parkrun

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Palmy Christmas parkrun

Date: 16 December 2017
Distance: 5km
Time: 38.08
Previous: Hamilton #1, Palmy #1, Kapiti Coast #1, Palmy #2, Porirua #1

Another change in our work schedule meant we could fit in another backyard parkrun. The organisers decided to make it a Christmas themed event, so we all (okay, some of us) dressed up for the occasion. Continue reading →

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Porirua parkrun

Date: 2 December 2017
Distance: 5km
Time: 29.27
Previous: Hamilton #1, Palmy #1, Kapiti Coast #1, Palmy #2

A big field of about 130 runners/walkers.
Catching up with Gary before the start.
After about 15 minutes of “formalities”, we were on our way.
It’s another beautiful course winding its way up the gorge.
One kilometre down, and still slowly going uphill.
Gary and I charging around the corner.
At 2km, the field has already spread out a lot.
Sheltered from the sun and wind, but still very humid.
The halfway turn-around. Of the four different parkruns I’ve done, three of them have an out-and-back course.
The course is shared with MTBs.
Going downhill was much easier and faster than on the way out.
Nice to have permanent signage for a parkrun. Hope Palmy can also get that one day.

On another work outing to Wellington, we decided to try the Porirua parkrun, which saw its first running in the winter of 2013. We haven’t done it before and aren’t too sure when we will get the opportunity again. Continue reading →

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Kapiti Coast parkrun

Date: 11 November 2017
Distance: 5km
Time: 28.36
Previous: Hamilton #1, Palmy #1

At the start, having a quick chat with Gary (who also offered to take our pic – thanks Gary!).
73 runners and walkers gathered for this weeks parkrun.
Race briefing.
Shortly after the start and we were right at the back with one or two others.
A sheltered path.
Off-road all the way.
The speedsters are already on their way back.
A beautiful morning for it.
The Tararuas in the distance.
Finally at the turn-around point.
Despite a faster split on the way back, we were still quite “alone”.
Passing under the new SH1.
Without volunteers, parkrun cannot happen.

For more than six years, we’ve been driving down to Wellington on Saturday mornings for work. Not every Saturday, but on average about ten to twenty times per year. And for the past many years, we spoke about how we should leave earlier and do a parkrun on the way down. Having to work on a Saturday, is bad enough, let alone having to get up very early to drive down and still be in time. To fit in a parkrun would mean getting up even earlier, which sounded like pure torture. And with Fridays being, well, Fridays – the end of the week, time for a glass or two, movie, late night, contemplating the week and philosophising about life into the wee hours of the morning – getting up early on a Saturday is the last thing you want to do. And getting up really, really early is the very last thing you want to do. Continue reading →

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Inaugural Palmy Parkrun

Date: 28 October 2017
Distance: 5km
Time: 32:10
Previous: 2015

217 (in 2017 :-)) participants turned up for the inaugural Palmy Parkrun.
Kate doing briefing.
Starting at the Fitzherbert Bridge, participants run/walk upstream for 2.5km, before turning around and running/walking back.
The Bridle Track is the perfect course for this event.
A sunny, warm and windless day for the first one.
A beautiful course next to the river.
The out-and-back course makes for a very social outing.
The fast runners zooming past.
The track is still open to the public, but we didn’t see many people around that early.
The turn-around point.
One of the friendly marshals on the course.
Next up, Feilding Moa’s Marathon, and shorter distances.
Suzanne busy scanning Gerry’s barcode.

As I’ve mentioned before, parkrun has started in 2004 already, and has worldwide been on the scene since 2007. The only other parkrun I’ve done, is the one in Hamilton some two years ago. The stats have changed considerably since then with the amount of locations (more than 1200) nearly double what it was in 2015! Continue reading →

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Parkrun – Hamilton, New Zealand

Date: 22 August 2015

Distance: 5km

Time: 31.44

Why not dress up to make your mark at Parkrun?
Although quite chilly, it was a lovely morning for a run.
From the Hamilton Yacht Club, just follow the path around the lake.
Scenic and well kept park.
Circumnavigating the beautiful little Lake Rotoroa.
Pathway cutting across and through boggy areas.
No wind or rain – yay!
Gerry on an leisurely morning trot.

Parkrun has taken the world by storm! And there’s no signs of slowing down – all over the world new Parkruns pop up and more people join every day.

This all started in 2004 in the UK with the Bushy Parkrun (formerly known as Bushy Park Time Trial) when it was founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt. The organisers figured it would be a good idea to spread the Parkrun event to other locations and in 2007 new events started popping up across London and the UK. It has subsequently also spread to other parts of the world and roughly 13 countries currently participate in what is now a worldwide event run entirely by volunteers. The Bushy Parkrun is the oldest parkrun in the world. Continue reading →