Royal Tunbridge Wells parkrun
Run Report no 174
28 October 2017

Run report by Richard Woodfield. Pictures by David Harman unless otherwise stated. (Additional pics by Richard Woodfield and Zena Hassell - or someone wielding Zena's camera!)

Ahead of the curve - volunteers are always up early to prepare for parkrun (RW)

Arriving in good time to take up volunteer duties, for several minutes I completely failed to recognise Noeline disguised in her fetching dark green wig. Fortunately, Noeline's voice is unmistakable and so my misunderstanding was soon sorted out. It was a lovely autumn day for our pacer spooktacular event - low slanting sunshine bathing much of our course in a warm glow. Another good turnout - of 266 parkrunners and 30 volunteers - enjoyed the event.

Run Director, Louise, announced to applause that Dennis Sanson had joined the Junior 10 parkruns club and Steven Barrett, Nick Fitzgerald and Suzanne Young had all joined the 50 club.

Joe read out a poem by Zena - intended to encourage parkrun volunteering.

"From set up to end, some time we will spend,
Marking the course with our posts,
In bright yellow vests, but no time for rests,
Volunteers - we're your welcoming hosts.

As we huddle together in all sorts of weather,
Our speaker will lay down the rules,
Pleases listen and learn, it could be your turn,
If the temperature rises or cools.

If you like taking pics and adjusting the fix,
Dust off your old camera lens.
There's so much to see and yes it's all free!
Animals, family and friends.

Tokens to sort or write the report,
A selection of tasks to choose,
It really is fun, combine with a run,
Step forward you've nothing to lose."

We've had 53 different people volunteer in the last month, and 173 different people so far have volunteered in 2017. It would be great to add to that number - and of course we are massively grateful to all those who volunteer regularly.

Ground conditions out in the field had considerably improved from the previous week and this - combined with the efforts of our pacers - contributed to the spooktacular number of 58 personal bests achieved.

A range of unusually clad characters turned up to parkrun this week!

Occupation: web designer? (ZH)

Spider hitching a lift with Robert.

A gorilla was feeling the heat ...

A youthful skeleton rattles around the course

What comes down at parkrun must go up!

Feedback from two parkrun tourists this week on Facebook both mentioned that last hill!
"I was a tourist here today. Thanks for the welcome. Lovely course apart from the hill at the end!!! Well done to all the volunteers that make it possible, especially the 30 minute pacer that encouraged me at the finish." (Jon) "I was a tourist too! Beautiful run but glad my usual PR is flat, that hill was a killer at the end!" (Harriet)

Incidentally, the photo above is just one of a number of pictures taken from this spot as the parkrunners first come down the steep hill from the starting line. I was encouraged, looking through this sequence of pictures, to see that the great majority - and indeed possibly every single one- of the parkrunning dogs this week had followed the advice to start from near the back where there there is much less risk of accidents with tripping over leads and the dogs getting over-excited in the crowded throng. So, well done dogs and their owners!

Pacer, Amy, rising to the occasion!

Glowing autumn sunlight... (RW)

This week's volunteers were:

Amy WHITE • Annaelle DUFFIELD • Annamaria BETTS • Carol MUIR • Charles BOWLEY • Chris MULLALEY • David HARMAN • Deirdre LULHAM • Dennis LANCASTER • Emily MULLETT • Gabriela BAGULEY • James BAGULEY • John BOWMAN • John DYSON • John LOWDEN • Joseph WATTS • Judy GUEST • Kitt BAGULEY • Louise FITZGERALD • Michael CHAMPION • Nick FITZGERALD • Noeline SIMS • Paul BETTS • Richard WOODFIELD • Robin BARWICK • Ross MARSHALL • Sarah CRONIN • Stella BEARD • Victoria MULLETT • Yolanda WITT

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