latest news

Witney parkrun is cancelled on 6 June 2020: COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Calling all junior parkrunners!

Posted on May 17, 2020 by witneyoffice

Calling all junior parkrunners!

The volunteers at Witney Land Army are pulling together packs of puzzles, games, articles and stories for some of the town's more vulnerable residents who live on their own. We wondered whether any of our junior parkrunners might like to contribute something to our wider community?

It might be a wordsearch or a quiz. A logic puzzle or a crossword. Fiction or non-fiction writing. It's entirely up to you! It would be great if it could have a Witney parkrun or exercise theme but this isn't a necessity if you have other ideas.

If you prefer, you could also/alternatively create a photo montage featuring interesting items or views you see while you are out exercising.

Simply email your puzzles, stories or montages to us at witney@parkrun.com by 7pm on MONDAY 25TH MAY and we'll collate them for the Witney Land Army team who will arrange to print and distribute them. If you submit puzzles, please remember to send the answers too!

Of course, you can ask your designated adults to email these to us if you prefer, and they don't even have to be within arm's length when they do... just remind them to include your name!

Please let us know if you have any questions. Otherwise, please spread the word and we look forward to hearing from you very soon. Stay safe and look after yourselves and others.

#loveparkrun

Not a run report “Teaser” Edition

Posted on May 3, 2020 by witneyoffice

Hey there, how are you all doing? Lovely to see many of you (safely) out and about this week hitting your "not a parkrun" 5K's or taking up other activities such as cycling in our beautiful countryside.

A big well done to everyone who joined the Great Big parkrun Quiz. A PB or not, great fun! And for those of you who guessed the RD in the photo, it was indeed RD Bertie!

This week we have a special edition "Teaser" not a run report for you ahead of a little bank holiday surprise! Kindly written by RD Ally. Can you guess what she is talking about:

#notaparkrun

After some initial chit-chat and warming up in preparation, we made our way to the familiar starting point up at West Witney. Eager faces listened to the run-briefing, ready to hi-five the hi-viz heroes and pay attention to the hazard areas around the course. Then 3-2-1, we were off!

Imagining the volume of happy faces through the trees, we each swiftly made our way through the out & back. Not surprisingly Tegs made a quick getaway on the small lap, while the rest of us were relying on the hi-viz heroes to boost our efforts. Hilarious cries of ‘No way - He can’t lap me already!’ were shouted by Bethany, but thankfully she held him off and Ally was giving it everything she had to be hot on his tail. Once we’d made it past the clubhouse on the small lap, we seemed to have found our rhythm and a consistent pace was maintained for the first of the larger laps. A boost from the hi-viz heroes, saw Rhys edge ahead of Ally, while Bethany spent a fair amount of time finding those hazards!

Once through the woods we were heading for the final lap and the gap was closing. Tegs had found a surge of energy as the volunteers with their pom-poms and cowbells cheered him on, and the rest of us needed to dig deep to get round that final loop. The kids were closing that gap as they came down Deer Park Rd, but Ally was determined to dig deep! This was the only time she’d ever been in this position and Tegs was in her sights. From nowhere, Rhys came sprinting past to take the lead, and Tegs appeared to have run out of energy as he was pretty much stationary for the next couple of minutes.

A sprint finish ensued between Rhys & Ally, with the 10 yr old being the first through the finish funnel in a time of 23.30, Ally 2^nd in 25.00, Tegs just behind in 26.30, and we all cheered Bethany in at 28.00

Needless to say Tegs was not happy with that result and would rather have run the actual course for real!! Roll on Witney parkrun's return!

Watch this space for more clues coming this week. In the meantime, #staysafe, #stayhome #loveparkrun

Non Run Report for Saturday 25th April 2020

Posted on April 26, 2020 by witneyoffice

What a wonderful response we had this week when we asked you to share your plans for your #notparkrunday.

We had incoming on all platforms and here is a compilation for your Sunday evening parkrun fix:

Martin Crabb:

"I participated in the Not the Oxfordshire Road Relays 5k organised by the Witney Roadrunners Club last weekend.
The event had 9 teams of 8 including one walker to accommodate no running Crabby. It was a fantastic event on your own but knowing others are with you all the way.
I smashed my target to get under 40 minutes speed walking by 34 seconds. Two members Lyn and Steve Hopkins we’re faster walkers than me. Lyn did say before the race if I can’t beat an old boy with a hip replacement she’d eat her trainers! Photo after finishing wearing my Cotswold Classic Shirt.
Can’t wait to Tail Walk at Witney parkrun. Love and hugs to you all"

Graham Carter:

"well I’ve done it, (the parkrun course) 4 times in the last week and a half. Course is best it’s ever been as no-one has been on it. Forest section is great with all the chippings put down. Easier to run round the corners. All grass sections are repaired very well. All in all a pleasure to run. It’s just missing the competitive edge of everyone else!"

Maria Fielden:

"I am going to run ....well walk/run/walk/run as I am on week 4 of Couch to 5K App so by the time I get to week 9 I will be running 5k´s....again hopefully with you all - I can social distance from the rear" (Editor's note: Well done Maria!)

Anthony Beardsley:

"Did a Zwift Run meet up with Dan Wymer and a couple more running friends. Really enjoyed it. Anyone else who has got a treadmill and uses Zwift is welcome to join us next Sat at 09:00"

Rob Gilkes:

"#noparkrun thanks for getting me out of bed to go and do a lovely 3 mile run!The cat saw me off, and a slightly chilly run around Ducklington lake, always a pleasure to run around"

Deborah Jackson:

"Been for a chilly 5 Km at the same time as my friend in Farmoor. Just about to have coffee with her via FaceTime"

Catherine Somerville Tyler:

"5k in the lean-to!"

Jody Smith:

"I’ve tried making a route on Strava to spell out parkrun using Witney roads... omg, this could well be the ultimate isolation challenge!" (Editor's note: we understand Jody might still be working on this challenge and we can't wait to see it!)

Dan Wymer:

Via Instagram: "Another #parkrun day in lockdown. Should have been RD at @witneyparkrun again today. Instead met up with Jenny & Jonathan from Alchester and Tony from @witneyroadrunners to do an inaugural #notaparkrun in Watopia.

Lovely one lap course - some beach, a causeway, mountains in the background and the deer were a surprise! Played around with the cameras too. I especially liked the helicam and moto cam to feel the action!

Next week we're heading to @gozwiftInnsbruck so if you have a treadmill & footpod (or Garmin 245/945) get signed up to Zwift, follow me and I'll send you the Meetup invite for next Saturday. #loveparkrun #missparkrun"

(Editor's note: we understand Dan also partook in 54 ascents of the stairs (equivalent of 2.6 times the height of the biggest hill on The Cotswold Classic course) in aid of African Children's Fund. We look forward to hearing more about this next week!)

Karen Rebecca:

"Matt, Fraser and I have been for our parkrun and I think we may have a few pbs in the bag. Obviously lock down is helping our fitness!! X x"

Tamsyn Wymer:

"Holy moly. 2.6 Challenge done! 26 planks for 26 seconds each. Abs, arms and legs all feeling that. I can still fortunately walk and not in too much agony. It hurt though! All in aid of the African Children's Fund" (Editor's note: well done Tamsyn, that is a feat indeed!)

Michael Lewis:

"No running, as usual, but thirty minutes aerobics,and tomorrow I plan to do the 2.6 challenge. 26 miles on my cycle turbo trainer in aid of Kidney Research`"

Punam Owens:

"I took the #pelofondo challenge with 490 other ladies and combined it with the #twopointsix challenge. Raising funds for the NHS together charities. Kept me busy! Meanwhile, Mr O continues to sport his #parkrunUK t-shirt while walking the dogs."

And last but not least via Twitter

@roxylicious1889:

"I created a run called Two Lap Tango here in Fox Bay, West Falklands. Each lap is 3.3k, so encouraging people to time it and then try and improve each attempt. There's only two of us at the moment but you have to start somewhere I suppose" (Editors note: We hope to add the history to this story next week.)

@upyrbike (Shaun Scott):

"#sleeping in after a night shift. Did my solo #notparkrun at work" Shaun is a front-line worker - a big thank you to you from us all!

So, there we are. An incredible community making the most of the the current lockdown. Stay safe everyone, stay home and #loveparkrun.

Until next week

“Not” a run report special compilation 18th April 2020

Posted on April 19, 2020 by witneyoffice

A big thank you to everyone who has submitted content for this weeks "not " a run report compilation. We love seeing what you have all been up to.

Mandy Lucas:

"The Lucas Lockdown parkrun is now in its Fourth week! I've been tailwalker every week and Kayleigh Lucas has been placed first each week! Might even make myself a tail for next week!"

Ruth Trout:

"Just did 5k round Burwell/Deer Park. Part of one of our Tuesdays night routes. I hadn’t intended going that far but allowed some peer pressure from my neighbour to spur me on for the final half K!"

Dan Wymer (RD):

"I should've been RD at Witney this week so instead I virtually parkrunned in Central Park, NYC. Two laps of the Onassis Reservoir, pan flat and beautiful views!"

Nikki Shaw:

"Morning - we did a beautiful 5k around Alvescot and Black Bourton this morning - we can’t wait to be back at parkrun soon! xx"

Trish Davies ( volunteer parkrun photographer)

"Well I have taken on a new challenge... couch25K and am making hearts to say thank you to my staff as I work in the NHS. Stay safe everyone x"

Karen Rebecca:

"Morning, Matt and I enjoyed an early morning 5k along the meadow and river with Alfie the dog.. We managed around 34 minutes which is a steady improvement"

Punam Owens (Co-ED)

"my husband Lewis and I were due to tail walk this week as part of our 28th wedding anniversary celebrations. So we walked the dogs instead!"

Graham Carter:

"I’ve been doing the parkrun quite a bit on my own. Nice and quiet."

Claire Soanes:

"Gorgeous bluebell woods near us are replacing Deer Park woods"

Cereta Drewett ( volunteer parkrun photographer)

"I am scanning all the family photos over nearly 80 years in order to make a book AND since lockdown I have taken up running again and completed my 162nd mile"

Michael Lewis:

"I’m having to shield so no running for me. I’ve bought a turbo trainer for my bike, so I’ve done several rides in my garden.
On the craft side, I’ve made a bug hotel"

Deborah Jackson:

"Did the online quiz and posted a miserable score of 5/15. Must do better!"

Andrew James Grundy Lyons:

"Took the opportunity to discover an empty central London on the run today."

And last but not least, many of our parkrunners have been volunteering for the Witney Land Army to help those in our community most in need - well done to you:

We know its going to be a long walk, jog or run until we can be back, so its been fabulous to see what you have been up to. We'd love to do it all again next week, so please do send in your snippets and fun facts!

In the meantime, take care everyone!

#staysafe, #stayhome #loveparkrun

12th April 2020 “Not a parkrun” run report x 2

Posted on April 12, 2020 by witneyoffice

Happy Easter Sunday. What a fabulous few days of sunshine we have had!

We are just loving everyone’s creativity so this week we have two “non” run reports for you…it is a holiday weekend after all!

Our first #notaparkrun run report is by our very own RD Dan Wymer who successfully held the inaugural Zwift Constitution Hill parkrun yesterday morning:

“The weather at the start was terrible with the rain so heavy you could hardly make out Buckingham Palace! After the briefest of briefings the crowd of 3 set off up The Mall - well 2 of the 3 did. Jonathan had volunteered to be Tail-walker at the last moment and took his role very seriously!

Fortunately the rain stopped by the time we got onto Birdcage Walk and the sun was shining as we neared Big Ben. Jenny and Dan kept taking it in turns for the lead throughout the course.

The turn at the bottom of The Strand meant only 800m to go and Jenny took and kept the lead to be first finisher under Admiralty Arch and the beaming sunshine”

Next week Dan will touristing at Zwift Onassis Reservoir parkrun! We look forward to hearing all about it!

Our second #nonrunreport is by Beth Soanes, one of our junior parkrunners. We shared some of her Logo creations yesterday and here they all are combined, just brilliant!