Before parkrun begins Andrew Richardson welcomes and thanks everyone for coming.
He briefs participants on the route and the process at the finish line, asks any tourist where they might have travelled from and acknowledges any milestones.
This week two volunteers reached significant volunteer milestones Paul Saager 100 and Gary Bower 150.
Without exception the first thing Andrew does is ask everyone to thank the volunteers, because without the volunteers there is no parkrun.
What do the volunteers do? The obvious jobs are setting up, checking the course is safe, and including putting the water urn on so the water is hot enough for teas and coffees when people finish.
Making sure the first aid kit and defibrillator are on hand – just in case! Tidying everything away. Timing everyone which includes the scanners who politely wait while participants sort themselves out.
It’s amazing how difficult it can sometimes be to put two bits of plastic on the table.
The marshals out on the course are there to ensure everyone goes the right way and to deal with any incidents that might occur.
They all have walkie talkies so they can call for help if required. And while they are standing (often in the most inclement weather) they all encourage and cheer the participants on.
A lot of participants smile and thank the marshals as they run or walk round.
According to analysis of 33 global studies into laughter therapy – those chuckling through the session scored eight to 10 points lower for anxiety and 10 to 12 points higher for happiness.
Dr Josephine Perry, a sports psychologist says “runners should listen to this research, as we know smiling is a free and effective exercise improvement tool”.
The writer would like to encourage everyone to smile more at parkrun – use the marshals and the volunteers in the finishing tunnel as your reminder to increase your smileage.
Remember also those who come in behind you, and unless you are the tail walker there is always someone behind you.
Pacers (including the parkwalker) and the tail walkers are running or walking at a slower pace than they might otherwise do in order to assist and encourage other participants. Whether you get a PB or not maybe give them a smile and a thank you, or even stand along the finish line and encourage slower participants home.
You’ll get way more back than you give.
330 people completed the parkrun on Saturday supported by 40 volunteers for full details visit www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/results/542/
