Before we opened the curtains this morning, we could tell they weren’t going to be the kindest of conditions for a run, with the sound of rain hammering on the windows. We arrived early at Gedling Park for a pre-run course inspection. Oliver, co-Run Directing for the first time, ran round the course upon our arrival, to check for flooding. Conditions were ok, with the only significant puddles at the start line, so were good to go!

Ewan was on site first, as usual, busy setting up the finish funnel; and soon the volunteers were arriving in their droves. A big thankyou to Sarah H-F for her usual fantastic efforts as Volunteering Coordinator; Once again we had a full roster of volunteers, with first time volunteers including Ted and James. After removing the rabbit*, we set about agreeing the marshalling positions, using the big map which Damian and Fyfe created last week, which was really helpful - so big thanks for that.

This week we were joined by three first timers (welcome to parkrun to Eva, Hollie & Max) - it’s always great to see first timers – hopefully we'll see you again some time very soon.

Well done to two runners (Talitha and Marrissa) on achieving and collecting their half-marathon wristbands (Don’t forget, when you reach 11, 21 or 50 runs, you are awarded a special wristband to show off!).

After a warm-up led by Ewan, Ted and James the run was on;

There were 42 runners, which was a fantastic number, given the weather; so well done to all of you, and an extra well done to the 8 of you who achieved a new PB this week.

Thanks to all the volunteers who made this event happen: Fyfe BENNER, Emma BENNER, Damian BENNER, Jake BROUGHTON, Jenny BROWN, Laurence COE, Neil Scott FRANKLIN, Matilda FRANKLIN, Neil GREGORY, Oliver HILL, Nick HILL, Sarah HORRIGAN-FULLARD, Matthew MARSHALL, James MARTIN, Angela MOSELEY, Michael QUALTROUGH, Isabella RIELEY, Jolene SANDERSON, Oliver SANDERSON, Ted SELBY, Helen SMALLEY, Helena STASZKIEWICZ, Zoe TANNER, Jonathan TANNER, Joanne TANNER, Neil TUCKER, Ewan WANE
Your run director next week will be Lyndsey. If you'd like to join Lyndsey on the volunteer team then email the office: gedling-juniorshelpers@parkrun.com.

* The rabbit needed to be removed, because, to borrow from the Pythons ‘ 'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This rabbit is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! … 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the ' choir invisible!! THIS IS AN EX-RABBIT!!’

A beautiful morning to arrive at Gedling Country Park. 79 of you showed up to try our new route some of you took your grown ups out for some exercise too, which was very nice of you.

We were joined by 9 first timers this morning, including 3 doing their very first parkrun with us. Thank you for joining us! I hope you enjoyed our course and we hope to see you soon.

Emma and Joshua collected their half marathon wristbands. I noted Marrissa and Talitha became eligible for their's too! You can collect them on your next run. Well done all four of you. Also well done to the two boys who qualified for their marathon wristbands - great job.

Finn and Sammy did the warm up before we moved over to our new starting position and, after we'd checked the coast was clear, you were off!

First back this week was Jake Greenhalgh with a time of 07:12 and a new PB. We at Gedling Junior Towers had to check if we could find a faster time, ever, at Gedling. We could only find one, from way back in 2016 . Very well done Jake; that was a very impressive performance.

The rest of you did an amazing job too. So many PBs this week (I counted 19) and much more importantly, so many smiles! There was even a bit of impromptu high-fiving from you kids on the run in to the funnel as you supported each other to the finish. I think this should only be encouraged! We're all loving the party atmosphere at the new finish funnel!

Thank you also to all who are giving us your feedback on the new route. We're taking it all on board and continue to make little tweaks to where the cones go, how we do the start, manage the turn-around and manage the finish funnel. We're all having loads of fun and given the bright smiles we see there, I suspect you're all having fun too.

Team Awesome this week were Damian Benner, Jake Broughton, Jenny Brown, Karen Broughton, Tom England, Nick Hill, Oliver Hill, Finn Jones, Matthew Marshall, Kelly Morphus, Bo Nowicki, Matthew Ratcliffe, Louise Ratcliffe, Jolene Sanderson,Oliver Sanderson, Joanne Tanner, Thomas Wall, Julie Webster, Roger Smalley, Sammy King, Alice Townend, Zoe Tanner, Matilda Franklin, Nicola Dickinson and the ever awesome Sarah Horrigan-Fullard.

Team Awesome will be led by Nick Hill next week. If you'd like to join the team, email gedling-juniorhelpers@parkrun.com

Well what an amazing day to shake things up a little - with a bit of a 'back to school starting afresh and trying new things' attitude we thought this Sunday would be the perfect day to test out the route that Tamsin, Sarah, Helen and others have been working on for the last few months.  And without just skipping to the end - I think we can declare it a great success and put out a great cheer to the team for putting in all the  hard work with stravas, maps, risk assessments and measuring wheels (yes like the ones you had a school that click).

Alice, Damian, Emma, Finn, Ian, Isabella, Joanne, John, Jonathan, Julie, Maddy, Matilda, Matthew,  Nick, Nick, Nicola, (three different people, my laptop didn't get stuck) Oliver, Rachel, Ray, Richard, Sarah, Susanne, Tamsin, Tom, and Zoe coped admirably with everything and everyone being in a different place and gave great constructive feedback on the layout so we can make it even better (for example by adding in some more cones in places and different signs).

The new route meant we had a much better start set up for a warm up - which this week was led very well by Tamsin in her woolly hat - she hasn't quite  stolen Ewan's warm up crown though!  and the finish was much smoother - it had a much friendlier feel as people were able to stand around and  watch and cheer without blocking the way for other park users.  It also meant siblings could wait on the  playground but still be close to the action.  Only one person was  sad that the route now means we run down the zig zags not up - you know who you are.....  There was obviously something you liked about the route though as we had 12 new pbs.  These guys were the first three finishers on the  new  route - great trailblazing!!!

We had an amazing outturn of volunteers on Sunday which was great - rules at parkrun juniors have now been updated nationally which means we do need a few more marshalls so please do sign up to help us out - you could have a lovely joyous and upbeat  view like this on a sunday morning then feel virtuous all day.  What could be better?  Exactly - now we're agreed on that drop the lovely Sarah and email on
gedling-juniorshelpers@parkrun.com       SEE YOU SUNDAY!!!!

Well what a gorgeous day we had on Sunday for our 35 parkrunners, 5 of whom were there for the first time ever - it's surprisingly easier to get up early on a Sunday when the sun is shining!

The amazing volunteers all had smiles on their faces and only one person had a proper jumper on - you know who you are. As always a massive thank you to our amazing volunteers who make the whole thing run so smoothly, Ian, Martyn, Nicola, Tom, Emma, Oliver, Nick, Maddy, Nick, Matthew, Kelly, Brian, Bo, Michael, Isabella, James, Esther, Alice, and especially Ewan who runs the warm up every week - any volunteers for the warm up for other weeks to learn it with Ewan much appreciated!  Here's everyone properly warmed up and ready go!

We also had Joseph who whilst still young enough to be in a pushchair now has his own hi-vis and is the third generation of his family to be a volunteer (even if he isn't old enough to actually go on the roster yet).  If you would like to start a volunteering legacy and don't know where to start - an email to the lovely Sarah (who builds up and encourages the volunteers each week so we're all ready to go on a sunday) to put your name down is always appreciated.  You can find her on gedling-juniorhelpers@parkrun.com.  Our roster is looking very sparse for the next few weeks so now's the time to come forward.

Here are some of our first finishers Matilda and Oliver, Oliver was one of our 2 pbs this week despite the blazing heat!

See you all next week!!

It was a warm, bright and sunny day for this weeks Gedling junior parkrun, which saw 51 runners (as well as several parents) smile their way through the course.

This week, Charlotte, Finlay and Isla all completed their first junior parkrun, and Scarlett earned her half-marathon wristband. We also saw 9 people set a new PB, so congratulations to Elijah, Oliver James, Hannah, Sadie, Henry, Archie, Dylan, Sophia and Ruby. Our first finisher was Lewis, whilst Talitha was the first female finisher.

Our traditional pre-run warm-up was led by myself (Ewan) and Sammy.

Of course, the event can’t happen without the volunteers so thanks to Catriona, Ciaran, Clare, Damian, Evie, Frances, Helen, Henry, Ian, Jake, Jenny, Karen, Linda, Madeleine, Madeleine, Matthew, Mhairi, Nick, Nick, Oliver, Richard, Rory, Sammy, Sarah and Sharon for wearing the high-vis this week. Also, an extra big “Thank you!” to Sarah, who, as well as being our Volunteer Co-Ordinator, has now volunteered at 250 various parkrun events. We are always looking for new volunteers, so please consider it if you are free on a Sunday morning.

Your run director next week, and for the first time, is going to be Sammy.

Thanks,
Ewan

On the way to the park this morning Zoe told me that there was a 94% chance of rain at 9 o'clock. Thankfully, the 6% chance of no rain was the stat that won and we managed to get through event 164 without being drenched; great news! Whatever the weather, there is ALWAYS a 100% chance of fun at Gedling junior parkrun and that was the case today.

A grand total of fifty junior athletes made their way around our route this morning, it was wonderful to see so many of you managing to drag a grown-up or two along too, well done all! Some numbers for you: we had six first-timers, we welcomed Ben, Joe, Max, Elijah, Noah and Levi to Gedling for the very first time, please come back soon to see us again. A huge number of you, eight in total got your speedy feet on and recorded your fastest time ever around the course, well done to Leo, Jack, Cairo, Sadie, Harrison, Rowan, Noah and Poppy knocking a second or two off your best times.

Of course it's not all about going super fast from start to finish, however you chose to get around is good by us. If you run, walk, jog, skip or hop you'll get a special commemorative wristband to show off around school. These will be given to you when you've done 11, 21 or 50 junior parkruns. If you think that you have earned some parkrun bling, just have a chat with your run director and we'll make sure that you don't miss out.

Talking of free stuff, did you know that when a volunteer has completed 25 stints in the hi-viz, they qualify for a beautiful purple parkrun tee-shirt? No? Well it's true! Over the next few weeks we are a little short of names for the volunteer list and we really can't put on these events without some amazing people. If you fancy donning the waistcoat of wonder, then please email us or have a chat with your run director. Each job is very simple, you'll get fully briefed and you'll feel good about yourself all day!

Today's cast, handing out high-fives, clapping and cheering was Bo, Catriona, Charlie, Damian, Darren, Debra, Ian, Jake, Jenny, Joanne, John, John, Karen, Linda, Madeleine, Madeleine, Sammy, Sarah, Sonny, Tabitha, Tom and Zoe, phew! It was a special day for Madeleine too, she was happy to give up the morning of her sixteenth birthday to come and join in the junior parkrun fun. Happy birthday Moo!

That's about it for today, a massive thank you to Damian for shadowing me as he trains to become our newest run director. He'll be back next week with Tamsin, they will be sharing the megaphone duties and I know it will be great fun.

Bye for now, have an amazing week, Jonathan. #loveparkrun