It's been a journey and a long one at that. I have reached my 250th parkrun, a milestone which essentially takes a minimum of five years, consistently running to achieve.
Some of you might be thinking, "what is parkrun"?
parkrun is a weekly, timed 5km event, which will reach it's 20th anniversary in october 2024, originally founded in Bushy Park, London, by Paul Sinton-Hewitt. Thirteen runners, including Paul timed themselves running in Bushy Park, which initiated the global phenomenon that it is today.
So how did I begin participating in parkrun? As the title suggests, I wasn't particularly into running. Sure, I went on the treadmill occasionally, I even signed up to a 10km or two in the 2000's, but I wasn't a keen runner. It felt more of a chore than a hobby.
Then it came to August 2016. I'd not long moved to Harlow, I'd recently got engaged to Rachel and felt I needed to get fit and healthy again, especially with our wedding approaching.
One of my oldest friends, Craig, had mentioned to me about a local running event in Harlow Town Park, called 'parkrun'. I was skeptical of running 5km having not run for years. He convinced me to sign up and go. The day before, I remember measuring 3.1 miles in my car, just to gauge the distance i'd be running the next day. Craig said to me "don't do that, you'll put yourself off!"
I turned up, really nervous, as though my life depended on this run. My picture below masked my nerves. My palms were sweating. "What if I'm last", "what if i'm too slow", "what if I don't finish"... You know, all the common worries we have when starting our first run.
As I began, I remember feeling good. "Actually, this isn't so bad", "I feel okay", and then, the sore chest came. I remember stopping after the first kilometre, breathing ferociously, uncomfortable and coughing like I was on 60 cigarettes per day.
Should I stop? Hell no. I continued to the end and when I approached the finish line, I was pleasantly surprised, Craig clapping me and hearing the words '30:18'. I remember reading that the average 5km time was thirty minutes, so I was quite pleased with that,
As the weeks went by, I committed myself to parkrun for three more weeks. I had got my time down to 27:49 and then, I stopped.
Every weekend there was an excuse. You know the ones...."I'm injured" (even though I wasn't really) or "I've had a long week and want a lay in", as each UK parkrun starts at 9am.
Nine months later, in June 2017, I'd not long temporarily moved back to Chingford, when I suddenly had the urge to give parkrun another try. I googled 'parkrun Chingford'. The result showed 'Walthamstow parkrun'.
Oh, nice, where is it? Then I saw 'Peter May' and thought 'uh oh'. I had remembered playing football there as a child and it was hilly to say the least. Regardless, I decided to give it a go.
On 24th June 2017, I managed to finish in 31:38, slower than the previous runs at Harlow. But given the hills and the length of time without running, it felt acceptable.
I went back most weeks consistently for the remainder of the year. Everyone was so friendly at Walthamstow. I'd made new friends, been convinced to sign up to a couple of 10km runs and just felt very much part of the community. It felt great.
In March 2018, just before my first of (now 26) Half Marathons, I had achieved 26:01, despite my PB being 27:49 before that. It was a huge milestone.
Then my biggest parkrun milestone, 50 runs, occurred on 21st July 2018, one week before my wedding. Penny Wiles, a Walthamstow parkrun legend, presented me with my certificate.
Again, this was a real "gosh, I'm actually a runner now!" moment.
During 2018, I ran multiple half marathons and achieved what is still my second fastest of 1 hour 51 mins, in Richmond, London.
I carried on visiting multiple new parkrun locations, volunteering at Walthamstow and making continuous new friends and memories. In June 2019, myself and a few other regulars visited Bushy parkrun to experience the founding course. There were over two thousand runners that day.
It took fifteen months to reach my next milestone, given the weddings I had that year and the commitment to monthly volunteering. On 5th October 2019, I reached my 100th parkrun.
This felt great. To make this milestone, meant at least two years of consistent running. it felt like there was no going back now. I was definitely addicted. It was the social aspect, the fitness and just the best way to start a Saturday morning.
In theory, it should have taken around three to four years to reach this current milestone of 250, but a lot has happened. COVID meant that parkrun was out of action between March 2020 and July 2021, meaning circa 70 weeks went adrift. There has also been injuries, personal family matters and more volunteering that's extended this duration to nearly five years.
To summarise with some statistics, my first parkrun in August 2016 was completed in 30:18. My fastest parkrun was 23:01 (just 2 seconds off a sub 23..sad face) on 21st September 2019. That means in total I’ve shaved off 7 minutes and 17 seconds. My fastest this year was 23:37 in Catford, 11th May 2024. I’ve also volunteered 68 times at 63 separate events. I was a run director for multiple events between 2018-2020 (though I’m contemplating a return). My home event changed from Harlow to Walthamstow.
The next milestone is 500. Again, that is at least six years, given volunteering, (hopefully not many) injuries and other circumstances. But I will reach it and add to this amazing journey.
I couldn't have done this without the support of my wife Rachel, my parents and fellow parkrun friends.
Until the next time!
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