With the majority of local parkruns having been cancelled on the 27th due to snow, we all welcomed it back this week – whether running, volunteering or both. parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode (and some extra layers, and maybe a hat)!

This week we had 54 registered runners at 13 events in the UK.

Cannon Hill, having survived their first 500 events, had to wait an extra week for it’s 501st. Our running Lions were Nick, Neil, Arthur, Afshin, Sam, David, Gareth, Sean, Grace, Linda, Mark, Mark, Ania, Evan, Pam, Julie, James, Margaret, Julia, Laura, Suzy, Michael and Glen.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Ashton Court (Lorenzo), Arrow Valley (Darren, Ben, Lottie, Rebecca), Brueton (Mark), Worcester (Simon), Cheltenham (Issy), Llyn Llech Owain (Tom), Whinlatter Forest (Elizabeth, Iain), Perry Hall (Anthony), Severn Valley (Nigel), Babbs Mill (Bev), Oaklands (Dominika, Rob, Ian, Peter, Heidi), and Woodgate Valley Country Park (Maria, Taylor)

Personal Bests
Dominika was the first female finisher at Oaklands and with a new PB time!

Milestones
Arthur celebrated his 250th parkrun with his 100th Cannon Hill parkrun 

parkrunmas?

As we’re not too far off Christmas, and with it and New Year’s Day handily falling on a Saturday, parkruns up and down the country are declaring whether they will be putting events on one or both of the days. You can find the Special Events page here.

Locally, here’s a handy guide to who is hosting when:
Christmas Day Only: Arrow Valley, Brueton, Walsall Arboretum
New Year’s Day Only: Oaklands, Perry Hall, Wolverhampton, Woodgate Valley Country Park
Both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day: Babbs Mill, Cannock Chase, Cannon Hill, Severn Valley Country, Sutton Park

Don’t forget that these special events can only happen with volunteers!

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley Country Park: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, or tell us an amusing story that happened at parkrun, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!

As thoughts turn to the C word (no not Contra) and the temperatures get cooler, parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode (and some extra layers)!

This week we had 68 registered runners at 18 events UK and 1 in Denmark!  

Cannon Hill celebrated its 500th event and there was huge representation from Lions, in volunteer or runner form (and a couple who did both). Getting there early allowed Barbara, Rob and Mike to get the banner and flag up in prime positions around the bandstand. 34 Lions ran the familiar course taking in the sights of the MAC, Crazy Golf Course and the famed Stirchley Triangle. It was great to see so much orange and black kit coming through the funnel, where I handed out some of Andrew’s famous Kings Heath pom pom keyrings to runners – as well as telling them to keep in order and not to duck out of the funnel!

Our running Lions were Dave, Andrew, David, Richard, Paul, Ian, Paul, Afshin, Gareth, Tony, Grace, Sean, Steve, Stuart, Lottie, Scott, Sean, Ruth, Andy, Sue, Laura, Barbara, Heidi, Alex, Ania, Julie, Rebecca, Trudie, Pam, Michael, Laura, Bernadette, Rebecca and Jane.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Cardiff (Zara), Amager Fælled (Tracy), Banbury (Nick), Dudley (Mark), Brueton (Claire, Mark, Maria), Worcester Pitchcroft (Mark), Gladstone (Dave), Sheringham (Issy), Rother Valley (Arthur), Ormeau (Kate), Beeston (Tim), Fort William (Matt), California Country (Bev), Millennium Country (Lee), Severn Valley Country (Nigel), Oaklands (Tracie, Fay), Edgbaston Reservoir (Simon, Anthony, Anna), Woodgate Valley Country Park (Taylor).

Personal Bests
Dave equalled his PB set at Oaklands the other week, this time at Cannon Hill
Julie set a new PB at Cannon Hill

Milestones
Pam has now done 100 parkruns just at Cannon Hill, out of a total of 121

 

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley Country Park: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, or tell us an amusing story that happened at parkrun, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!

The Cross Country season started this weekend but for those not wanting to race, parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode!

This week we had 61 runners at 16 events UK.  

At our “home” parkrun of Cannon Hill there was 21 Lions taking part. Those running were Mark, Dean, Steve, Richard, Ben,. Lottie, Kate, Jane, Steve, Sue, Pam, Zoe, Margaret, Julia, Claire, Helen, Debbie, Bernadette, Laura, David, Rebecca.

On this coming Saturday (20th November) it is Cannon Hill parkrun’s 500th event – look out for the club flag, wear your kit and if you’re not running still come along and volunteer (see below for the contact information).

Oh and there will be cake.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Woodhouse Moor (Sam), Arrow Valley (Millie), Brueton (Sean, Mark, Kate), Walsall Arboretum (Rob, Ian, Afshin, Peter, Rob, Stuart, Heidi), Bolton (Iain, Elizabeth), Sandwell Valley (Nigel), Roundhay (Alexandra), Seaton (Issy, Michael), Stratford-upon-Avon (Dennis), Lochend Woods (Matt), Oaklands – their 2nd Anniversary parkrun (Beverley, Tracie, Fay), Berkeley Green (Anthony), Beacon (Grace), Edgbaston Reservoir (Anna), Woodgate Valley Country Park (Kevin, Karen)

Don’t forget your BarkCode!
An amusing tale from Oaklands this weekend involved club member Fay and her Hungarian Vizsla Ziggy.
Having finished their run, Fay picked up her finishing token and went over to me with it to be scanned. During the process she was giving Ziggy a treat for doing well and accidentally put the treats in the same hand as her token. Next thing we knew, where was the token? Down the back of Ziggy’s throat. Thankfully the token managed to be rescued, saving Fay from a large vet’s bill, but looking slightly worse for wear!

Photo courtesy of Tracie.

Personal Bests
Mark got yet another PB, this time at Cannon Hill

Milestones
No milestones this week!

 

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley Country Park: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, or tell us an amusing story that happened at parkrun, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!

This weekend may be firework central in the evening as we celebrate Diwali and Bonfire Night, but for some morning fireworks parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode!

This week we had 77 runners at 17 events UK.  

At our “home” parkrun of Cannon Hill there was 36 Lions taking part out of a total of 491! Those running were Tom, Dave, Javan, Nick, Neil, Chris, James, Rob, Sam, Evan, Jasper, Millie, Steve, Sean, Ian, Dean, Alex, Paul, Ben, Robert, Steve, Andy, Grace, Lottie, Barbara, Kate, Heidi, Debbie, Margaret, Laura, Michael, Trudie, Laura, Laura, Suzy, Rebecca.

We also had a Bushy pilgrimage from Alexandra.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Brueton (Colin, Claire, Mark, Kate), Worcester Pitchcroft (Bernice), Fountains Abbey (Maria), Panshanger (Tracy), Stratford-upon-Avon (Lindsey), Poolsbrook (Sean), Prospect (Arthur), Morecambe Prom (Elizabeth), Tetbury Goods Shed (Aine), Severn Valley Country (Nigel), King George V Playing Field (Issy), Oaklands (Michael, Beverley, Dave, Tracie), Edgbaston Reservoir (Mark, Sebastian, Afshin, Simon, Caroline, Anna, Michael), Woodgate Valley Country Park (Taylor), Sharpham Road Playing Fields (Tim)

As Maria ventured up north to the beautiful Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire, I asked her for a parkrun review:

A weekend away for my 30th of course meant we had to visit a new parkrun! Our cottage was fairly close to Fountains Abbey parkrun, a National Trust location with a beautiful monastery and grounds. I ran with my dog, which to be honest did mean I spent most of the run focussing on him rather than enjoying the scenery (he’s a rescue and his nervous behaviour around other dogs is very much a work in progress!). However, as expected from parkrun, but not to be taken for granted, the volunteers were nothing but lovely and supportive. I got chatting to one of the tail walkers who was a tourist volunteer from Nottingham and I think I might volunteer rather than run next time we go away – seems like a nice way to do it! The parkrun course is one small then one large loop, with views of the River Skell, the monastery and the surrounding landscape throughout. The course was ‘undulating’ and was both dog- and buggy-friendly. With the current burnt oranges and reds of Autumn, it was really stunning. I’d definitely recommend this one if you’re up Yorkshire-way! We also went for a walk this morning in Knaresborough, which we now know has a parkrun (Conyngham Hall parkrun) – I think this would be a nice one with bits of trail by the river and aqueduct, so that’s now on The List for future trips!

 

Personal Bests
Javan, Neil, Evan, and Andy all got new PBs at Cannon Hill
Mark got a PB at Edgbaston Reservoir

Milestones
Colin did his 50th parkrun at Brueton
Dave did his 100th parkrun at Cannon Hill and also got his best ever time there too
Aine did her 100th parkrun at the brilliantly named Tetbury Goods Shed

 

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley Country Park: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, like Maria did, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!

This weekend the clocks may be going back (bye bye BST) and Halloween is upon us, but parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode!

This week we had 45 runners at 10 spooky events in the UK.  Full credit goes to all of the volunteers and runners who dressed up for the occasion!

At our “home” parkrun of Cannon Hill there was 19 Lions taking part with our very own Lee as Run Director.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Brueton (Kate), Worcester Pitchcroft (Mark), Ludlow (Paul and Claire), Cwmbran (Nigel), Lochend Woods (Matt), Morecambe Prom (Iain), Babbs Mill (Beverley), Oaklands (Pam), Edgbaston Reservoir (Mark and Sebastian)

Personal Bests
None this weekend, but I suspect the weather didn’t help!

Milestones
None this weekend – lots of people are close though!

 

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

 

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!

Half term may have started, but parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode!

This week we had 60 runners at 12 events in the UK.

At our “home” parkrun of Cannon Hill there was 27 Lions taking part. Other local events saw Edgbaston Reservoir with 5 Lions and Brueton and Oaklands with 2 Lions each.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Heaton (Simon), Ashton Court (Lorenzo), Arrow Valley (Michael), Worcester Pitchcroft (Mark and Bernice), Walsall Arboretum (Scott), Sandwell Valley (Colin and Nigel), Armley (Alexandra), Peel (Dave).

Personal Bests
Neil and Paul got PBs at Cannon Hill
Dominika made it 2 PBs in a row following up her Oaklands PB from last week with one at Cannon Hill
Mark got a PB at Worcester Pitchcroft

Milestones
There were no milestones this week

 

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

 

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!

In the midst of autumn marathon season, parkrun is still going and is still free to take part in – just don’t forget your barcode!

This week we had runners at 22 events in the UK and one in Amsterdam, as Maria took part in the Amsterdam Sebos parkrun the day before she completed the Amsterdam Marathon.

At our “home” parkrun of Cannon Hill there was 17 Lions taking part, Oaklands was busier than normal with the arrival of the With Me Now podcast doing their 2021 Pow Wow at the course – 12 Lions also participated. At Woodgate Valley’s 11th event there was 7 Lions – and always a big thumbs up to the core team there including our very own Mike and Pete. Michael finished first at Bolberry Down parkrun with a time of 19:09.

There was also Lions at the following locations: Woodhouse Moor (Alexandra), Reading (Mark), Ashton Court (Lorenzo), Brueton (Millie, Claire, Mark), Worcester (Sean), Worcester Pitchcroft (Mark), Walsall Arboretum (Scott), Goole (Arthur), Perry Hall (Caroline), Conwy (Lindsey), Burnham and Highbridge (Tracy), Stratford-upon-Avon (Paul), Great Denham (Kevin), Morecambe Prom (Elizabeth), Severn Valley (Nigel), Babbs Mill (Beverley), Warwick Racecourse (Aidan), and Edgbaston Reservoir (Sebastian, Tony).

Personal Bests
Oaklands was the place to be for PBs with Dave, Nick and Dominika getting their best times on the 3 lap course
Julie got a PB at Woodgate Valley

Milestones
Lindsey joined the 25 Club
Scott joined the 100 Club
Dave joined the Cowell Club

 

What is the Cowell Club do you ask? There was only one person to ask and that was Dave: “Named after Chris Cowell, the first to complete it, to join the Cowell Club one needs to complete a parkrun at 100 different venues. The UK parkrun Tourists Facebook group use the ‘Cow Cowl’ – a ‘Buff-type’ neckwear with a cow design – to recognise each other when on tour or just out and about. Tourists have been known to celebrate their ‘Cowell Run’, and even half or quarter Cowells, with cake, fancy dress and the like!”

 

Volunteering

Don’t forget – your local parkruns need your support this (and every) weekend, can you help out and volunteer? If you still want to run, roles such as pre-event set up and first timers briefing mean that you can volunteer and run – meaning you get double the credit towards those all important milestone t-shirts. Without enough volunteers these events won’t happen.

Please contact on the following email addresses:

Cannon Hill: cannonhill@parkrun.com

Oaklands (opposite the Swan Centre in Yardley): oaklands@parkrun.com

Edgbaston Reservoir: edgbastonreservoir@parkrun.com

Woodgate Valley: woodgatevalleycountrypark@parkrun.com

Cannon Hill Junior parkrun (Sunday mornings): cannon-hill-juniors@parkrun.com

 

If you are a club member don’t forget to go to your parkrun profile – then click on Groups – then you can add Kings Heath Running Club and your name could appear in future reports! 

For those of us with children/who work in education, next week is half term so I look forward to seeing some more parkrun tourism on the next two reports.

If you would like to review a parkrun for us, please get in touch and I will include it on a future report – pictures and Strava screenshots welcome!