What makes you get out of bed on a Saturday morning? For me it’s my weekly parkrun fix.
I don’t always feel like getting up early (to volunteer and run) often yearning for that lie-in. But I always get a buzz afterwards and always glad that I made the effort.
So, what could parkrun do for you? I asked regular volunteer Ruth Evans and parkrunner and first-time volunteer Abigail Jardine why parkrun?
Ruth doesn’t run, she has fibromyalgia which causes her muscle pain and fatigue, but has been volunteering every week for over a year and loves it.
Loves the atmosphere, loves the determination she sees and finds it inspirational. “It’s really lovely, like a big family,” she said.
Ruth scans the participants’ barcodes once they’ve finished so sees the delight (mostly) of the finishers. Son Mark, 10, loves it too.
Ruth says it’s so encouraging for young people with support and cheering from the volunteer marshals. You can see how Mark Evans did this week here.
Abigail Jardine shared her story with me too:
Four years ago, I found myself “broken” outside Lowther Castle having completed the Macmillan Mighty Hike around Ullswater.
I’d never walked anywhere near that distance and wasn’t particularly ‘active’. I’d just had an awful year. Mum and mother-in-law both had cancer within six months of each other. Mum survived but unfortunately, we lost my mother-in-law. When people ask me why I run or how I got into it I reply with ‘to get fitter’. This is part true, running has given much more.
I was 35, not fit and had no idea how I was meant to deal with all the emotions of caring for two of the most important people in my life.
My husband and best friend are runners. Both of them said come along to parkrun, you can do it, loads of people do it and not everyone runs.
So, because they wouldn’t stop ‘nagging’ me I reluctantly went along. I got round and I enjoyed it, my time if you’re wondering was around 40 minutes.
However, something else happened that I didn’t expect. My head switched off from all the emotions I’d been having. It was just me. Running. With an overwhelming sense of achievement at the end and a big smile! I thought I could get into this running thing! I’ve never thought of myself as a runner. I used to worry about what I looked like, that people would think ‘why is she running?’
Slowly, with the support of all those friendly parkrunners and others three things happened. My confidence improved. Running helped me to feel happy again. My fitness improved.
Sharing this on a wet Saturday after volunteering for the first time at parkrun, four years after that immensely challenging long walk, I’ve completed an ultra-marathon last year and four 20-plus milers this spring. I still feel nervous at the start but I’m in such a better place – because four years ago I was brave enough to go along to Parkrun! If you’re reading this having never ran, I’d like to say, just keep putting one foot in front of the other, be kind to yourself and most of all SMILE! Happy running everyone!
At Saturday’s parkrun, 232 people walked or ran and 27 volunteers made it possible. Forty-four were at Penrith parkrun for the first time. Finishing times were between 16:08 (Harry Lancaster) and 55:08. Amy Jaramazovic was first lady home in 19:13. Come on – give it a go, you know you want to.
