Sandi's Parkrun

[Coddfish]

You may have read the piece in this week's parkrun newsletter about Sandi Toksvig, as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth, arranging for this week's Southsea parkrun to be "Sandi's run". Sandi, like many of us, took up running to improve her health, and wanted to encourage university students to start the running habit. The event director told us the University had made the original donation that allowed the Southsea park run to start up almost 2 years ago.

A beautiful, glittering morning with lots of tri-athletes in the sea and a number of yachts out enjoying the light breeze. A great occasion. There were loads of students wearing purple t shirts, plus Sandi herself, bringing participation to over 450 people (compared with the typical recent 300). Some ran, some walk / ran, some looked like they had never run before. Sandi herself got a great reception when she finished. Truly inspiring, park run really is for anyone.

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brilliant

[Rainbowsmurf Graduate]

Thanks for sharing.

[ridingstar Graduate]

It was a brilliant Parkrun lovely weather for it too Lovely atmosphere with a bonus of a banana and a bottle of water at the end (glad she looked as red in the face as I did)

[Coddfish Graduate in reply to ridingstar]

Nice to see another Southsea park runner. Have you done it many times? Yesterday was my 12th

[ridingstar Graduate in reply to Coddfish]

6th one there I didn't run last week but did hand out the finish tokens I was saving myself for Run or Dye on Sunday I used to do the Leigh Park Gardens one but the steep downhill wrecked my knees I will look out for you I run at 35 minutes so probably slower than you !

[Coddfish Graduate in reply to ridingstar]

No, you are actually a little faster than me, my PB is just over 38 minutes. I should be running on Saturday if the conditions are ok, I always start at the back!

[ridingstar Graduate in reply to Coddfish]

Mine is 35.18 I am hoping to get it down to 35 or below asap hoping my new trainers will help that. I ran a bit slower last week as was running with my Daughter although she did tell me to run on after about 2/3 of the way! I will look out for you I should be running on Saturday and will run with you for a bit if we find each other !! x

[Coddfish Graduate in reply to ridingstar]

Ok, 5'4" 58 year old female, short fair hair. I will try to remember to wear the same black top and pink leggings as on my user profile photo (which was of me finishing at my first parkrun in May).

[Tracey001 Graduate]

I just read the park run newsletter last night. It was a great motivational piece and obviously got the right results in boosting your numbers up. Fantastic to know that Sandi is a park runner too!