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The 100

This Saturday (or parkrunday as it has become known over the last three years), I reached a significant parkrun milestone - my 100th run. I spent the week before hoping that freak storms or an unexpected roller coaster ride didn't put Hanley parkrun in jeopardy, and of course, that I remembered my barcode (thanks to Kirsten for the reminders).

100 parkruns. 500km. 

For those of you who know me from Hanley parkrun, it might not seem strange or unexpected. You might think I've always been a runner. For those of you who have known me longest, the idea of me completing even one parkrun may seem ridiculous. You knew me when I wouldn't (or couldn't) even run for a bus.

 At my first parkrun in November 2011, there were 39 runners and I finished in 26th place in 28:40. I managed a 9-week PB streak at Hanley from December 2011 to March 2012, improving my time to 24:53. For my 50th run, in April 2013, I ran a very chatty 27:26 alongside Kirsten Owen and we finished in 32nd and 33rd). I was presented with my red 50 t-shirt the following week and I've worn it proudly every week since.

For my 100th run this weekend, there were 153 runners and my run companions for another chatty run were Andy, Julie, Sarah and Paul. Kirsten was our run director for this run. I finished in 124th place in an easy-paced 33:18. It may seem that my parkruns are getting slower.... but that just allows them to be even more chatty and with lots of opportunities for supporting others. I really enjoyed my run today - no pressure, just running with friends and sharing some cake and haribo afterwards! 

Crossing the line for the 100th time!
My parkrun vital statistics...

- 88 runs at Hanley and 1 at Pollok Park (Glasgow), Burgess, Leeds, Walsall, Tollcross (Glasgow), Harrow Lodge, Carlisle, Bushy, Mile End, Congleton, South Manchester and Heaton Park. 

- my Hanley parkrun PB is 24:37 set in November 2013

- my parkrun PB is 24:23 set at South Manchester parkrun in May 2013

Celebrating with a mosaic cake... not quite Great British Bake Off but there wasn't much left!
To my running statistics, I've been run director at Hanley at least once a month for the last 18 months and co-event director since June 2013. If it wasn't for volunteering, I might have got to 100 runs sooner. But I'm not convinced. I think it's the volunteering aspects of parkrun that keep me involved. If it was just about running, I'm not sure I would have come along so regularly - missing a parkrun wouldn't be such a big deal.  Now, it feels wrong to miss a week. If I'm not run directing, I take every opportunity to run but rarely run fast (or fast for me) as there is much more fun to be had with a chatty run.  And if I'm not running, I love being volunteering as run director too and being part of the parkrun community.

Another mosaic... the lovely people of Hanley parkrun celebrating with me!
I look forward to receiving my 100 club t-shirt in due course and being the runner in black instead of red for a while... although hopefully it won't arrive ahead of the week when I'm the run director, as it would feel slightly strange to present it myself!

Happy parkrunning

Liz T.
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Comments

  1. Kirsten19 September 2014 at 23:45

    Great blog post again Liz here is to your next 100 parkruns
    Kx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown20 September 2014 at 14:18

    Another brilliant blog post Liz but I would just like to add for anyone reading that while Liz was doing all of the above she also Inspired, helped and encouraged hundreds of runners in her time at Hanley. I'm proud to call her a friend and I certainly can say that through her I now "get" what running is really about. Thank you Liz we cant wait to celebrate 250 with you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Liz Tideswell20 September 2014 at 23:08

    Thanks Paul, really kind words.

    ReplyDelete

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