Thanks to Tom Scriven for the following report. Tom is a regular at the Tramore Valley Park parkrun in Cork City.
We planned a recent trip to Worcester in the English Midlands, and as the trip involved a weekend stay, it seemed reasonable as a registered parkrun participant, to check for parkrun events in the Worcester area.
One of the two Worcester events, the Worcester Pitchcroft one, is held on the Worcester horse racecourse. Strangely, it seems the English parkruns are held at 09:00 hrs as distinct from the usual 09:30 hrs.
Thus I arrived at the Racecourse in good time and observed the normal pre-start notices, not surprisingly they followed the notices we're accustomed to. I estimated that approx 500 participants attended with the usual array of runners, walkers, buggy pushing parents and dog lovers.
The course (pardon the pun) involved a double loop around part of the racecourse, the terrain included tarmaced paths, a gravel laneway, a matted crossing of the racecourse and the final section is held on the actual racecourse ground. The 2nd lap was shorter and involved rounding the turn of the racecourse.
The organisation was of the usual standard, I duly received the email result before noon. The atmosphere was a jovial one and as the parkrun course was a 2-lap variety, like the Cork Tramore Valley course, I as a walker, at the close of lap 1, was overtaken by the faster running finishers. Undeterred, I continued and achieved a finishing time within my normal range.
The Worcester event cemented my already formed opinion of parkruns, it's a brilliant idea that allows participants to catch another event when one is travelling. There's an array of courses, eg, tarmac paths in Cork's Tramore Valley, woodland paths in Glengarriff and tarred public roads (with minimum traffic!) In Bere Island.
I applaud the "No fee - No prizes model, the sole emphasis is on getting in a 5K run or walk. Due to the nature of the Worcester course a small number of volunteer helpers was sufficient, however, despite the large number of participants, the checking of barcodes at the finish chute passed very smoothly.
As the final 100m or so, was held on the actual racecourse, I could momentarily imagine I was Gaelic Warrior or any other recent horserace winner as I approached the 'finish' sign.
Being a 'parkrunner' is a little addictive and attending an event on Saturday morning, if at all possible, is now part of the week. I applaud the idea, I applaud the volunteers and I applaud all the participants. Finishing the event is the goal and each participant is treated equally.
Of course, (pardoning the pun again!), it's not always appropriate to have a coffee station nearby, but after participating and especially when meeting a 'long lost friend' a snack and a chat is always enjoyable. Being a walker, (my days of running are alas behind me!) relaxing with a coffee is easier. I can always strive for a faster time next week, not quite the daunting wait of a full year as in the former days of the 'Ballycotton 10'
But back to the parkruns, wherever your choice, I'll borrow a phrase from the equine world, 'Tally ho'
