Participation
This morning’s parkrun activities started super early. I went to do the course check before conducting the new runners welcome and then donning the parkwalker vest. A triad of parkun volunteering activities.
There is a broad range of volunteer activities that can be done at parkrun. Some like the pre-course check are solitary and others such as park walking are much more social. All activities are rewarding, develop additional skills and can boost your confidence/well-being. My conversations with people when park walking have been as enriching as discussing personal bests and podium appearances 😀
One of today’s volunteers was using parkrun volunteering as the volunteering component of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DOE). The DOE is a great achievement for the participant and is well-recognised by employers and University entrance examiners.
Remembrance
Talking to Petra, a Burgess parkrun regular also walking this week, she told me about the Remembrance Day Marathon and Half-Marathon event she’d completed along the Thames last Sunday. She described how at 1100 all the volunteers on the route blew a horn signalling everybody to stop for 2mins silence. The two-minute silence is a time for reflection and to show respect and gratitude to the armed forces, past and present who have lost their lives fighting for this country. It’s a tradition which began in 1919 one year after the end of the First World War and is honoured at this event. After 2mins the volunteers all blew their horns twice, the signal for everyone to start running again. She described it as very moving with people not running also participating in the 2mins silence. I love how running can be such a connecting and uplifting force.
Parkrun anniversary!
Parkrun holds details of how many times you’ve run and how many times you’ve volunteered. However, the 5k App also shows you how many events you’ve attended in total. This might be a different total figure if you’ve volunteered at Junior parkrun events.
Although you can only register officially for a parkrun from your 4th birthday, I’ve kept track of my daughter’s parkrun attendance figures. Today is her first parkrun anniversary with a total of 53 ‘adult’ parkruns and 12 ‘junior’ parkruns which makes a total attendance of 65 for her first year! From events in Finland, USA and 14 events all over England, including a winery it’s been quite the year of adventure for her.
Next week there will be more participation and remembrance at first Mile End parkrun and then over to Victoria Park for the World AIDS Day RED RUN.
Stay well, enjoy your broccoli and happy running
Can't wait until she walks/runs her first Parkrun!! YSTC
65 park runs in her first year! Way to go Nisha 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Nisha could be a record holder already!
Congrats Nisha - you are a star 🤩💜🫂
Thanks for another lovely summary. Happy parkrun anniversary to Nisha 😉