Tag: Parkrun

I’ve missed you….

For those thinking this is the first line of a romantic monologue, prepare to be (slightly) dissapointed.The object of my affection here is Parkrun. I know I have written about this before here (do click and have a read if you have a minute) and indeed for those for whom even the thought of spending the first 30 minutes or so of their weekend running around a park is not a pleasant prospect, I wholeheartedly apologise.However for the thousands (actually tens of thousands) who do this in the length and breadth of the UK and much beyond, I really have missed your company, friendship and motivation.
I have had a 3 month hiatus (sounds very medical, but I just mean interlude!) for a whole variety of reasons not for discussion now, but culminating in a long abscence.
Anyway last Saturday was great, Spring Like weather, a park starting to wake up from the lashings of winter, and friendly faces not seen for months.So here we are on Friday evening again, it’s not too late for anyone to find their nearest Park run (or equivalent) dig out those trainers and a tee shirt and start the rest of your life .…I’ve yet to meet someone who has not started and been overwhelmed by the camaraderie, friendship and personal improvement that will transpire.
Happy Friday! See you in the morning…..  got to walk the dog? No problem, they are welcome too!
Enjoying this blog? I hope so, please do comment, share and like.

The biggest gift, the lowest price

This is not my first post about Parkrun, and normally I might be a little wary about focussing on this personal interest of mine too frequently ..but for this particular post..I make no apologies.

Parkrun, for those not in the know is a weekly timed run in literally hundreds of locations across the UK and beyond where those of every ability from first timer to experienced athlete can walk or run a 5k timed event in their local park and measure their personal progress week on week. It also has a huge band of volunteers and provides a unique opportunity for particiption and social interaction. Unlike a race which has only one winner, in this event everyone achieves from it.

My local Parkrun in Huddersfield, Yorkshire also from time to time acts as a platform for other organisations to spread the word on what they do. Yesterday my own running club were providing volunteers for the event

and we were joined by a group from Organ Donation who help promote this vital service.

This wasn’t a PR person doing a recruitment campaign..we were honoured to have several people with first hand experience of how life changing organ donation is.

We had the personal story of Lydia Beckett. Lydia shared with us how a literally life changing decision made by somebody else changed her life and that of her family.

Click on the hyperlink highlighted to read her story..but don’t just read it, please commit to being an organ donor and most importantly tell your family. The UK moves to an opt out system from 2020 so this means it is even more important to make your family aware of your wishes to ensure these are fulfilled.

The greatest gift anyone can give is life…I sincerely hope that none of you reading this will end life prematurely….but one day for all of us life will end, and before this happens we can commit ‘at no cost to us’ to give the greatest gift of all when our time is over.

If you only ever share or repost one of my blogs…please make it this one. Not for its artistic style, prose or any such reason, but that this one single action could change somebody’s life. See links to social media at the bottom of the page.

Your action in encouraging others to sign up could change a life. Now how wonderful a thing is that to be able to do today!

Click here for UK info.

I appreciate that many readers are from outside the UK, so please check on the internet for how you can pledge in your country.

Thanks for reading my blog…

Park Life

This song from the 1990’s might be a bit of a blurr to many other than it’s more devoted fans. Put simply it was about life in the local park i.e. people sitting on benches, watching pigeons.

No specific park but probably Colchester’s castle park as Blurr hail from that town. Although not a resident of Colchester (whose claim to fame is being Britain’s oldest recorded Roman town)

I can vouch for this park being very impressive. Being a garrison town, back in the 1970’s when the armed forces had a bit more cash to splash, it used to put on a fairly impressive Military Tattoo second only to that of Edinburgh. Nowadays that is just history but I have made a more recent visit as a Parkrun tourist.

Parkrun for those not in the know is a timed Saturday morning 5k run at numerous park locations across the UK and beyond. And completely free. Read more here….about Parkrun

Anyway I digress slightly but my point being is that town parks are a marvellous legacy from our forebears and for sure the funding of them and the events in them has ebbed and flowed over the years .

Let’s all do what we can to use them, support them and even volunteer to help them.

Why this blog? Click to find out more….

Socks appeal or sex appeal

A rather famous politician always seems to have the misfortune to be bagged by the press before his morning run. Now let’s be positive here….running is good for mind, body and soul. I go running a few times every week, as a minimum to Parkrun on Saturday mornings. If you don’t know about Parkrun then Google it. It may just change your life. Now when I exit the front door on Saturday morning generally I am not pounced on by BBC News, Sky News, CNN, or even the milkman. However I still try to ensure that there is nothing of note about my attire. The trick is to choose the clothes with the lights on and go subtle. However I think this basic rule of cool has not reached the leafy residences of these men of power. The look adopted ironically is only seen in Bermuda..dark socks and light shorts. Not sure if the streets of London are ready for this, or maybe I need to adapt.So where are my black socks?

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