Weekly news from parkrun UK
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an exciting partnership
Hi there!
In this week’s newsletter we want to let you know about a really exciting campaign that we are involved with.
Over the next few weeks, parkrun will be partnering with Join In on the I Am Team GB
campaign. The aim is to let people know how they can get involved with their local sports club or activity group, and to encourage them to go along and try it out. Join In is the charity that links volunteers with local clubs and groups, and it is fantastic to be partnering with an organisation that shares our desire for increasing participation in physical activity in friendly and welcoming environments.
The campaign will be supported by ITV, who will be communicating the great work that parkrun volunteers do right across the UK each week. This is really important to us, because parkrun is the most successful organisation in the country for encouraging healthy activity. In 2016 we will see around 100,000 previously inactive people taking part in parkrun through the positive atmosphere of encouragement and inclusivity that is created by parkrun event teams.
It won’t just be the UK in the spotlight either. This Saturday 13 August, double Olympic gold medalist Dame Kelly Holmes and former 5,000 metre world record holder Dave Moorcroft will be hosting an unofficial ‘pop up parkrun’ on Copacabana Beach. If you’re lucky enough to be reading this in Rio, or you know someone out there who might fancy an early morning run on the beach, details can be found on the Join In website.
All of this will culminate with ITV switching off its channels for one hour on Saturday 27 August to encourage the public to take part in a post-Olympics sports event.
During this campaign our profile in the media will be a little higher, and hopefully we will see an increase in the number of beginners taking their first parkrun steps. As always, if you are a first-timer or have an interesting, inspiring or humorous story or photo to share with us, please get in touch with parkrun UK on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or fill in our feedback form.
One of the most compelling ways for encouraging participation at parkrun is through the wonderful feedback we receive each week, and we are always looking for more stories we can share to inspire people to join the #parkrunfamily.
Glen Turner
Head of Communications
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Intersport online store open!It’s been a long time coming, and here at Intersport we are very excited to announce the launch of our new online store! Our new online store enables you to get your favourite sports brands quickly and easily from the comfort of your home, with the option to pick up your goods at your nearest Intersport store with our click and collect service. It is a great step forward for us in making your shopping experience convenient and enjoyable, and we hope that you’ll enjoy browsing our great range of products for your running and other sports. The online store is focused on our core sports – running, fitness, swim and football, and there is as always a quick access to the store locator to find your nearest high street store too. Don’t forget that you can claim 10% off running products at Intersport stores with your parkrun barcode as an ongoing parkrun partnership price #PPP, and now you can also claim your discount online on all full priced products by simply entering ”PARKRUN10” at the checkout when shopping in our new online store. As always, we love to see what you’re up to so keep your pictures coming on Twitter @Intersport_UK #loveparkrun and like us on Facebook to keep up with what’s going on. See you at your next parkrun! *PPP valid at all participating Intersport stores; see our website for details. ** Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. |
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52 parkrunsAlzheimer’s Research UK would like to introduce you to Emily Hopkinson, a parkrunner who has taken on a mammoth challenge. Emily will be visiting 52 parkruns in 52 different locations in the 52 weeks of 2016. Already halfway through her challenge, many of you will have seen Emily on her runs around the country. She has already taken part in city parkruns such as Oxford, Milton Keynes and Edinburgh and is saving her parents’ local parkrun – Winchester – for Christmas Day. A local to Finsbury parkrun in North London, Emily is keen to share her experience via her blog and raise as much money as possible for Alzheimer’s Research UK. Now in her eighth month of her challenge, Emily said: “Overall I will be running at least 260k over the year, but I think 5k a week is quite achievable. The hard part has been more about organising where I am going when, for instance I’ve fitted doing a parkrun in Edinburgh into a weekend away. “It’s a really good way to see parts of the country that I perhaps wouldn’t have before, and I’ve already tried out 33 parkruns. I find parkrun really inclusive for everyone, it’s got a real community feel so I thought it would be the perfect way to fundraise. "Alzheimer’s Research UK is such a great and important charity and I’m so glad the money I raise will help to contribute to vital research into dementia.” To donate to Emily’s challenge click here. We would also like to remind all of our Running Down Dementia runners that this week is your last chance to get your pictures in for the Alzheimer’s Research UK’s Sweaty Selfie competition. We’re loving your selfies so far! |
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survey of deaf and hard of hearing parkrunnersThroughout the parkrun world there are fantastic stories of how people with impairments have benefited from parkrun either as runners, walkers or volunteers. We want to bring the benefits of parkrun to more and more people with impairments. Over the next few months, we'll be reaching out to the parkrun community to talk to people with particular impairments, along with their friends, family and any parkrunners who might be able to contribute knowledge and experience from their professional lives. We want to understand from them what we can do to make parkrun more welcoming and accommodating of their particular needs. We would like to start by looking at the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community. If you, or your friends and family, have experience of deafness or hearing issues in a parkrun context and would be willing to contribute to the project we would love to hear from you. Just click here and answer a few very short questions. We would also like to hear from any parkrunners who work professionally in this area. Please click here to get in touch. |
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research into adolescent runnersYouth participation in athletics and distance running has become very popular within England. However, research shows that the number of athletes taking part in this sport declines after puberty. Although this reported dropout is common across all sports, our research group, the Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre (CHERC), University of Exeter, is working in collaboration with England Athletics to better understand why this is happening. One possible cause of this dropout is that adolescent athletes may be training too hard too soon, thus damaging their long term development and negatively influencing their motivation to continue in the sport. This is often recognised as overtraining, yet precisely how common overtraining is amongst adolescent distance runners and the potential causes is still not clear. In order to investigate how common this is, we would like adolescent distance runners, aged 11 to 15 years old, to complete a simple online survey. The survey will take no longer than 20 minutes to complete and is open to anyone who is training at or competing for an England Athletics affiliated club. Any adolescent athletes wanting to complete the survey can do so here. If you are interested in the research and would like to know more, please get in touch. This project is being funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Robert Mann |
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random stat of the weekMore than 11,000 people have volunteered at UK parkrun events despite having never walked, jogged or run at one! |
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parkrun populationHere are this week’s summary statistics for parkrun UK (including junior parkrun) 90,662 parkrunners |
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feedback from the field
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On 30 July I turned up to my home parkrun of Huddersfield on my own. Little did I know that my boyfriend (now fiancé) had set up a surprise proposal! He'd told me he was going out for the day and I'd have to make my own way there. At the pre-run briefing I was called to the front of the field only for Neil to appear from behind a tree! You’ve probably guessed that I said yes, but none of this would have been possible without the help of run directors Mark Nicholson and Simon Brass, Howie Tempest for taking some fantastic photos, plus a multitude of others including runners, volunteers, the park cafe owner and staff. parkrun is such a big part of my life, this was so fitting. |
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Through parkrun I have had the pleasure of meeting many inspirational runners and recently realised we had one special one amongst us. Alan Lawrenson has been running farther and farther over the past 18 months to raise £10k for Hearing Dogs For The Deaf. In spring he completed the 250k Marathon Des Sables in the Sahara and the London Marathon a week later. Three weeks ago he did a 100k race and last week he completed a 103 mile race (with 1700m elevation) whilst made deaf with special custom earplugs. He's completed 1,000 miles and should reach his overall target any day now. Here he is during his 103 mile run promoting parkrun. Well done Alan! |
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At Fell Foot parkrun this week we celebrated the start of another great sporting event by offering our runners a chance to hop up on our 'Posing Podium' after they'd finished their weekly 5k run. The attached picture is of regular runner and volunteer Simon Lock, who after a little gentle persuasion from our Run Director was first to jump up on the podium. It had the desired effect and seemed to give everyone else the confidence to get up and give it go! We think the picture of Simon sums Fell Foot parkrun up perfectly: a beautiful setting, but we really don't take ourselves too seriously! |
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Volunteers Shirley Young and Colin Austin became part of the core team that established parkrun in Thurrock. Shirley has run 10 times and volunteered at 20 events, and Colin has volunteered at 31 of of our 41 events. Last Saturday they were not volunteering but getting married in a local nature reserve, Chafford Gorges surrounded by parkrun friends. Colin said "I don't think I better volunteer this week, it might be cutting it a bit fine." The fact that he even considered it shows Colin's commitment to parkrun. |
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I enjoyed some tourism last weekend and visited the South Oxhey parkrun group with my sister-in-law who hadn't done parkrun before. We received a very warm welcome from fellow parkrunners (and the weather) even though we missed the briefing as I didn't realise it started at 9am rather than 9.30am! Thanks to Debbie and the wonderful volunteers my sister-in-law and I made it around the lovely three lap route. We really enjoyed the friendly chat afterwards with other new parkrunners who are now hooked after their second visit. Even better, my sister-in-law enjoyed it so much she now aims to get a barcode and join South Oxhey parkrun regularly. My job is done! |
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My daughter Sarah and I started running last year with Chester Road Runners and now we both enjoy parkrun. Last Saturday Sarah went to the Chester parkrun and finished in 33.07. Meanwhile I was across the border in Wales at Erddig parkrun and finished in… 33.07! What are the odds on that! Let us know if you have an interesting parkrun story to share. |
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parkrunner of the week
Name: Phil Cairnduff
Club: Lagan Valley AC
Age: 30
Home parkrun: Stormont
Occupation: Manager
Number of parkruns: 20
Favourite volunteer role: Scanning
What do you do at parkruns: I enjoy visiting different parkrun courses for the novelty of running somewhere completely new.
When I can't run, I volunteer and have done so at my home run, Stormont, three times this year and also at Princes in Liverpool, where I recently visited for the British Transplant Games. I find parkrun is useful for training while keeping the atmosphere relaxed.
How has parkrun changed your running: parkrun has made running more enjoyable. I train all the time for different runs and events and never miss an opportunity to build a parkrun into my training schedule. You get to run alongside other people without the pressure of trying to beat them for an overall result or prize.
It has also given me a desire to encourage other people to take up running. The diversity of age and skill shown at just about every parkrun highlights that the sport is for everyone.
What do you like about parkrun: You can run anywhere you please and even decide on the morning where you want to go. At every parkrun I've been to, I've been made extremely welcome and have run some great courses that have obviously had a lot of thought put into them.
Most parkruns have a diverse crowd, from serious competitive athletes to recreational runners, and there are few other places where you'll see such a range of abilities. In addition, I love the appreciation of volunteers and the key role they play.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment?: Getting lost at Colin Glen parkrun and asking a dog walker for directions. A volunteer did show us the route before we started, I just wasn't paying attention!
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