Some of the usual suspects braved the chilly weather and made their way down to Valentines Park to assist run director Wendy in making sure parkrun went ahead safely.

• Ed was at his usual spot guarding the main car park entrance
• Kathryn kept track and timed all the finishers
• Peter assisted at the 2nd car park by forming a human bollard guarding a spot of ice right where the parkrunners would turn the corner.

P.S. hope you feel better soon James P.P.S that skyin looked pretty chilly as well Julia

Another Saturday, another parkrun at Valentines

Once again the weather did cooperate, the rain lashing the country overnight subsided and a crisp clear December morning made for good running weather.

Ed did his usual at the car park entrance. Linda walked a lap with R and then chased down the Tail Walker - she made it look easy! And I ended up on my first experience of the app to do timings

Side note - Julia chased down James, who managed to just stay ahead. #96 done for her, still on track to hit 100 before end of year

A windy morning meant a series of parkruns were cancelled, but the course at Valentines Park stood up to the weather - it was on!

I think it doesn't need mentioning what task Ed got assigned - Marshalling the car park entrance for the 202nd time?

Linda was initially busy sorting out unlocking the toilet block before reverting back to usual patient saint and walk with R.

After helping setting up the funnel and being told i'd scan, then Marshall, then scan, then tokens, I ended up having to dash to get to my marshalling location. Some of the geese were clearly not fussed about people, not giving an inch while strolling about, but no incidents nor upset birdsong!

• same location - Valentines Park
• same 3 people available - Ed, Linda & Peter
• unfortunately not quite the same 3 tasks - Linda & Ed did, but after 2x tokens it was marshaling at the boat house instead for Peter the week

almost like a carbon copy of last week:

• Ed marshaling the main carpark for the 201st time
• Linda doing unofficial assisted/VI guiding (think she lost count how often)
• Peter doing tokens for 2nd week in a row

Will there be a hatrick next week?

Time will tell.

P.S. cudos to James C for helping to pack up after - better luck next time in the 'who rolls up the funnel tape fastest' contest

P.P.S. anyone know what the record is for volunteering at the same parkrun doing the same task?

Using one of Ed's legendary Marshalling phrases for the report title to celebrate his 200th parkrun volunteer session. 🥳

Originally reluctantly dragged to his first parkrun in July 2019 (by Linda in the hope he might take up running) Ed opted to volunteer and was immediately hooked. Soon his enthusiasm and witty encouraging phrases became legendary among not only the parkrun community but spread to other local running groups.

With Ed proudly taking up his usual post as car park marshal the rest of us were scattered around the course taking on a variety of jobs, marshaling, VI walker, timekeeping, token giver and bar-code scanning. The Run Director bigged up Eds achievement during the briefing instructing runners to cheer him back as he cheered them on the way round- which I am reliably informed they did.

We came together at the end, with some of us assisting with the close down before settling in a corner of the children's playground for a cup of something and a bite to eat. Sadly Colin couldn't make it this week but sent his stand in Wiggles instead 🐛