Posts Tagged ‘parkrun’

You need ten parkruns beginning with the letter S to complete the snakes challenge. That is a lot of Ss. Stormont was my sixth. It is a well attended event that takes in two laps of the Stormont Estate with the start and finish on Prince of Wales Avenue looking up at the parliament building. Thank you to all of the volunteers for making the event happen.

Last weekend I went to Navan parkrun. It is a three-and-a-half lap course following the loop around Blackwater Park. One hill but a slow downhill, too. Some nice views of the river and what looks like an old mill. Thank you to all of the volunteers for looking after us.

Last weekend I completed Porch Field parkrun. It’s my 60th different parkrun event It’s located in Trim and it is a lovely run. Two laps of the park which features a ruined church, riverside section and sheep including some lambs. Friendly volunteers, of course, as well.

I was almost take to the start due to a racist parking app so I had to sprint to the start line. That apparently left quite a lot of adrenaline in my system and I ended up running 23:30 including stopping to take a selfie. I could have taken it after but that would have meant doing another lap of the course. it also gave me an age group victory, coming 1st out of 5!

Well done Venla who has now completed 50 junior parkruns and earned her ultra wristband. Little Bear is not far from his ultra wristband, either.

Last week I completed my 400th parkrun. It was also Arik’s 250th parkrun and that is a real milestone. We got a group picture but I’m not sure where they ended up so here is one of me crossing the finish line with Jonas. I baked some focaccia for the after party at the cafe.

It’s been an exciting time to be running Marlay recently. First, Paul Sinton-Hewitt (parkrun’s founder) made a guest appearance a few weeks ago. A got a five-high and a handshake. Then last weekend, they celebrated their 500th event. I wasn’t in photo and there wasn’t cake but that’s understandable given they would have had 688 runners plus volunteers to feed.

Last week I was thrilled to complete the parkrun obsessive challenge. Which is the achievement you get for completing 50 parkruns in a year.

It’s a tough ask, although New Year’s Day and Christmas Day mean you can miss up to four Saturdays if you complete those. I made it to 45 in 2018 and 2019 and then 46 last year. But around September I realised I had only missed two so far and if I could be consistent, I could get to 50.

That made for some nervous times with multiple storms, including Storm Darragh cancelling 16 of the 20 parkruns near me including all of my locals. But I made it! In fact, I managed to end the year on 52. parkrun has been such an important anchor over the last 18 months and I’m looking forward to plenty more in 2025.

On Sunday, Iveagh Sports Ground launched their junior parkrun. I was quietly hoping there would be cake. There wasn’t, but there was lots of very friendly and encouraging volunteers. The course is two laps on grass. It’s flat but still has a few lumps to make it interesting.

Another weekend trip. This time, our first one to County Wexford. Gorey is three laps of a the local park. It’s flat, a nice park and a cafe with toilets in the centre for post-parkrun snacks. Ticked off another G for Staying Alive and my 59th for Cowell Club. Lovely to be there for their 8th birthday and thank you to all of the volunteers.

Another letter ticked off the alphabet challenge! This week I completed the University of Galway parkrun, earning me a valuable “U” and completing the spell “parkrun” challenge. It’s a nice course: a few laps around the field then an out and back along the river before one final lap of the field. Very flat and surface was nice enough for my fast shoes.