K is for Kingston and inspiring Kids
This is a two part blog update around the letter K of my Parkrun Alphabet Challenge — over the wintry weekend of 21/22 January.
My 5k parkrun venue took me to the river Thames, and the scenic Kingston course along the banks of the river. It was an hours drive, so I left home just before first light at 7.30am, on a cold and frosty morning. The external temperature was minus 3 when I got in the car — so I was feeling very grateful that it was garaged overnight to avoid extensive scraping to remove the frost.
The traffic was easy so I made it in good time to the Hawker Centre, with it’s large car park available for park runners — a great facility for visiting ‘tourists’ like myself. The scenery when I got out the car was stunning with a beautiful sunrise along the Thames Path.
I had dressed appropriately for the conditions:
- Trail shoes to overcome the frozen ground — given there were some off road sections
- Hat, gloves, running longs and multiple layers — which was actually the first time I have had to take these measures for park run this winter having been away on holiday when we had the previous cold snap in December.
My evening training run during the week had proven to myself that sub-zero temperatures are perfectly okay for running, given the technical fabrics now available. A wise person once said to me there’s no such thing as bad weather, just a poor choice of clothing. Today’s park run proved they were right!
At ten to nine the start area quickly filled up with participants. In total there were over 300 runners, which may have been as a result of other local events being cancelled due to the icy conditions. This is quite a large throng for the organisers to communicate their messages around milestones, without the use of a microphone or loudhailer.
The course was simple to follow, with a lap of the field adjacent to the river — to thin the field out — before an out and back loop alongside the river.
There was plenty to see along the route. First up were some open water swimmers (yes, really on such a frosty day) who were going for a cold water dip. Next we ran by the weir and lock at Teddington, although it was unsurprisingly empty of boats. And finally a group of canoeists making their way up stream.
One of the practical realities of park run is that you are exercising in a shared use space, meaning there were several shouts out to allow cyclists to pass, overtaking parents pushing buggies and the inevitable dodging around dogs off a lead, going for their morning walk with their owners. All very friendly with plenty of communications to warn other runners of the ‘hazards’ ahead.
The turn point along the Thames path involved a short stretch off road — no problems with ice but definitely firm conditions under foot from the frozen ground. The route back was in an easterly direction, straight back into the glare of the rising sun. Very atmospheric.
The finish funnel was by the Hawker centre, and despite the frozen off-road section the time was a fast one, with me finishing in position 68, third in age group, in a time below 24 minutes. So the flat terrain had a greater influence on the run. For those who want to target a PB — then I suggest that summer in Kingston would be a good place to try.
Part 2 of this blog post is about how junior parkrun inspires the next generation of kids.
The back story to us getting up early on Sunday to go and spectate originates from the Henley run, just before Christmas, where I was joined by my son Harry. It was his first park run, and when he got home and told his family what he had done the kids wanted to know what they could do. Fast forward to January and there are now three new junior park runners — Ashton, Blake and Piper — having taken part a couple of times.
It was time for us as grand parents to go and watch. The weather forecast was not great — with overnight yellow warnings of fog — but the Sunday started clear with us in Wokingham, so we set off just after 8 to head over to Aldershot for the Queens Parade event. We had to dodge around the road closures for the Farnborough Half Marathon that was also taking place that day but made it to the start with ten minutes to spare. The venue is surrounded by the Army sports facilities, with plenty of open space to accommodate a two lap course to cover the 2k distance.
If you haven’t been to a junior park run then it’s exactly the same concept as the adult version — with a few fun adaptations. With milestones, there are wristbands presented to the kids when they get to 11 events (the equivalent of a half marathon), 21 events (the Marathon Club) and 50 events (the Ultra Marathon club). Any kids aged between 4 and 14 can participate, and today’s HM wristband was to a girl who was definitely at the lower end of that age range — and her smile was beaming. Then the kids get to do a warm-up, led by the Run Director, which on such a chilly morning was welcome for us spectators as well.
The other thing we learned today — which encourages regular participation — is that Blake (aged 7) is using park run for his hobbies badge at Beavers. He has to complete 7 events to qualify for the badge, and the psychologists say that it takes six repetitive actions to form a habit, so that makes a lot of sense.
So over this frosty and now foggy weekend, I can vouch that park run is definitely alive and kicking. Well done to everyone who braved the cold.
And if this has inspired you, then head over to my justgiving page and spare a few pennies for the BHF which is who I am fund raising for across my alphabet challenge. I’m now receiving donations from fellow park run participants, which is make the whole reason for blogging so worthwhile. Thank you.
