The Hanley parkrun Half Marathon

In case you are worried by the title, this isn't a parkrun rebellion against the 5km Saturday morning challenge. We just wanted to let parkrunners know about a special event happening in and around Stoke-on-Trent over the next two weeks, which joins up with Hanley parkrun on Saturday 7th April 2012.

Phil Thomas, also known as the 6 Towns Runner, is a Hanley parkrun regular. He is currently preparing for the incredible challenge of running 12 half marathons in 12 days around the highways and byways of the 6 towns of Stoke-on-Trent and surrounding villages. His efforts are in support of the Donna Louise Children's Hospice and if you want to know what has inspired him to take on this challenge, read his very moving blog post: Can you remember when you first saw the sky?

On day 11, he'll be running his half marathon for that day around the Hanley parkrun course. He's planning to start at around 7am and lots of the Hanley parkrunners will be there to support him as he runs laps of the parkrun course. Some parkrunners will be completing the half marathon with him, others just a few extra laps of the park. Some people will just be there for support and others will complete the regular parkrun with him as he completes the half marathon distance.

And as its Easter Saturday, there may be a few Easter Eggs hidden around the course for eagle-eyed runners to collect as they complete the parkrun.

If you'd like to support the 6 Towns Runner or you're interesting in trying out Hanley parkrun, then Saturday 7th April would be a great day to come for a visit. It might be a little bit different than usual, but you are welcome to join the 6 Towns Runner for the Hanley parkrun Half Marathon. Don't forget to register for parkrun if you've never taken part before. Fancy dress optional - but you know its more fun when you take part in a parkrun dressed as a chicken, bunny or Easter egg. Just ask the Huddersfield Running Bunny!

And if you'd like to read more about the 6 Towns challenge, and offer encouragement and support as the half marathon miles clock up then there are lots of ways to keep in touch:

- The 6TownsRun*2 website and blog contains details of all the routse for the 12 half marathons: http://www.phil-thomas.co.uk/index.html
- Follow on Twitter: @6TownsRunner (https://twitter.com/#!/6townsrunner)
- Like on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-6-Towns-Run-X-2/104178359617729

Watch out for the 6 Towns Runner and hope you can join us at Hanley parkrun soon,

LizT

parkrun tourist virgin

This weekend family circumstances took me to Birmingham. Despite lots to do I was determined not to miss a parkrun unless the world as we know it came to an end. So on Saturday morning I headed to cannon Hill Park, Birmingham for my fist stint as a parkrun tourist.

I turned into a bit of a family affair. My Mum (72) came to watch. I have tried to persuade her that its never too late to start running but she'll have none of it. It was also a chance to meet up with my nephew Chris, who introduced me to parkrun before Christmas.

I have fond memories of Cannon Hill Park. I grew up in Birmingham and spent many hours at the park as a child. It formed an important part of my courting days when I first met my husband and I used to take my own son there when he was young enough to think adventure playgrounds were fun. Its a beautiful park close to to the city centre with lakes, an old historic building in the grounds and two cafes - one in a newly refurbished Arts centre.

I still get nervous before every parkrun. This week the nerves were as bad as the first week I ever attended my home run in Coventry. I'd looked at the results pages for cannon Hill and was pretty certain I wouldn't come last, but the times seemed fast. Its close to the Uni as well so it attracts a lot of club runners. Within minutes of arriving one of the volunteers came up to me to ask if it was my first time. I explained it was my 14 (13th as a runner) but first time at this venue. He explained how the course worked, where the start and finish were and told me where he would be standing as a marshall - just at the bottom of the hill of the final stretch.

The briefing was done at the assembly point, not the start line. People who had achieved their 50 and 10 shorts had their names read out and celebrated in a mini awards ceremony. there was a young lad, Joseph, who was running his 50 parkrun that day so we were all introduced to him and asked to encourage him round the course.

The course itself is two laps round the park. On the second lap there is a slight detour down the cycling path parallel with the river. Its a long straight stretch there and back and lends itself to achieving a pretty decent time I imagine. On the approach to the finishing line the event director for the day was standing cheering every one up the hill for the last few metres.

i had a brilliant morning. While my heart stays with Coventry parkrun I will go back to cannon Hill whenever I am in Birmingham. I will also try and venture to other parkruns now that I am no longer a parkrun tourist virgin!