get my 5k time down to sub 25. I know Pakrun will play a major part in me achieving this.


THANKS PARKRUN. Don't stop doing what you do, or you will have many angry runners chasing you!


Jo

New Contributor: Ruth Mahon

Name: Ruth Mahon
Home Parkrun: Coventry.
Date of first Parkrun: 19 June 2010
Total Number of Parkruns: 59 (as of 7 January 2011)
Number of other Parkrun locations run: 1

Number of times volunteered: 6
My Parkrun history: click here

Here is a very brief overview of my Parkrun journey to date;

A friend told me about the Coventry Parkrun when it first started in February. I looked at the website but decided that getting to the park for a 9am start was not for me! Then another friend mentioned that his wife, Michaela, had signed up and was going to run that Saturday. This spurred me on to signing up and I joined Michaela for our first Parkrun.
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Once I started I found it addictive and have become a regular park runner along with
all those mentioned above and several other work colleagues and friends. After that first run getting up at 8 on a Saturday was no longer a problem.

When I started I spoke only to those people I already knew, however over time I have made many new friends and have recently been inspired to join a local running club. Although I have always done local races, I never used to do the club runs thinking that these were for good runners. Since joining the Parkrun community I have tried to support as many of the club events as I can. I think that the Parkrun has really bought the running community together being supported both by clubs and fun runners alike. Parkrunners do seem to be a very friendly bunch and the support that is given is brilliant.

Ruth.