Didcot parkrun Report #246, 1st February 2020 by Sarah Ruane

A sunny morning greeted 336 parkrunners in Didcot this morning, although the variable weather recently meant the muddy conditions continued. Nothing daunted, RD Stuart and the set-up team were determined to keep Didcot running and put a few course adaptations in place to direct us away from particularly badly affected areas, keeping us all safe and maintaining the grass as much as possible. The marshals did a great job in directing everyone round the first corner and through the cones that set out our chosen path.
Ladygrove Park saw tourists from South Africa, Dorset, Kingsbury Water Park, Reading, Woodley, Sheffield, Slough, Southwark and Southwick Country Park – a parkrun I look forward to completing soon on my 2nd attempt, having previously been at the start only to have it cancelled - with 24 parkrunners visiting Didcot parkrun for the first time. In all, representatives of 32 different clubs took part today.

In addition, 13 more people joined the parkrun community today, completing their first ever parkrun at Didcot. I hope you go on to enjoy your various exploits as much as I have mine. You see, that was me 4 years ago; I was so nervous I had volunteered before I took part so I knew what to expect. I still remember the feeling of achievement from completing 5k without stopping, finishing 100th in a field of 101. The Didcot parkrun family welcomed me and settled my nerves about not being a “proper runner”. Today was my 99th parkrun on my 4th parkrun birthday and my 37th volunteer. I never thought that running 5k would have led to making so many friends and having so many running adventures.
There were plenty of milestone t-shirts to be seen today, helping some fantastic runners complete their milestones today. Congratulations to Miranda Habermel and Alison Higginson on completing their 100th parkrun and Nicolas Roux, Lucie Cotmore-Brown and Linda Jackson on their 50th.

Pacers day at Didcot today saw 30 new PBs, including a special one for Lucie on her 50th parkrun. Kieran Beech, Carol Martin, Neil Salmons, Matt Bezzant, Sharon Rasmussen, Jonathan Boucard and Clare Ashworth all put in sterling efforts to come in with 10 seconds of their target, with Jonathan and Carol hitting it spot on.

Two of our tokens seem to have gone on their own tourism this weekend with 123 and 171 both absent from the post-event role call in Didcot Town Football Club. If anyone finds them, can you help them make their way back!
Photos courtesy of Karen Spackman.
Many thanks to the 30 volunteers that made it all possible. Anyone can volunteer and there are lots of roles.

Helen BRIND • Kieran BEECH • David RAYNER • James CLAYTON • Carol MARTIN • Michael SUGGATE • Geoff ROBERSON • Neil SALMONS • Daniel FISHER • Helen SEYMOUR • Matt BEZZANT • Sharon RASMUSSEN • Claire SHORROCK • Nichola POULTON • Sarah RUANE • Jonathan BOUCARD • Charlotte WARRINGTON • Stuart TURNER • Anna SHANNON • Peter DYMENT • Mark KINGSTON • Karen SPACKMAN • Clare ASHWORTH • Bernard OCONNOR • Tammi WILLIAMS • Aileen SPANKIE • Malcolm PEEL • Carol MILES • Stephanie WHITBY • Jake KINGSTON

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

Happy parkrunning
Sarah Ruane (A1698623)

Didcot parkrun Report #243, 25th December 2019 by Daniel Connolly

All I want for Christmas…

For two days a year parkrun HQ gives parkruns the chance to put on an additional run. So depending on park availability and very importantly VOLUNTEERS offering a little time to help out their parkrun family, Christmas Day and New Year's Day see extra parkruns.

Running a parkrun on Christmas Day has now become something of a family tradition (and it seems from all the attendance records and high numbers that it isn’t just my family that loves a parkrun start on Christmas Day) - in fact many years ago my wife ran her first ever 30 minute parkrun on Christmas Day (even when dressed as a Mrs Claus!). A free 5km parkrun is a great start to the holiday and as the parkrun tourist bug has really infected me since 2016 I had to run at a new event!

The problem being that after running well over a hundred different events, all local events have been completed so a good drive is required. Luckily, I had kept a couple of ‘nearby events’ as a back-up, saved for if I ever wake up late and still feel the burning desire for a new parkrun venue that is within an hour ish drive.

Unlike a normal parkrun day - where as a family we spend a long time after a parkrun chatting to runners and then enjoying a rather leisurely coffee (or even better full breakfast or cake - we aren't that fussy!) in the cafe afterwards - Christmas Day cafes are closed but then most need to be home fairly promptly to prepare or eat a Christmas Lunch. With the recent wet weather causing many course cancellations due to flooding and water logged courses, I was too nervous to risk my first parkrun option. Reading the excellent Facebook postings on resting the course for Christmas Day and the need for an extra marshal or two, Didcot became my venue of choice.

Popping the postcode into the SatNav we soon arrived at the carpark - just after 8am! I do like to arrive early just in case finding the start from the car parkring is tricky - no need to worry as a very kind volunteer had already attached the neon ‘To the start’ sign to the fence and a host of festive volunteers had gathered to collect the rest of the necessary equipment - my estimate of travel time made the night before obviously didn't account for less traffic!

A huge advantage of arriving so early was that I got to get a picture of most of the volunteer team - I am sure I will have missed someone from the picture so if I missed you I am very sorry! - and post my thanks onto Twitter. Whilst I may not have had time to chat at the end of the run I made up for it at the start. The bonus for me being that I even managed to grab my favourite volunteer role - Run Report Writer! All the while the rest of the family fully woke up having snored all the way down the M40 and A34; I am glad I didn’t want scintillating conversation!

A huge crowd gathered around this morning's Run Director, Stuart TURNER, to listen to the New Runners briefing as Didcot saw 70 first timers! In fact 9 used their barcode for the first time! Maybe trying to beat the New Year rush or persuaded by keen family parkrunners or maybe a little too much festive spirits on Christmas Eve but whatever the reason a huge WELCOME to:- Alex MARSHALL, Jack TILLING, Bianca GALUKANDE, Miguel LÓPEZ LERENA, Amelia CLARIDGE, Isabel LÓPEZ GARCIA, John WHEELER, Simon TAYLOR & Natalie HODGES, I hope that you enjoyed your first run and that we will see you at many more. I am sure that you will find out that parkrun becomes very addictive; even if you are away from home staying with family over a holiday (or you become a fanatical tourist) if a parkrun is nearby and you have your barcode you don't need to miss out; you can turn up and enjoy the fun.

At the start it was lovely to hear the announcement of milestones; three runners ran their 10th parkrun. For Jenny HEDGES and Laurel SYMONS unfortunately it is purely arbitrary; no special icon on the results or T-shirt - just a mention in my report; however for Ned CHARTRES as a junior it is his first milestone and maybe a white 10 t-shirt. Phillip MCBRIDE & Charlie MARTIN both ran their 50th parkrun so now have a red 50 icon and hopefully t-shirt e-mail on the way. And Sally CULLEN got to run in a black bib to celebrate her 100th parkrun. Well done for reaching those milestones; hopefully in the new year those new shirts will be able to be ordered and you will be able to wear them with pride.

Just after 9am the beep of GPS devices signalled the start of parkrun and 364 parkrunners, ran, jogged or walked the course - the 5th highest number of participants ever at Didcot.

Very quickly over the course of the initial first half lap the runners spread themselves out like brightly coloured tinsel decorating the park, our Hi Viz Heroes, rather than flash like Christmas lights, gave cheery words of encouragement as we passed.

I soon realized that my choice of running outfit - a rather fetching Santa Onsie that was recognised by another tourist from Bicester parkrun last Christmas - may have kept me delightfully warm at the start (despite the slight breeze) meant that it wasn't just the turkey that was being roasted. Faux fur, felt and cotton are not normally an athlete's first choice of clothing for good reason. I soon had rosy red cheeks just like the big man himself!

For many weeks now I have been on the injury bench, but have still taken part at parkrun - normally accompanying the tail walker around! However with my knee now on the mend I am building back up my running. Run 5mins, walk 2! Although way off my normal pace it is great to finally be returning to running rather than my Garmin putting events down as gentle cardio! Being lapped was very much to be expected as you run the 1km loop 3 times. I was barely starting my second lap when faster runners shot past - making the slippery conditions look easy. Resting the course on the previous Saturday proved to be very sensible as even with less rain it was definitely wet underfoot with the potential to churn up. Marshals placed at each of the turns gave cheery encouragement as well as warnings to take care where it was slippery.

My lack of running fitness from weeks of enforced rest made me glad I had got the run report so I could offer my heartfelt thanks to all those on the course as I could barely gasp at them let alone give a proper thank you - even when I lumbered past on one of my walk breaks!

So on behalf of myself, my family and the other 360 runners a huge THANK YOU to:- Anna SHANNON • Caja JENNINGS • Celia WILSON • Chris MARTIN • Claire SHORROCK • Karen SPACKMAN • Kath GREENWOOD • Naomi ACKROYD • Naomi CLARK • Neil SALMONS • Paul HOBBS • Rachel KENNEDY • Rachel SALMONS • Robert HILLS • Selina STILES • Simon JENNINGS • Stuart TURNER • Sue HENDERSON • Sue JENNINGS who made this event possible. As with parkruns around the world if you fancy giving scanning a go, fancy being the time keeper, marshalling and encouraging others or are happy to help out in any role please look on the roster and e-mail - didcothelpers@parkrun.com

As I slogged my way around the field for the 2nd time looking very much like Bambi on ice at the muddier points, Abingdon AC’s Jack SHAYLER (SM20-24) was hurtling along the other side of the hedge on the outward section to take the first finish token in 17:17. Trafford AC’s Vicki CRONIN (SW25-29) finished in 11th overall in a time of 19:11 to be first lady home. Another Abingdon AC runner Paul Matthew FERNANDEZ (VM45-49) finished in 7th, in a time of 18:16 but with this week’s highest age grading of 77.65%. Wow speedy running.

Despite this being a busy day for Didcot and a moist field 17 parkrunners saw those wonderful words on their results text today - New PB so well done:- Tosin AKINSOLA, Jun MCCAW, Callum STACEY, Christopher BOULTON, Samantha BORRETT, Laurel SYMONS, Philippa SAYERS, Amy PORTER, Lydia HOLMES, Chris MORGAN, Victoria SHEPHERD, Emma BAGHURST, Ciara WILDER, Stephen SADLER,Alan COWAN, Matthew LOCK & Pauline BRADLEY.

As the volunteers closed down the course and packed the course away ready for another week I directed my family back to the car for another nap as I drove home, pleased that my Christmas got off to such a lovely start. Thank you to everyone at Didcot for being so welcoming and friendly.

Happy parkrunning.

Daniel Connolly (A58845)

Didcot parkrun Report #240, 30th November 2019 by Jacquii John

I’m fairly new to parkrun and still feel nervous on arrival, whether I am taking part or volunteering. Although everyone is so welcoming and friendly, I always search the crowds for a familiar face.

This week that familiar face was Karen Spackman. Karen is a Didcot parkrun regular and always has a beaming smile but today Karen was so excited as it was her 50th parkrun and on top of that it was also her 70th time of volunteering. Amongst the many layers protecting Karen from the -1°, she was proudly wearing her brand-new Apricot parkrun t-shirt, the “I’m running my 50th parkrun’ bib and the volunteer tabard. As a park’walker’ myself, Karen has always an inspiration to me - Congratulations Karen!

This photo shows Karen with fellow volunteer Carol.

I tail walked this week and had the pleasure to walk with Joy and Emma who also represent 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer. Exercise has enormous benefits for people living with and beyond cancer and the kind words of encouragement from the parkrunners and the volunteers are our motivation to keep going. As 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer meet on the last Saturday of each month, this was our last parkrun before Christmas so from all of us, I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

This week 271 people braved the cold and ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 23 were first timers (nine of whom were new to parkrun: welcome to Amy, Louise, Charlotte, Max, Carl, Tom, Simon, Alfie, and Adam - hope to see you at parkrun again soon) and 31 recorded new Personal Bests. Congratulations to the following on their fabulous milestone parkrun: Bolaji Jegede (50), Claire Shorrock (100), Jenny Smith (50), and Karen Spackman (50) - looking forward to seeing you in your milestone t-shirts.

The event was made possible by 19 volunteers: Andrea STACEY  •  Bernard OCONNOR  •  Carol MILES  •  Cher KILROY  •  Emma WATERFIELD  •  Geoff JACKSON  •  Gordon JACKSON  •  Helen BRIND  •  Jacqueline JOHN  •  Joe BATES  •  Karen SPACKMAN  •  Malcolm PEEL  •  Matthew WHITE  •  Michael JOHNSON  •  Sally CULLEN  •  Sarah NEEDLE  •  Stewart HODGES  •  Stuart TURNER  •  Tyler HODGES

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Didcot parkrun Results Page: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/didcot/results/latestresults/.

Didcot parkrun, event #235, 26th October 2019 - By Suzie Walker

Wet and windy weather overnight made the field part of the course soft going underfoot but the rain held off until the tail walk had finished and as I was the tail walker - hooray!

Some of the participants seemed to have just rolled out of bed and were still in their pyjamas, fingers crossed that they all took the pictures they needed to to have a chance at winning a prize for #parkruninpjs

As it was the last Saturday of the month, 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer were in attendance with some particularly good looking (and tasting) cakes at the the football club after. We will be back next month, if you know anyone that could join us do tell them that we're here.

One of the things that I love so much about parkrun is that even if the weather is a bit blurgh or I've dragged myself out but I'm not really "feeling it", by the time I have been and completed or volunteered at parkrun it all feels a bit better. It must be in part to the activity but also to the AMAZING people. The volunteers, keeping warm and giving encouragement and smiles to everyone but also everyone participating who thanked me and the other marshals for helping - thank YOU- it makes such a difference to my morning, my day and my week!

It was so positive to see a massive group for the first timers and tourists briefing and this week 252 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 39 were first timers and 18 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 21 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 21 volunteers:

Helen BRIND • Michael JOHNSON • Alan WOOD • Hayleigh GASCOIGNE • Miranda HABERMEL • Gavin WARRINGTON • Gordon JACKSON • Bolaji JEGEDE • Charlotte WARRINGTON • Selina STILES • Martin WOOD • Diane WOOD • Tammi WILLIAMS • Suzie WALKER • Faye HARDIMAN • Aileen SPANKIE • Patrick HARDIMAN • Joe BATES • Malcolm PEEL • Carol MILES • John PORTER

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