As quick as a Government U-turn or a Braveman gaff the weekly phenomenon that is Parkrun returns with KWP celebrating a doozie of a milestone. The 400th running of KWP Parkrun marks a huge amount of blood, sweat, tears, twists, the odd trip, many splashes, stings and some vomits. Along the way 17,067 of us have run 5k around the lakes 127,619 times achieving 20,639 personal bests. There's been some super fast runs peaking at 15:01, some steadier walks and everything in between. We've had dog powered runs and fancy dress jeffing. Various routage - summer, winter, wet, dry, mozzies, single lap and the current double lapper. Always loads of support, laughs and friendly racing.
There's been the odd negative incident but after 395,618.90 miles run the negatives could probably be counted on one hand. 'Swan man' and his inflexibility and 'Railway car rammer' with his huge sense of entitlement, the only couple that spring to mind. Of course, the mass of positives hugely outweigh the odd negative.
The magic of KWP Parkrun didn't happen by accident. Legend has it that much like Robert Catesby some 417 years earlier, Richard Hill devised a plot with a group of secretive accomplices to bring about a huge change in society. Unlike Catesby's doomed plot, Hill envisaged a positive change to our health, both mental and physical, and one that would see a weekly social gathering of people looking to improve themselves. Catesby's plot relied much more heavily on death, destruction, religious justification and separation and was fortunately foiled when Mr Fawkes himself was caught sleeping on the job by Sir Thomas Knyvett and Edmund Doubleday. Fawkes carried the can and has been atop our bonfires ever since. Hill, on the other hand, has quite rightly been celebrated in KWP folklore.
Topping today's run list was Chris Horton the Badger in a wonderfully Bottle Rocket like 18:24. Lauren Arnold running for Yeovil Town led the female charge with a Bombette of a 22:35. Catherine Wheelesque pace saw Alex Hall sprint his finish in as youngest finisher in 23:19 (Monsters Inc anybody?) whilst, with the ferocity of a Roman Candle, Nick Crees brought a regality to proceedings on behalf of Royal Sutton Coldfield Athletics Club with 3rd place and first junior in a rapid 19 mins on the snoz. This week's Rising Tails were Robert Rainsley in 57:09, whilst boshing his 150th Parkrun, and Sheila Ann Dunn in 57:14.
In total 233 of you (21 freshest of fresh faces) brought along varying degrees of sparkles and brightness, a kaleidoscopic menagerie of running colour on show, wonderfully reflective of the weekends night sky. There was only the odd exception with Helen somehow confusing sparkly and colourful with mid 80's Milk Tray man. Easy mistake to make. Forrest Gump even rocked up with a beard of such tremendous bush that he was perhaps already 18 months or so into his run.
On this milestone of a day we celebrated:
Will Rhodes' 10th
Alex Hall and Simon Gore's 25th volunteering stint (making it all possible)
Andrew brown & Patrick Boyle's 50th
Elley Hamer's 50th (she was badged but would like me to point out it was her 50th parkrun and, whilst appreciative of the birthday wishes, it was not, nor anywhere close to, her 50th Birthday).
Neil 'The Stallion' Taylor's Century
Chris Rhodes' whopper of a 250th
19 runners also got to write their time in the sky with their PB sparklers
It's safe to say that without the volunteers that step up each week the KWP Parkrun plot would have gone the same way as Catesby's plot of 1605. Without, of course, the violent deaths (Fawkes was hung drawn and quartered and Catesby was shot dead during his last stand in Staffordshire only to then be exhumed, beheaded, and his head displayed outside the gates of Parliament). The few make it possible for the many. Don't be shy in stepping up and volunteering a few times a year. Enjoy the fireworks safely. Plot on.
Big Thumbs until the next time.
Sid
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