As the year draws to a close exactly 300 runners turned out on a slightly sunny morning to tackle the two laps of Penrith parkrun.
With the new year around the corner and resolutions waiting to be made, this week we are having a look at what sort of people do ‘the parkrun.’
Steve is a first time parkrunner who has just moved to Penrith.
Having been a runner all his life he has decided to join the parkrun family and as with all first first timers he achieved a personal best.
In complete contrast Colin is our regular park walker. He is one of our unsung heroes as he walks the course at a brisk pace offering words of cheerful encouragement to all and sundry. One of the nicest men you’ll ever meet.
You encounter people from all over the world at parkrun.
We have had people from Australia New Zealand , South Africa and the USA and often welcome Scots, Welsh and Irish people from nearer home.
Today Sarah and Jordan were the representatives from Belfast and Bea represented Mongolia (although she does live in Penrith now).
Freya was driving home for Christmas from Glasgow to Devon and stopped off on the way. We even had a couple of visitors from Lapland – a reindeer and a Christmas tree (aka Ali and Cathy).
And finally if you are worried that you might be last, the really good news is that you absolutely won’t be.
Every parkrun has tail-walkers whose job is to exhibit sheepdog like tenacity in ensuring that everyone is encouraged to the finish line where they then fill the final position of the day.
Our magnificent tail-walkers are Linda and Stephen.
Linda is a lovely charming lady who marshals every week with her husband Nick.
Stephen is an effective chap who takes his duties seriously, keeps a keen eye out for any incidents on the course and lets the course marshals know when they can stand down.
