It was a lovely, clear morning when I arrived down at Frenchfield to help the other volunteers set up for parkrun.
My task was to grab a bin bag and litter picker and go round the football pitches picking up discarded items such as a pair of gloves, two banana skins, lots of plastic tape screwed up into balls, water bottles and empty coke cans cast aside by the football teams who use the pitches through the week.
Next week is a very special date as it is the 10th anniversary of the first Penrith parkrun. There will be teas, coffees and cakes and it is hoped that some new faces will come to Frenchfield to celebrate this event.
For me, parkrun is all about the people, so when I am reporter this means me going up and accosting people, asking where they are from and why they are here.
My first targets were Julie and Chris Patterson from Bingley who were in the area to celebrate Julie’s retirement. Julie had planned to swim but the people she planned to swim with had wimped out so she decided to run her first parkrun at Penrith instead. Have a very happy retirement with lots of parkruns, Julie!
Julie Blundell used to be a regular at Penrith parkrun but this was her first time back since before the pandemic. Julie has signed up to do the Carlisle 10k next month to raise funds for Hospice at Home. She came to parkrun looking for inspiration, motivation and to increase her fitness.
Sheena Wilkinson from Washington, in the North East, comes to stay at Ullswater Heights and always fits in Penrith parkrun. She describes herself as a February regular!
Hayley Wood is an Eden Runner but is currently out of action with a broken ankle so she came along to volunteer with three-year-old daughter, June and to cheer on daddy, Jonny Howe and the other parkrunners. June loved volunteering with her mother and giving high fives!
For Jennifer Percival from Leeds, today was her second official parkrun (she had done one without a barcode) and she is park walking and jogging to increase her fitness. She had left her family asleep in bed at Center Parcs to enjoy perfect parkrun conditions at Frenchfield.
parkrun cannot take place without our wonderful team of volunteers who turn up every Saturday so that others can run, jog or walk 5k. One of our regulars is time keeper, Karrie Mundell, who always greets finishers with a big smile.
February is a tough time of year as the days are still often dark and short and the weather can be challenging. It is really good to get outside in the fresh air so why not venture down to Frenchfield for 9am on a Saturday morning and make some new friends.
If running or walking is not for you, why not volunteer? We can never have too many marshals out on the course, cheering on the participants who will be grateful for your encouragement! To find out more, visit https://www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/
A full list of volunteers, participants and results can be found at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/results/latestresults/
