Since brevity is the soul of wit …. I will be brief

Christ, I’m blogging twice a day. If only I could train twice a day I might get somewhere. Thing is, I just hit the send button on my earlier blog without stopping to re-read and reflect. I forgot a couple of things about parkrun that I wanted to say.

As Sam announced to the gathered runners that this was my 100th run, I felt a tap on my shoulder followed by some down to earth irreverent banter from a 70 year old who frequently finishes ahead of me and is always top age grade performer. When we were chatting at the end of the race a youngster demonstrated the Swiss Army Knife he got for Christmas. Blimey, those things have moved on; there’s a gadget for just about everything including the obligatory tool for removing boy scouts from horses hooves. The point is that you make friends with people from all age groups. Of course there is a downside to that; I haven’t decided which irritates me most, being beaten by an ankle biter or by a coffin dodger. Both are equally galling if I’m going to be honest.

Before and after the run you get chatting to both the super speedy and those who hang around at the back of the field. You get to recognise and chat to runners of all abilities and share experiences over a coffee. You have a common interest that cuts across ability and social background. I have no idea what most people do for a living; they’re just runners.

For me and Liz, parkrun was a gateway to joining a running club and doing sufficient exercise for it to be demonstrably beneficial. I know we’re not alone in gaining the confidence to join a running club as a result of running at parkrun. Of course we think our club is the friendliest running club in the area, but there are some really welcoming folk from other running clubs. We don’t see so much of the Eccleshill mob now they have their own Bradford parkrun, but they’re a top group. We’ve also become friends with some of the Valley Striders and Horsforth Harriers runners who also value the social aspects of parkrun.

Finally, I forgot to acknowledge Helen Turton for the use of her photo. Not the Swiss army knife, though I’m sure she could make it look more interesting but for the 118 photo last time.

So. Not that brief then.