Milestones and Mindsets

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On Saturday, Crewe Parkrun was proud to host our biggest event yet with 465 people taking part; running, jogging and walking the event powered by pacers, pushchairs and puppies, with around 15% of these being first-timers! This not only takes some organisation behind the scenes (especially when we experience a hiccup with the results :') ) but it takes a lot out of our dedicated cohort of volunteers each and every week too.

Here's a little insight as to how volunteering has changed the mindset of one of our stalwarts, Gail Prince:

I have this wonderful family who support me ‘no-matter-what’, despite that, I had come to the realisation that I’m not the person that I was or that I could be. Over many years I had gradually put on weight and in May last year I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. So the time had come for me to shake myself off and do something about it.

My daughter, Sadie, spoke so often about the parkrun and the wonderful people she had met there. She tried talking me into going for months but I always said no because I just loved my Saturday morning lie-ins, no alarm = bliss.
However, one week I decided to set an alarm and go over to the park as a volunteer and to see what the fuss was about. Feeling very nervous, I headed over with Sadie by my side. When we arrived I could feel an energetic buzz in the air, a feeling of excitement and community spirit. I was made to feel really welcome and I loved it from the word go.
For the moment I have mostly done barcode scanning which I love to do. I get to see everyone cross that finish line and I completely respect every single one of them. I have seen people start their journey and continue to see them on that journey and all of the time I applaud them.
I remember having many conversations with Sadie about running and I have to admit that it was ‘never my thing’ and I didn’t understand how she felt. However, every week I wish that it was me crossing that finish line.
I have started my own journey now, I’m 30lbs lighter and so very determined to actually complete the parkrun myself. With each lb I lose, my confidence grows and with a little bit of practice and my family by my side, I know I can do it.
I cannot measure on any scale how different I feel. Those Saturday morning lie-ins are a distant memory and I’ve got no plans to go back there. I have met some wonderful people, can see some amazing journeys and feel like I’m part of a beautiful community. The parkrun community, along with my family has inspired me to carve out a new me.
 

Simple is Beautiful

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When we started Crewe parkrun, almost two years ago now, we were nervous about many things: would we get enough participants, would enough marshals turn up, would the watches fail, would all the data disappear into the cloud, would we fail at some aspect or other basically?  Quite a lot of doubt and uncertainty really.

What Matters?

I think that we have had a few close shaves with some of those early anxieties and some may yet happen but now, we think, or I imagine we do, does it matter?  Because what is it that matters?

  • What matters is that everyone is welcome;
  • What matters is that everyone feels safe and included
  • What matters is that we gather every Saturday morning;
  • What matters is that we don't take ourselves too seriously;
  • What matters is that we have a fantastic team of volunteers who make it happen.

The parkrun Code

There is the parkrun code and we must all strive to adhere to this.qylRkvf

Simple is Beautiful

Really, and I have written this before but I cannot emphasise it enough, parkrun is beautiful because of its simplicity.  We started our parkrun to bring people from all walks of life, of all levels of experience, of all shapes and sizes, together in order to walk, jog, run, volunteer or cheer and it happens.

The one thing that astounds me is that our volunteers and participants transform Queens Park into this pop-up community centre for about two and a half hours every Saturday morning; that's beautiful and it is so simple.

Remember to thank this gent too because if it wasn't for him none of this would be happening!  He's on twitter: @paulsintonhewit

psh

some of today's achievements

441 - Our second highest turnout - well done and thank you everyone!!

45 people complete their first parkrun and 24 others walked, jogged or ran at Crewe for the first time.

Wendy Shore completed her 100th, with 60 being at Crewe,  parkrun.  Congratulations Wendy!

Eva James who had to undergo surgery in 2019 finally completed her 50th parkrun!  What an achievement!  Of those 49 have been at Crewe and one other at Aberystwyth!  Eva is a Crewe loyalist par excellence and her sole 'away' parkrun holds a very special place in the heart of one of our run directors.

Shaun Jones, another Crewe parkrun loyalist was first finisher with a new PB!  Great effort Shaun!  Well done to everyone else who achieved a PB at Crewe.

Couch to 5k

The local running club - South Cheshire Harriers - is organising a Couch to 5k course for all.  There is more information here: SCH Couch to 5k.  It takes place around Queens Park from 10:15am every Saturday.

coming up...

Saturday 11th January - This is a pacer Saturday with pacers at 20, 22, 25, 30 and 35 minutes.

Saturday 18th January - this is a foodbank collection day.  All food collected on this day will go to the foodbank at St Paul's in Crewe.

Saturday 15th February - this will be our second anniversary!

Crewe parkrun
Event number 102
4th January 2020

This week 441 people - our second highest turnout - ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 69 were first timers and 63 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 26 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 26 volunteers:

Ruth BEACH • Ivor TWISS • Amy GRACE • John PUTT • David MORRIS • Harry WARDLE • Suzanne BUCKLEY • Peter RATHBONE • Simon COOTE • Claire KIVLIN • Karen RATHBONE • Roy WILLIAMSON • Gail PRINCE • Anthony PRINCE • Maurice FITZGERALD • Pam SAUNDERS • Nicola MARSHALL • Ray SWEENEY • Robert PARTON • Chloe WILD • Karen WILD • Neil COE • Eva KIVLIN • Nicole BRANDRETH • Steve CROWE • Rachel ASTON

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Crewe parkrun Results Page.

The male record is held by Matthew MCCORMACK who recorded a time of 16:08 on 16th February 2019 (event number 55).
The female record is held by Chloe LEATHER who recorded a time of 18:25 on 28th December 2019 (event number 100).
The Age Grade course record is held by Pam DAVIES who recorded 88.96% (23:51) on 5th October 2019 (event number 88).

Crewe parkrun started on 17th February 2018. Since then 5,317 participants have completed 29,981 parkruns covering a total distance of 149,905 km, including 6,704 new Personal Bests. A total of 437 individuals have volunteered 2,642 times.

 

No Better Way…

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Is there a better way to start the New Year with a parkrun? Well maybe doing a double parkrun as a tourist!

This report comes from a tourist from Manchester who went on a tour firstly to Congleton and then Crewe. Two friends travelled together from Manchester; how did they meet? Yes you guessed it volunteering at their local parkrun! Everything was perfect this morning, traffic free roads, sun rising and shining and two parkruns to look forward to!

With Congleton done and dusted (thanks to all the fantastic volunteers!) and after a quick stretch before getting back in the car, putting the address in for Crewe and having a banana or two we arrived at the park in Crewe. First thoughts – what a stunning park! A short warm up and waking the legs up again it was time for the first timers' briefing and before we knew it 10.30 was here and Crewe parkrun was ready to go!

As per every parkrun the volunteers make parkrun what is so great! It was so wonderful to have such motivating, friendly, outgoing folk standing there cheering the parkrunners on! Personal thoughts on the course; A challenging (ish) park (well.. after doing Congleton at 9am!)– with a few short sharp inclines and descents but made wonderful by the beautiful scenery in the park.

Lastly a huge thank you to the 25 volunteers - see below - who made the parkrun happen!

Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year,

Kind Regards,

A parkrun tourist from Manchester

Crewe parkrun
Event number 101
1st January 2020

This week 366 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 54 were first timers and 34 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 36 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 25 volunteers:

Ruth BEACH • Lana DAVIDSON • Amy MAYELL • Harry WARDLE • Oliver BERNSTEIN • Peter RATHBONE • Evie COOTE • Liz PRESTON • Ian ROYLE • Di COOKE • Rochann BUXCEY • Rosemary COOKE • David KIVLIN • Norman HINDLE • Maurice FITZGERALD • Cathy LEWIN • Pam SAUNDERS • Nicola MARSHALL • Phillip RAWLINGS • Ray SWEENEY • Chloe WILD • Karen WILD • Eva KIVLIN • Joe SCOTT • Tom SWEENEY

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Crewe parkrun Results Page.

The male record is held by Matthew MCCORMACK who recorded a time of 16:08 on 16th February 2019 (event number 55).
The female record is held by Chloe LEATHER who recorded a time of 18:25 on 28th December 2019 (event number 100).
The Age Grade course record is held by Pam DAVIES who recorded 88.96% (23:51) on 5th October 2019 (event number 88).

Crewe parkrun started on 17th February 2018. Since then 5,248 participants have completed 29,540 parkruns covering a total distance of 147,700 km, including 6,641 new Personal Bests. A total of 435 individuals have volunteered 2,614 times.

Future Crewe parkruns

Saturday 4th January - we look forward to welcoming all parkrun walkers, joggers and runners.

Saturday 11th January - it's pacer Saturday with pacers at 20, 22, 25, 30 & 35 minutes!

Saturday 18th January - foodbank collection.  Every third Saturday we have a collection for Crewe or Nantwich foodbanks.  We alternate.  This collection will go to the foodbank based at St Paul's.

 

Christmas parkrun – the gift that keeps on giving……

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Where to start with a run report, that engages both locals and tourists? The parkrun run report challenge!
A beautiful mild day welcomed us to Crewe, and after seeing signs saying Crewe was home of the Ice Cream Van, we knew it was going to be a good day.
After deciding to attend today, due to it being the 100th event (a tourist Wilson Index thing, ask please), it was interesting to learn that the 100th was due to be Christmas Day but due to a cancellation in November (Crewes first cancellation), it was put back to today. Our good luck!
After missing the start of the new runners briefing (cardinal sin for a tourist), we snuck in at the back to hear most of what ever smiling Claire Harrison had to say. 3 anticlockwise laps, with a bit on the end, all on tarmac. Perfect!

Claire welcomed new parkrunners, and tourists, alike, with Tourists from France
giving Claire a chance to practice her French! As New Runners briefings go, right up there with the best.
And a bonus that Claire remembered that we met at The Wammy in November 2018….parkrun is indeed a small world. Having missed the start, I do wonder if the course was changed slightly, as the course we ran is different to the one described on the parkrun website? A B course, perhaps, to avoid the slippery bridge? Would be happy to be enlightened
A short warm, welcoming brief from RD Lana Davidson, celebrating Birthdays and Milestones, and we were off on the 100th Crewe parkrun. 40 of todays finishers ran the very first Crewe parkrun, on the 17th February 2018, including Brian Moore, who has run 76 of his 255 parkruns at Crewe! Amazing achievement.

Celebrating today were Birthday Boy Michael Casey, Stacey Lloyd running her 50 th parkrun, 49 at Crewe (the extra at Delamere), and Chris Barnett running his 100 th , both winning a coveted milestone t-shirt. Of interest is that Chris has run 49 parkruns at Congleton, so if he had run there today,it would have been the 50 / 100 double?! A  parkrun dilemma! Double at Congleton, or 100 th at Crewes 100 th ! Congratulations anyway Chris.

Of the tourists, Amanda Robison gets a mention by celebrating her 150 th parkrun, her 50 th different parkrun, her 50 th birthday, with a 50 mile round trip with hubby Paul from Manchester! I like what you did there Amanda, congratulations!

Other notable numbers today are a new female course record set by Chloe Leather, achieving a 7 th PB in only 14 parkruns, brilliant running and congratulations Chloe. We also welcomed 15 runners or walkers brand new to parkrun. Welcome, and we hope you enjoyed it enough to return.

A thoroughly enjoyable morning, with everything we have come to love from parkrun; friendly locals, brilliant friendly volunteers, great facilities, an enjoyable varied course, which I’d be happy to call home.
The morning was only slightly dampened by no visible Ice Cream vans, though this was more than made up by plentiful celebration cake and goodies supplied by the core team at the finish line, and the quality tasty food and drink in the café afterwards. Jo is still slightly miffed at being overtaken by a Sumo Man pushing a buggy, but she’ll get over it in time for next weeks parkrun.
Thank you for an amazing welcome, and an amazing parkrun; with the possibility of a Junior parkrun soon, Crewe parkrun is going from strength to strength. Good luck for the next 100.

 

Crewe parkrun #97

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This weeks run report is from fan of parkrun Peter Owen, who has written about his love of parkrun tourism and personal experience of Crewe parkrun.  Thank you Peter!
It was a cold but seasonally mild Mid December morning on Saturday for the 97th running of Crewe parkrun in the splendid Queen’s Park in Crewe. There were 235 participants who ran, walked, and jogged the course along with 23 wonderful volunteers. There were 13 first timers who were new to Crewe, and five of those chose Crewe to complete their first ever parkrun. Welcome to the parkrun community Lisa WILKINSON, Louise PRESTWICH, Luke VARLEY, Harriet HUGHES, and Ryan HICKSON! The first finisher was Matthew MCCORMACK in a blistering time of 16:57, and the First Woman was Chloe LEATHER in an equally impressive 18:39. An incredible 36 parkrunners recorded PBs, congratulations to all. The impressive 50 parkrun milestone was reached by, Connie SWIFT, Malakay SWIFT, Richard BEESTON, Rupert DYKE, and Joshua LOWE. Red tee shirts all round! The doubly impressive 100 parkrun milestone was reached by Craig WILLIAMS, and Robin BARNETT so hat's off to them!
I also ran my 50th parkrun last parkrunday at Crewe parkrun. It was my 6th time at Crewe, and I chose it to run my milestone because it has a special place in my heart and was the location at which I fell in love with the concept of parkrun, and caught the bug for parkrun tourism. All the best things about parkrun are evident at Crewe, and from a tourist perspective it fits the profile of beautiful locations which I would not ever have visited in my everyday life but which are revealed via the medium of a free, weekly, timed run.
 
Hailing from nearby North Staffordshire I have not always had the best relationship with the East Cheshire town of Crewe. Footballing rivalries aside, I have always rued the 1843 decision to consolidate the ‘railway colony’ into a town rather than ingratiating the transport hub into the already existing neighbouring conurbation which would have made Stoke-on-Trent a bigger and more important city. Also for a couple of years I was commuting from Manchester to Stoke via rail and lost count of the number of times the train would pass Stockport only to be informed by the driver that the train would now be going to Crewe instead of Stoke. And despite Crewe’s status as a rail transport hub, connections with Stoke are woeful so it can be difficult to make the short ten mile journey.
 
It was with some trepidation that I then approached the inaugural Crewe parkrun but I knew some friends who were running it and they had twisted my arm. I wasn’t prepared for the damascene conversion I was about to undergo. First impressions and Queen’s Park, which hosts Crewe parkrun is lovely, it is a beautifully laid out late Victorian municipal park which is immaculately maintained. The next thing that struck me was how friendly everyone was, the runners as well but especially the volunteers. The marshals shouted support and clapped for all runners, not just people they know from a running club, which was really nice and provided for a truly welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. I became a big fan of Crewe parkrun.
 
I liked the park so much and the parkrun was so friendly I went back the second week, and the third. I also came back for the first birthday celebrations and have kind of adopted Crewe as my second ‘home’ run.  Crewe is a great parkrun. I can recommend it for a number of reasons but one rather unique feature is that the route on a map looks like a duck eating a worm and for some reason I find that very pleasing. I will be back to run the worm eating duck soon, and definitely on the second birthday of Crewe parkrun which I am already eagerly anticipating. It’s a great route that’s reasonably flat but includes a few little ups and downs to provide a challenge with a great surface, too. Crewe parkrun is a joy to run at, I can recommend it to anyone. 

This week 235 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 13 were first timers and 36 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 16 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 23 volunteers:

Ruth BEACH • Anthony DUNN • Claire HARRISON • Jack HARRISON • Michael PARR • Megan HARRISON • Roger BEASTALL • Peter RATHBONE • Simon COOTE • Liz PRESTON • Sadie PRINCE • Ed MCCAULEY • Pete OWEN • Cathy LEWIN • Dennis MARTIN • Pam SAUNDERS • Ray SWEENEY • Louise WRIGHT • Chloe WILD • Barry WILLIAMS • Karen WILD • Charlie HORTON • Nicole BRANDRETH

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Crewe parkrun Results Page.

The male record is held by Matthew MCCORMACK who recorded a time of 16:08 on 16th February 2019 (event number 55).
The female record is held by Chloe LEATHER who recorded a time of 18:29 on 23rd November 2019 (event number 95).
The Age Grade course record is held by Pam DAVIES who recorded 88.96% (23:51) on 5th October 2019 (event number 88).

Crewe parkrun started on 17th February 2018. Since then 5,097 participants have completed 28,254 parkruns covering a total distance of 141,270 km, including 6,508 new Personal Bests. A total of 428 individuals have volunteered 2,517 times.

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