So, my first "Virtual Parkrun" was done this morning, organised by South Oxhey Parkrun. They counted down the start on a live Facebook feed, and afterwards had a virtual popup coffee via Zoom, which was a splendid social event, well organised as the host regularly split people up into breakout rooms of 3 to 4 people so you could get to chat without everyone talking at once.
In the "main session" we also did a clap for key workers (there are several who do South Oxhey), which they recorded and will put on Facebook later.
The run - gradually building up to my previous "comfortable" pace of 7:30/km. By January this year I was a bit quicker at around 7:00/km, but due to a fall and broken finger I had 8 weeks not running - amazing how fast your fitness dissipates!
I had plans to run from my home to the village of Sunningwell and back (2.5 km there) but took the wrong footpath on the way out and had to go back along the ring road before crossing the field, so didn't get all the way to Sunningwell before it was time to turn back!
I know of two "virtual parkruns" like this using Facebook and Zoom - Melton Mowbray and South Oxhey - and the latter is near where I grew up, so I knew all the places where people lived. Does anyone know of other Parkruns that do this? The Zoom socialising afterwards is memorable.
Just goes to show what a great social experience Parkrun is, and what we can do with a little inventiveness.
