Confessions of a Parkrun Addict

[TailChaser]

As I am typing it is approximately 14 hours to the next parkrun. Normally on a Friday evening I bake 8 knotted rolls and move the bacon from freezer to fridge ready for our post run treat. But not tonight because tomorrow...(queue thunder and lightning noises)....tomorrow, I cannot do parkrun 😱😢😱

This is the first time since Christmas that my Saturday hasn’t included a parkrun event of some kind and I am feeling very nervous. I always do something, even when I was unwell I wrote the Run Report, when I had a race coming up I Marshalled, when we travelled we arranged a parkrun to go to. Not this time. We have to be somewhere for 10am Saturday morning and it’s really mucked things up!!

For those new to running, you may be thinking of doing a parkrun - I’d think about it very, very carefully. The founding father, St Paul of Sinton-Hewitt says that ‘Your Saturday mornings will never be the same again’ and he’s right you know. I did my first just over a year ago, shortly after graduating. I’d done a reccy the week before, watched as they set off and then wandered home again. The next week I wandered nervously along, with my youngest son in tow for moral support. I ran, I walked, I ran again, walked again...and then I trudged home with a happy and healthy heart. I was only going to do it every fortnight but it just became a habit, and I couldn’t stop...a year on and it’s 40 runs and 25 volunteers and (as many on the forum know) my whole family get involved - we’re all addicted!

It’s the buzz you know, the post-run buzz. I just can’t help myself, I just have to keep doing it, again and again, Saturday after Saturday...it’s so easy and the people are so nice...you can walk, you can run, you can hop on one leg if you want to, no one is bothered. You can wear full body Lycra, you can dress as a crayon, you can wear a wedding dress, you can wear your pyjamas, no one is bothered. You can take 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 minutes and no-one will blink an eye, they will just encourage you, clap and cheer you along. Best of all you can make new friends, you can meet your HU VRBs, you’ll feel part of so many different communities, just from that short time on a Saturday morning.

So if you’re nervous about doing parkrun, you are right to be. Not for the reasons you think you should be nervous for but for the fact that you will never, ever be the same again...

Enjoy 😀💕

[bananahead Graduate]

Thank you Tailchaser. You guys are awesome. I hope you have a fab time tomorrow, Park Run will be waiting next week .

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to bananahead]

Aww, thanks bananahead 🤗(great name btw 😁) it will but it’s going to be a very odd feeling between 9 & 10am.

[Hidden]

Brilliant post. 👏

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks clubberlang 😀

[primaballerina]

LOVE IT!

Wish there were park runs here in Portugal.... : (

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to primaballerina]

Oh no 😢! Set one up??? Probably much easier said than done I suspect 🤔

[Sharuns Graduate]

I was surprised at how quickly I became addicted. Last week we went to a music festival as we do each year. I found a nearby parkrun so didn't have the usual relaxing morning taking in the sun outside the tent and left OH by himself. Missed Basil Brush. Not sorry. Feel your discomfort.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Sharuns]

Lol! Yes, it’s true!! Basil Brush? What sort of music festival was it?! We have one in August but it’s in the middle of nowhere so I’ll just have to go cold turkey again.

[Sharuns Graduate in reply to TailChaser]

Wychwood. There's always a children's show at 11.00 before the music starts. Lots of adults for Basil though, despite the hangover.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Sharuns]

Lol! I bet there are, I remember him well! Not sure the ‘boom, boom’s’ would work well with a delicate head though. Hope the weather was kind to you.

[Sharuns Graduate in reply to TailChaser]

It was kind Saturday, cruel Sunday.

[Katnap Graduate]

You can do your C25K intervals and walk to the finish! Many people at parkrun are C25K graduates!

😸 Katnap 😸

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Thanks you....what a post.... and one of the best bits for me... was meeting you and Katnap and the wonderful kittens!!!

As you know..I wasn't sure... but all you say about PR is absolutely correct... !

Terrific post.... and I cannot wait until the next Tourist meet up xxx

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Yay! So glad you caught the bug Floss, and you’ve been a lovely constant in our lives since we met.

Posting something about our next meet v soon, and then there’s the wine 🍷😁xxx

[Fabulous450 Graduate]

Brilliant post TailChaser!! 40 runs and 25 volunteering is brilliant too!! 😲 Here’s to getting back to normal next week too!! 🥂 😉 ❤️

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks Fab! It all happened so quickly! I’ve moved a lot of cones & signs along the way, and Katnap loves his post cosies 😁

Can’t wait for next week! Enjoy tomorrow if your PRing 🤗xxx

[Pianism Graduate]

Love it! And it's all so true.

No-one told me you could dress as a crayon!!! I'm off to trawl the internet for a costume!

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Pianism]

It was about 6 weeks ago, half a dozen different colours turned up. Apparently they tour dressed as crayons, maybe you could blend in? 😂

[Pianism Graduate in reply to TailChaser]

It'd be easier to blend in dressed as charcoal or pastels, surely....?

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Pianism]

Little bit of turpentine usually does the job 😁

[Couchpotato2 Graduate]

Lovely post, your enthusiasm will convert many people I am sure

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Couchpotato2]

Thanks CP2. I hope so 😀

[SaskAlliecat Graduate]

What a great post TC! Sorry you’re missing your beloved Parkrun tomorrow. It’ll make the next one that much sweeter💕. You know what they say “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” 😁

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to SaskAlliecat]

Yeah, you’re right Sask 🤗

[Laurzmum Graduate]

Great post !, I love the Parkrun but at no point have ever considered running as a crayon 🖍. Im only 5ft so i would maybe tall enough to run as a mini IKEA pencil ✏️ tho.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Laurzmum]

Lol! We could make a set as I’m about the same. Perhaps I could be an Argos pen? 😁

[Jerichomile Graduate in reply to Laurzmum]

Hey, guess what, I’m 5ft 1 inch and yeah......hadn’t considered running as a mini IKEA pencil but what the heck why not 😂......we are C25K, we can do whatever we like! we have the foundations of a perfect miniature set ....bet there are at least 6 other perfect miniature running crayons out there ready to join us 😁 happy running this week Laurzmum

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Jerichomile]

🤣🤣🤣

[Wimborne]

Hi TC. fabulous post from a true PR ambassador.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Wimborne]

😁 Thanks Wimborne, hope you’re healing ok xxx

[JaoJao]

Thank you so much for sharing this TailChaser. I did my first park run this morning as you know and I totally understand your love for Park Run and how elated it makes you feel.

I too feel like I need to fill up my empty weekends and I think I’ve found the answer in Park Run.

I like the idea of Park Run touring as well, that’s so cool!

Thank you for sharing and your kind words of encouragement on my thread.

Cheers to Saturday mornings never being the same again! 😂😂😂

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to JaoJao]

Yay! Another convert! That’s brilliant JaoJao! So glad you enjoyed it. Keep an eye out on here as several of us set up meet ups ( Pianism has a spreadsheet list for his!). I’ll be posting one very shortly x

[JaoJao in reply to TailChaser]

I would like to join if that’s OK. Xx

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to JaoJao]

Fantabulous! Ours is at Leamington Spa on 6th July and Pianism just has dozens lined up x

[Jerichomile Graduate in reply to JaoJao]

Wow! Congratulations 🎉! Super to see you’re in Parkrun now. I’m heading that way planning first one for 22nd June 😁 excited about it already

[Dexy5 Graduate]

Brilliant , Brilliant! I do hope you don’t all suffer withdrawal symptoms this weekend. Your post says it all. Parkrun is the best and it’s getting bigger and bigger. Youngsters are volunteering as part of their DofE; it teaches such great skills. The welcome we received at Poole Park this weekend was great.

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy, it was ok because I had this big run today. Not sure what it will be like on the last two Saturdays of the month though 😳 June is a bit of a parkrun wasteland unfortunately due to uni visits. I’ll have to put in some Freedom runs but it’s not the same without the 400+ other people.

[Jerichomile Graduate]

Your post has made my day 🎉💐! Love The images of the runners being accepted just as they are. Exactly how I feel this forum is too. We are all accepting of each other’s journey. I graduated C25K a few weeks ago all buzzing. One post graduation week of runs went great. Then I registered for Parkrun. Got derailed by some stuff for 1 week. Repeated week 9. Showed up for Parkrun last week. It was cancelled. No worries, I ran my usual run anyway & loved it. Decided I’d do my first Parkrun yesterday. Nope, got a massive cold and fever started last Wednesday and couldn’t get out of bed 😳. Ok. I’m still in..... still a C25K runner.......I will recover from cold, get my 3 runs back on track and have picked Saturday 22nd for first Parkrun ! Your post whets my appetite! Thanks a million 👍😁

[TailChaser Graduate in reply to Jerichomile]

That’s brilliant Jericho and so good to know it’s encouraged you so much. I hope you are on the mend; at least the weather hasn’t been so good so it’s not so frustrating.

The parkrun family and ethos is very, very much like this forum - it is for everyone and is completely non-judgemental, which is worth it’s weight in gold for us runners who have trouble convincing ourselves of our new found status of ‘sporty people’!

Have fun and I look forward to hearing about your run on the 22nd 💪👍🤞