This week, Run Wales Participation Officer, Hannah Phillips joined in the fun at Pontypridd parkrun as the Run Wales Social Running Celebration Relay baton passed from representatives of First Strides Park Bryn Bach running group to the Robbies based in Ynysybwl.
The Celebration relay provides all Run Wales registered groups with a tremendous opportunity to showcase their group, sharing information about their activities and encouraging more people to participate in social running outside of their regular weekly parkrun. We are encouraging groups to support their local parkrun by offering to volunteer as well as run, jog or walk at the relay events.
23/47: Celebration Relay Run Report – Pontypridd parkrun
This week, Parc Bryn Bach Running Club passed the Run Wales celebration relay baton over to members of local social running group the Roberttown Road Runners, known as the Robbies.
There are lots and lots of social running groups in the Rhondda Cynon Taf area but lots have gone under our official radar and so are not yet visible on our Group Finder.
Karl, Pontypridd parkrun Run Director asked via the megaphone whether any social running groups wanted to ‘unofficially pass the baton on’ and Glyn from the Robbies kindly took on the task.
Anyway, you can’t miss the start of Ponty parkrun, it’s just as you come over the Bridge into the park.
The park bollards are cleverly decorated with high vis vests which means you know you’re on the right track.
Apart from the huge field of runners, the huge field of volunteers and the huge field by the side of the Lido, where you get scanned at the end, the first thing you’ll notice about this parkrun is that it’s blinking friendly. There were smiles all round.
It’s a simple enough three loopish run around Ynysangharad Park. You have to be mindful that you have to keep right in some places and left in others, but reasonably straightforward.
We were extremely pleased to see lots of social runners from a variety of local social running groups and we look forward to supporting them and sharing news of their activities in the future.
A big shout out to, who I now know to be, Michael who danced, waved, high fived and shook his flag for my entire three laps, and I’m pretty sure to the end of Saturdays parkrun.
Volunteers are always hero’s in my eyes, volunteers who dance are more like gifts from above, angels on a rota.
All in all, a lovely plod for me. A lovely parkrun for everyone’s that I’d highly recommend, especially for back of the packers!
This week 321 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 38 were first timers and 29 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 36 different clubs took part.
The event was made possible by 35 incredible volunteers:
Jan EDWARDS • Michael LOCKE • Bethan FORD • Dianne DAVIES • Nicola ROYLANCE • Hannah PHILLIPS • Ruth COCHRAN • James FRANCIS • Mark DOUGLAS • Trish TAZZINI-LLOYD • Esther SOWERBY • Hywel WARLOW • Karl JOHNSON • Lyndon WALKER • Sean LYNE • Mo MORGAN • Ava MORGAN • Emily JOHNSON • Alison JONES • Rob WARD • Lene ALGREN • Steve NICHOLLS • Rebekah DANIEL • Richard COSTELLO • Michael CUNNINGHAM • Menna LEWIS • Tina RICHARDS • Dot ASHFORD • Paul JAMES • Eloisa ARMSTRONG • Sian PEARCE • Amy RAVENBERG • Carol CHILD • Adrian VAUGHAN • Neil MONINGTON
Today’s full results and a complete event history can be found on the Pontypridd parkrun Results Page. You will also find a link here to volunteer at the event!
Pontypridd parkrun started on 12th October 2013. Since then 10,420 participants have completed 79,899 parkruns covering a total distance of 399,495 km, including 14,442 new Personal Bests. A total of 970 individuals have volunteered 8,823 times.
Next weekend, Glyn from the Robbies will be heading to Penallta parkrun to pass the relay baton on to the Valleys Nordic Walking group for a different pace parkrun. Head on over to find out how Nordic Walking in the Valleys might work for you!