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Old Deer Park parkrun is cancelled on 11 July 2020: COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

IWD parkrun profiles: Sara … #ThisGirlCan

Posted on March 7, 2020 by olddeerparkoffice

As part of our celebration of International Women's Day we will be posting profiles of women who participate at Old Deer Park. If you'd like to be featured, please cut and paste the questions, replace with your answers and email OldDeerPark@parkrun.com

1. When did you first come to parkrun? I first ran a park run back around 2008 with a Park Run at Bushy Park - I did not realise then, that Park Run would become such a huge success. In those days, Park Run was quite a small event held at Bushy Park. After that, I stopped for a few years as I got a Saturday job!

2. What made you decide to come? Originally I went to Park Run with a group of friends. When I returned about 4 years ago, this time on my own, I was not really doing much exercise. I decided that I needed to get back into some form of fitness or vegetate into old age!!

3. Were you nervous about coming for the first time? Yes, it was daunting as I thought I had lost practice and that everyone else would be competitive and fast - I thought I would be left behind and it would be embarrassing! Luckily, I realised there was a tail walker - so I would never be last!!

4. What three words would you use to describe parkrun? Fun - Happy - Challenging

5. What do you love the most about parkrun? Knowing that it's doing me good and I feel stronger and fitter - and of course the coffee and chat afterwards!!

6. What difference has parkrun made on your health and wellbeing? I'm not heading to old age quite so fast as I was! (I'm 63 now!) But still trying to get a faster time!

7. According to ThisGirlCan 52% of women worry about being judged during exercise, what would you say to someone who has this fear in relation to parkrun? Just turn up - You don't need posh running gear - just a tee shirt, jumper and leggings trainers and (try to ) smile! You will fit right in! Every week we explain the route and what happens - so nothing to worry about.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering coming to Parkrun, what would it be? Just come along - it is very inclusive - of course there are the fast runners - but most of us are 'just trying to get round' and we try and encourage one another through the 5 k.

9. What would parkrunners be most surprised to know about your life outside of parkrun? Since getting back to running I have confidence to now participate in Sprint Triathlon - I have joined the Tri50 group for mature athletes and have found some great new friends. I couldn't have done that without the confidence of having done park run.

10. Please can you email a picture of yourself in your outside parkrun life?

11. If there is anything else you would like to add, please do!

IWD parkrun profiles: Ella … #ThisGirlCan

Posted on March 5, 2020 by olddeerparkoffice

1. When did you first come to parkrun? I first came to parkrun in April 2019 (although it was the Richmond Park one, not Old Deer Park... sh!).

2. What made you decide to come? I had heard about parkrun quite a long time before deciding to try it out. I used to think it was only for competitive runners aiming for specific times, and I'm not particularly motivated by speed or times so it didn’t interest me. I also used to have a fairly strict running schedule and didn’t think I could work parkrun into it. However after going once, I loved it so much I decided I would make my running schedule work around parkrun, and not the other way round!

3. Were you nervous about coming for the first time? I was nervous, but as soon as the briefing started and everyone gathered together I felt at ease. It can be intimidating showing up for the first time, especially alone as I did, but as soon as you get there you realise you’re amongst like minded people all there for the same reason.

4. What three words would you use to describe parkrun? Welcoming, inclusive and friendly.

5. What do you love the most about parkrun? What I love the most about parkrun is that you can show up alone and immediately feel part of a wider community. I also love that you can use it how you want to use it. If you want to use it to get a timed PB and go back home afterwards, then you can. But if you want to use it to catch up with friends, meet new people and hang around for a coffee after, you can do that too!

6. What difference has parkrun made on your health and wellbeing? parkrun has given me more confidence to meet new people. I’m naturally quite shy but everyone at parkrun is so friendly that it’s easy to make friends. Since joining parkrun I’ve also had the confidence to join my local running club, and meet more people in the local area. I’ve also started volunteering at my home parkrun. I’ve always wanted to volunteer but never found something that worked for me. This way - I can give something back but at the same avoid the FOMO of not being at parkrun on Saturday morning if I'm not running it!

7. According to ThisGirlCan 52% of women worry about being judged during exercise, what would you say to someone who has this fear in relation to parkrun? The main thing I would say is that while you may think people are looking at you and making judgemets, they really aren’t. At parkrun, they will either be too focussed on getting that PB, or they will be too busy chatting with friends! It is one of the least judgemental places to exercise.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering coming to Parkrun, what would it be? I would say while it can feel daunting, you will “get it” as soon as you arrive. I’ve dragged many sceptical first timers to parkrun - now they are going every week!

9. What would parkrunners be most surprised to know about your life outside of parkrun? I may not be anywhere near the front of the pack at my home parkrun, or look like much of a “runner” - but I’ve actually managed to (just about) make it round four marathons and 10 half marathons. This coming from someone who used to come last in the bleep test at school just shows the amazing power of running! Oh and I like wine

IWD parkrun profiles: Ann … #ThisGirlCan

Posted on February 18, 2020 by olddeerparkoffice

1. When did you first come to parkrun? 2007 Bushy.
2. What made you decide to come? I had already started to run with small local group The Old Deers and we tried out the parkrun one day.
3. Were you nervous about coming for the first time? No.
4. What three words would you use to describe parkrun? Fun, inclusive and a challenge.
5. What do you love the most about parkrun? It's for everyone: from super fast to not very fast at all, young, old, men, women and children.
6. What difference has parkrun made on your health and wellbeing? I have kept up a basic level of fitness and made lots of new friends.
7. According to ThisGirlCan 52% of women worry about being judged during exercise, what would you say to someone who has this fear in relation to parkrun? Why? No one is there to judge you. Everyone is there to do their best. In fact all you will get is encouragement.
8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering coming to parkrun, what would it be? Just do it. You will not regret it.
9. What would parkrunners be most surprised to know about your life outside of parkrun? I like to paint (pictures not walls!)
10. Please can you email a picture of yourself in your outside parkrun life?
11. If there is anything else you would like to add, please do! Shhh..Old Deer Park is the best!

IWD parkrun profiles: Maggie … #ThisGirlCan

Posted on February 16, 2020 by olddeerparkoffice

1. When did you first come to parkrun? Roughly around 2012, that was to Richmond Park.

2. What made you decide to come? I’d heard of the concept through a woman whose husband was one of the Bushy Park original Parkrunners. Then I read somewhere about how the concept had spread and that you could get a barcode and be accurately timed (not that accuracy was a major factor I must stress!) and found out that it was a thing already at Richmond Park.

3. Were you nervous about coming for the first time? Yes, I’m a slow runner, and a reluctant one at that!

4. What three words would you use to describe parkrun? Democratic, inclusive, supportive

5. What do you love the most about parkrun? That absolutely anybody can join in - no one is barred for reasons of age or fitness, (as well obviously as things like race, religion, gender and orientation etc)

6. What difference has parkrun made on your health and wellbeing? Enormous - the group ethos is very motivating, especially to a reluctant runner - I try to run once in the week as well so that I’m not too slow on Saturdays

7. According to ThisGirlCan 52% of women worry about being judged during exercise, what would you say to someone who has this fear in relation to parkrun? There is no judgement - absolutely none!

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering coming to parkrun, what would it be? Come and try it? How bad could it be? You might even like it.

9. What would parkrunners be most surprised to know about your life outside of parkrun? My favourite food is leftovers.

10. Please can you email a picture of yourself in your outside parkrun life? see below

11. If there is anything else you would like to add, please do!

IWD parkrun profiles: Caroline o’H … #ThisGirlCan

Posted on February 15, 2020 by olddeerparkoffice

1.When did you first come to parkrun? September 2014

2.What made you decide to come? I wanted to engage in outdoor activity with other people and someone told me about that my local Parkrun needed volunteers to help them.

3. Were you nervous about coming for the first time? I was a bit apprehensive because I didn’t know anyone.

4. What three words would you use to describe parkrun? Encouraging, inclusive and friendly.

5. What do you love the most about parkrun? I love exercising outdoors, you are free to go at your own pace and the warm encouragement I receive from others.

6. What difference has parkrun made on your health and wellbeing? It keeps me fit and in good health, when you are getting older this is vital. It has also been hugely beneficial in helping me to manage my stress levels.

7. According to ThisGirlCan 52% of women worry about being judged during exercise, what would you say to someone who has this fear in relation to parkrun? I have never experienced feeling judged at Parkrun. It is an easy and inclusive environment for people of all levels of fitness.

8. If you could give one piece of advice to someone considering coming to parkrun, what would it be? Try it out and see how it works for you. Don’t be daunted by it. When I started as a Volunteer, I had no running skills. I got lots of useful advice from other runners and was encouraged to give it go. I started from scratch, practising on my day off from work and very slowly, over months I began to build it up till I could run my first 5k at a steady pace.

9. What would parkrunners be most surprised to know about your life outside of parkrun? I used to be a smoker and remember sitting on a park bench having a cigarette while watching runners whizz by in their gear and thinking ‘there is no way I could ever do that!’.

10. Please can you email a picture of yourself in your outside parkrun life?

11. If there is anything else you would like to add, please do! parkrun is an open and welcome environment to everyone at all levels. If you have been unwell or are starting from scratch, it’s fine to walk it, you don’t have to do the whole 5k, you can do less and gradually build this up if you want to till you reach you ideal goal.

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