Feedback from the Field

Let me extend an invitation to you to take just four minutes out of your busy schedule, maybe during a coffee break, to find out why a parkrun is more than just a Saturday morning run or walk.

At present I am a very inexperienced parkrunner, having only completed my 19th parkrun on 12 March 2022.

I was invited to my first parkrun on 30 October 2021, this was when the parkrun events were emerging from the dark days of lockdown. I can still clearly remember the experience. I have never been a runner by nature so this was a relatively ‘new’ experience.

I managed to walk around the course in 66:22 and kept the Tail Walker company! I have to admit the bug bit me on that walk when I realised there was much more to this event than just getting yourself around the course.

I found that parkrun was providing me a way to challenge and grow myself both physically and mentally. Ultimately, a parkrun is you against yourself and the joy you derive from the experience.

I knew I had to start getting fitter to enjoy the physical side of running much more. For the first time ever, this led me to start jogging in the early morning, before the day got started. Other than the physical and health benefits of slowly getting fitter, I found it also cleared my mind, allowing me to focus more on the day ahead. I also recognised that in comparison to exercising on my own, parkrun provides a social environment where you can chat and have fun with others while running, jogging or walking.

These thoughts led me to start volunteering every second week, starting out as a Tail Walker and then trying various other volunteering roles.

It was then that I realised parkrun was so much more than just about the run or walk on the day. It is about other ways of taking part and an event to look forward to each Saturday morning!

Joining in the volunteering has meant meeting fellow runners, learning from their experience and advice and seeing my run times slowly improve, which is awesome. I am now a 40 minute 5k parkrunner and still improving. Saturday mornings cannot come round quickly enough!

There are even volunteer roles which mean you get to volunteer and run on the same day, if you wish!

Vernon Morgan