Parkrun controversy and a record

16 April 2016

Every Saturday morning Commando gets up early for the Parkrun, usually on Southampton Common. Although his ankle still wasn’t quite right it was feeling much better and he didn’t want to miss this week’s run.
“I’ll just pootle round at an easy pace,” he said, “see how the ankle does.”
I wasn’t entirely sure I believed that so I decided to go along to keep an eye on him. Besides, Parkrun was all over the news since Stoke Gifford Parish Council had controversially announced they were going to start charging for theirs. As the government are trying to persuade porky Brits to get off the couch and get moving, this seemed like a rather short sighted plan. Obviously, the popularity of local Parkruns made them look like a cash cow in need of exploitation.

Like most people I wondered how a council could justify charging people to run around a public park for half an hour on a Saturday morning? After all, it doesn’t cost them anything. The Parkrun organisers do all the work, along with volunteer marshals. They even clear up any litter afterwards. No one pays to run. No money is made. It isn’t as if anyone else is clamouring to get in the parks at that time on a Saturday. Other than Parkruners they’re mostly empty, save for a few hardy dog walkers or the odd cyclist and there’s plenty of room for everyone. Are they going to start charging them admittance next?

Typical of my luck, it was raining and rather chilly when we arrived at the Common. It didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm though. We had been amongst the first to arrive but, as start time approached, it became clear this Parkrun was more popular than usual. People just kept on arriving. In part this may have been due to the Stoke Gifford controversy, but, with the Southampton Half Marathon fast approaching, it was always going to be a busy weekend.

The park was soon filling up with runners a rainbow of bright Lycra, club shirts, jogging gear and other assorted sports wear. All ages, shapes, sizes and abilities were gathering ready for a three mile run around the damp and slightly muddy Common, including one blind runner with a guide to help him round. Frankly, they made me, a mere walker, feel rather inadequate. Lots were muttering about Stoke Gifford and pleased to learn Southampton Council had announced they would most definitely not be charging for Parkruns in our city.

As start time approached I left them to it and tried to find a good spot to watch them set off. John, the Parkrun Event Director, was on the megaphone. They were on their marks. Then they were off thundering past me in a determined stream.

It went on…

…and on…

When, finally, the last runner had passed me I left John to his organising and went for a wander. Near the start sign bikes and bags were piled up around every available bin and tree and the handful of other spectators were either standing around or heading for the Hawthorns Cafe to get out of the rain. If I’d been sensible I might have joined them but being sensible isn’t something I’ve ever been accused of.

When I passed the cafe sign advertising bacon sandwiches and coffee for just £3.50, there was a moment of wavering. It really was a soggy, unpleasant morning. On our way to the start though, we’d seen a really lovely tableau of bluebells and daffodils and I wanted a closer look. The side trail I originally meant to take proved to be muddier than expected so I ended up heading past umbrella wielding walkers to the park entrance on Cemetery Road.

My reward for the extra walk was a large patch of ransoms, dripping with rain along with bluebells I hadn’t noticed earlier and some sodden flowering sedge. The rain was beginning to seep through my down jacket by the time I found what I was looking for.

The stunning array of bluebell flowers, white, pink and, of course, blue, along with silver splashed spotted dead nettle leaves and a few tall daffodils made me forget the rain. Crouching, I snapped away and smiled to myself. Mother Nature is a far better gardener than I, for sure.

A quick look at my watch told me I’d better be heading back, those runners don’t hang about. No snail like fifteen minute miles for them (not even the slowest ones). As I headed back through the drizzle I could see runners streaming down towards the Cowherds through a gap in the trees. By the time I got back to the start finish loop plenty had already made it back and were getting their timing chips read. As Commando was running with the newbys I hoped I hadn’t missed him.

There were runners going in all directions, seemingly random but, to the initiated like me it was easy to spot those turning for the final loop and those peeling off for the finish line. For a while I stood and watched, one eye looking out for Commando. As soon as I could I crossed the track and headed for the finish line.

It wasn’t long before I saw Commando he looked none the worse for the run.

We hung around for a while chatting to people in the mud and rain. It turns out this was a record breaking Parkrun. Eight hundred and sixty seven people turned out on this horrible morning to run three miles around Southampton Common, that’s twenty three more than the previous record! Many of those same people will be running the Southampton Half Marathon in just over a week.

This was a record breaking Parkrun because of the Half Marathon and the debacle at Stoke Gifford but every Saturday morning, in parks all over the world, people come together to run three miles, rain or shine. They’re all shapes and sizes, all ages and abilities. Some people run like the wind, others plod along, some even walk. The important thing is they’re out there doing something to keep them fit and healthy. It may have been wet and muddy but it was free to everyone and that is just how it should be.

Please see my copyright information before you copy or use any of the above words or pictures.