Elusive 100th Parkrun

I want one! Vibrant shirts tout runners’ grand achievements of 25, 50 or 100 Parkruns. How hard can it be? 52 weeks per year… do the Maths! Yep… you’ve got it! Two measly years and four weeks margin to wag or wimp out!

Two years of procrastinating and vague gunna-do notions finally bore fruit. At the crack of dawn, I braved the eager throngs milling about, vibrantly clad in all manner of exercise garb… stretching, jogging on the spot, raring to go.

Parkrun, in all its obsessive glory! Overwhelmed Little Me, nervously waited — engulfed in the midst of helpful volunteers, excitedly yapping dogs and cheerily chatting competitors — swamped! I did survive that 5 km maiden run and was soon addicted — along with hundreds of others —bright and early each Saturday morning.

Rocketing along, I hit #25… then COVID struck and stalled everything. Sadly, 50 notParkruns and another 10 jaunts covering 5kms, didn’t count towards 100 official Parkruns! Being fit and healthy with a newly acquired endorphin addiction was no defence against quirky minor injuries and ailments… a million obstacles, keeping me from the prize!

Two years flew by and saw me languishing at #67. Persistence paid off. My chief rival, Joyce’s catchcry became mine…

I can always walk it!

However, like a horse, powerless to resist surging across the start line with the pack, so too am I, at Parkrun. Walk, inevitably segued into run. One especially satisfying PB (Personal Best) was not my fastest time. For the first time ever, I’d run every step of the way, rather than my usual alternating speed walk and jog routine, culminating in a sprint finish.

As seems to be my style, each time I set my sights on faster times and higher fitness levels, the wheels fall off and I derail for far too long. This year has seen me languishing at #74.

Thankfully, while Parkrun has been off limits to me, Vocal became my new obsession.

Yet again, I’m staging a Parkrun comeback… surely nothing can go wrong this time!

Eyes set firmly on the annoyingly elusive 100… here I come!