In some circles, completing 50 different parkruns was referred to as completing a ‘cow’. The first person to complete 100 different parkruns was Chris Cowell, with the term ‘The Cowell Club’ coined by Danny Norman, on the parkrun show back in 2015. With ‘cow-cowl’ sounding like ‘Cow-Cowell’, the Cow-Cowell club/challenge was born.
Once you have completed 20 different parkruns and joined the UK parkrun Tourists Group on Facebook, you can request a code enabling you to buy the now legendary cow-headed buff and bobble hats, which have no parkrun branding, that you may see people wearing at events. Whilst 20 enables entry, 100 is the real goal. This Cow Cowell buff is like a masonic way for ‘tourists’ to spot each other in ‘the field’ and swap stories about other events. It has become a quintessential eccentric dimension of parkrun, and I LOVE IT!
I set the goal to complete 100 different events at the beginning of 2023, and today at Cyclopark parkrun, I looked forward to reaching this milestone.
Being 33k from my home I set off at 0630, needing to catch a train to Ebbsfleet from St Pancras station at 0734. I set out in weather that otters would complain about being too wet. However, as Tim Ferris has written, ‘...when someone says you’re doing something ridiculous you know you’re on the right track’.
I arrived in Ebbsfleet to now near-apocalyptic conditions. Getting the bus and having arrived early we took shelter in the nearby Morrisons before venturing over to the start.
The start and the whole course are on a section of route 177 National Cycle Network, a smooth tarmac course behind the Morrissons. It’s effectively two loops on itself. There’s one section/segment that has a good downhill which feels great, but in total, it’s 40m of elevation. Coming back up the climb the second time feels like climbing a mountain.
The volunteer team were very welcoming, with the Event Director, Steve Smith, acknowledging Alice Newstead, who was completing her 100th run, joining the 100 club and Darren Wood, who was completing his 872nd parkrun. Darren currently holds the accolade of having completed the most parkruns in the world! And a shout out to Jonathan Crowle, who was running today but has volunteered an amazing 850 times!
The timekeepers counted us down, and then all 136 of us splished and sploshed away. The rain had been so unrelenting it was unable to drain away quickly enough making most of the course one big puddle. The first finisher was surely aided by his canine friend, who dragged him to a personal best, probably so he could get home quickly!
It was such a warm and friendly volunteer team epitomised by their collection for Willow Dene School Food Bank. We hadn't known about their collection, but after completing the run, we were able to pop over to Morrisons and pick up some dry goods to add to what the regulars had brought.
This had been the perfect parkrun to complete my 100th different event, particularly with such Seasonal goodwill in the air; thank you, Cyclopark parkrun.
Next week I’ll be returning to my home parkrun, Burgess parkrun, for a spot of volunteering, banana bringing and seasonal greetings to all.
Whilst most of us were sheltering in our homes you took up another chalkengibg run. Well done! Such an uplifting read.