Discussion
LastPoster said:
GloverMart said:
Just got back from my parkrun, all I can say is "Wow!".
Was at my local one, Chipping Sodbury, and arrived in good time. It was apparent waiting for the briefing that it was busier than normal, so much so that I left it early just to get somewhere near a decent starting spot. Ran it and finished in 29:39 however it was another 90 seconds-2 minutes before I got through the funnel. Not fussed as it wasn't a PB but fantastic to see the place rammed with people.
As I left to walk back to the car, the queue for the funnel stretched for maybe 75-100 metres - if you know the course, it was back to the little play area by the speed bump. They average 295 finishers, last Christmas Day was 565 finishers; today would have dwarfed that. Great to see and thanks to all the volunteers.
Well done Mart. Results are up Was at my local one, Chipping Sodbury, and arrived in good time. It was apparent waiting for the briefing that it was busier than normal, so much so that I left it early just to get somewhere near a decent starting spot. Ran it and finished in 29:39 however it was another 90 seconds-2 minutes before I got through the funnel. Not fussed as it wasn't a PB but fantastic to see the place rammed with people.
As I left to walk back to the car, the queue for the funnel stretched for maybe 75-100 metres - if you know the course, it was back to the little play area by the speed bump. They average 295 finishers, last Christmas Day was 565 finishers; today would have dwarfed that. Great to see and thanks to all the volunteers.
First achievement wish achieved 
804 runners, that has to be a record for Chipping Sodbury.
Merry Christmas to you, mate, and catch up soon.
https://youtu.be/B1ttwlX276o?si=J2WwNBPPQWqGulzc
A 19:17 today. 2nd in the over 40 category so happy with that. Quite a few visitors. Decided to film it as it's Christmas.
A 19:17 today. 2nd in the over 40 category so happy with that. Quite a few visitors. Decided to film it as it's Christmas.
226 runners turned up at Rugby inc a few new to Parkrun, good effort. Just over 200 is a typical amount for an average Saturday here. Nearby Daventry was also on, they had 444 attend, +100 on their normal numbers. It is a flatter course than Rugby, why I believe it’s always better attended than Rugby.
Slower than average time for me today, but I got round and ticked off some challenges on the app.
Slower than average time for me today, but I got round and ticked off some challenges on the app.
Twolane said:
Nearby Daventry was also on, they had 444 attend, +100 on their normal numbers. It is a flatter course than Rugby, why I believe it s always better attended than Rugby.
Daventry is pretty narrow for the first km or so, frustrating if you start in the wrong place, probably more so with that many people. Nice route though.I didn't do one today, had a couple of drinks last night, and then my daughter was up at 7:30 to open presents, so wouldn't really have had time to get anywhere. Will do one on Saturday.
mike80 said:
Daventry is pretty narrow for the first km or so, frustrating if you start in the wrong place, probably more so with that many people. Nice route though.
I didn't do one today, had a couple of drinks last night, and then my daughter was up at 7:30 to open presents, so wouldn't really have had time to get anywhere. Will do one on Saturday.
Yes it is narrow, I was there a couple of weeks ago with 277 runners and took 30 secs from the off to pass the start line. I’m not fast enough to start near the front so just how it is. Also narrows about 500 m in where it passes through a gateway. I didn't do one today, had a couple of drinks last night, and then my daughter was up at 7:30 to open presents, so wouldn't really have had time to get anywhere. Will do one on Saturday.
As you say though, nice run around the reservoir.
I ran at Poole this morning. My second Christmas Day there, and my third visit. I did their their "twixtmas" Saturday on 28th December last year too (in a finish time of 00:26:55).
1625 participants today, I got token number 376, but the results email said 379th. Official parkrun finish time was 00:24:12
Strava time for the parkrun 5k route segment was faster, but I got distracted chatting to the tailwalkers and started right at the back, so no real hope of posting a good time. It was a course PB, though, and by 2 minutes and 43 seconds. I'm very happy with that. Christmas Day was a busy one so I haven't dug into the numbers as much as I usually do.
I may try again at Poole, and aim for a sub-23 minute finish. I'd have to concentrate at the start, though, to stand any chance of pulling pulling it off...
1625 participants today, I got token number 376, but the results email said 379th. Official parkrun finish time was 00:24:12
Strava time for the parkrun 5k route segment was faster, but I got distracted chatting to the tailwalkers and started right at the back, so no real hope of posting a good time. It was a course PB, though, and by 2 minutes and 43 seconds. I'm very happy with that. Christmas Day was a busy one so I haven't dug into the numbers as much as I usually do.
I may try again at Poole, and aim for a sub-23 minute finish. I'd have to concentrate at the start, though, to stand any chance of pulling pulling it off...
Edited by yellowjack on Friday 26th December 02:04
Volling at Preston Park
We used the Real Double Funnel (each funnel has its own timers and tokens, our software merges them) which meant we handled 1475 finishers, 200 more than last year. Need to make it even more stupidly long next year, or go for Triple!! Surely we can't get more next year, but we'll have to assume we will, surely it's got to peak at some point!
It's great fun and a good atmosphere but full on. Fortunately we had 7 of us for lunch so the first party game was token sorting.
Looking forward to tomorrow with normal (~600) numbers, no responsibility and I can just run.
We used the Real Double Funnel (each funnel has its own timers and tokens, our software merges them) which meant we handled 1475 finishers, 200 more than last year. Need to make it even more stupidly long next year, or go for Triple!! Surely we can't get more next year, but we'll have to assume we will, surely it's got to peak at some point!
It's great fun and a good atmosphere but full on. Fortunately we had 7 of us for lunch so the first party game was token sorting.
Looking forward to tomorrow with normal (~600) numbers, no responsibility and I can just run.
Well done John - that’s a huge crowd to manage.
I ran at Leybourne Lakes where 750 took part - a record attendance beating the last one by about 120 (Christmas day 2024). It’s about double the usual number. Not an easy one for the volunteers to manage, but everyone went away happy.
Maidstone River Park is only 5km away and they also broke their attendance record. Royal Tunbridge Wells is the closest to where I live that hosts a Christmas run, but it’s a muddy course in winter that puts off some - not yesterday though - they also saw a record attendance.
I ran at Leybourne Lakes where 750 took part - a record attendance beating the last one by about 120 (Christmas day 2024). It’s about double the usual number. Not an easy one for the volunteers to manage, but everyone went away happy.
Maidstone River Park is only 5km away and they also broke their attendance record. Royal Tunbridge Wells is the closest to where I live that hosts a Christmas run, but it’s a muddy course in winter that puts off some - not yesterday though - they also saw a record attendance.
And there was me thinking that 665 at Dinton Pastures (+200 on normal) seemed like a very busy event….some of the participant numbers mentioned here are incredible! Double funnel too 
Even with 665, the funnel filled and queue extended back, meaning the time keepers had to ‘follow’ the end of the queue.
Even with 665, the funnel filled and queue extended back, meaning the time keepers had to ‘follow’ the end of the queue.
MattyD803 said:
And there was me thinking that 665 at Dinton Pastures (+200 on normal) seemed like a very busy event .some of the participant numbers mentioned here are incredible! Double funnel too
Even with 665, the funnel filled and queue extended back, meaning the time keepers had to follow the end of the queue.
845 at Harrogate yesterday, we only get around 300 normally at this time of year...Even with 665, the funnel filled and queue extended back, meaning the time keepers had to follow the end of the queue.
towser44 said:
Some big numbers, it's amazing to see!
There was just under 700 at the one I went to in Crewe, Delamere Forest had 1,160. Saw one in Wales, which had 9 runners last weekend and 11 the weekend before, hit the dizzy heights of 37 yesterday ha ha!
We did Delamere last year, it was such mayhem that we gave it a wide berth!There was just under 700 at the one I went to in Crewe, Delamere Forest had 1,160. Saw one in Wales, which had 9 runners last weekend and 11 the weekend before, hit the dizzy heights of 37 yesterday ha ha!
Yes, another cold one again this morning at a much quieter Chipping Sodbury.
Ended up making my debut this morning as a pacer for 32 minutes, remarkable how many people chat to you on the way around and say thanks as they run with you or overtake. Really rewarding and ended up nailing 32 minutes dead although I did have to slow down a little on the final km as I'd got a few seconds ahead of myself.
So that's my parkrun year over and done with now. Completed 48 parkruns out of a possible 54; the six I missed were down to early kick offs at work (twice), 10k events the next day (twice), weather (once) and volunteering as a marshal (once).
I grabbed four more volunteer credits through run reports (2) , pacing (1) and marshalling (1) although that last one was a cancelled event.
As far as achievements go, I've reduced my PB at my home course from 34:25 to 29:19 and the other two local courses I visit, I've also reduced PB's by a similar amount. I've stated my aims for next year on both the running thread and my own reboot thread so won't repeat them again suffice to say I'm super excited at what lies ahead.
Parkrun has been a massive help to me these past 18 months and I hope to continue doing them as along as I can. To bookend this post, today was also my 75th parkrun, not a milestone as such but one I shall raise a glass to later on. And this is also a terrifc thread for reading of other's challenges and successes and keeping us all accountable, Happy New Year to all of you.
Ended up making my debut this morning as a pacer for 32 minutes, remarkable how many people chat to you on the way around and say thanks as they run with you or overtake. Really rewarding and ended up nailing 32 minutes dead although I did have to slow down a little on the final km as I'd got a few seconds ahead of myself.
So that's my parkrun year over and done with now. Completed 48 parkruns out of a possible 54; the six I missed were down to early kick offs at work (twice), 10k events the next day (twice), weather (once) and volunteering as a marshal (once).
I grabbed four more volunteer credits through run reports (2) , pacing (1) and marshalling (1) although that last one was a cancelled event.
As far as achievements go, I've reduced my PB at my home course from 34:25 to 29:19 and the other two local courses I visit, I've also reduced PB's by a similar amount. I've stated my aims for next year on both the running thread and my own reboot thread so won't repeat them again suffice to say I'm super excited at what lies ahead.
Parkrun has been a massive help to me these past 18 months and I hope to continue doing them as along as I can. To bookend this post, today was also my 75th parkrun, not a milestone as such but one I shall raise a glass to later on. And this is also a terrifc thread for reading of other's challenges and successes and keeping us all accountable, Happy New Year to all of you.
Managed a PB of 26:20 this morning, wasn't sure what I was going to do today as I've put a load of miles into my legs over the last couple of weeks as stress relief but as a came towards the end I looked at my watch and saw I was close so I sprinted like a man possessed and stood at the finish a bit swayey and trying not to be sick!
Was just what needed today!
Was just what needed today!
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