{"id":15916,"date":"2023-09-06T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-06T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/irun.wales\/?p=15916"},"modified":"2023-09-08T15:34:16","modified_gmt":"2023-09-08T14:34:16","slug":"relayroundup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irun.wales\/cy\/news\/relayroundup\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Months, 49 parkruns and 2,500KMs: Bryn the Baton’s Incredible Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For most of you reading this, the 2nd of July might seem a fairly insignificant date. Some might remember it for the first nonstop circumnavigation of the world in a balloon, for Running up that Hill <\/em>reaching the top of the charts for the first time since the 80’s, or for the latest edition of the Welsh Schools Athletics Championships. However, for us at Run Wales towers, it marked the start of the Run Wales Celebration Relay. Our plan to showcase the work done by groups, parkrun events and volunteers up and down Cymru, all whilst celebrating the 6th anniversary of the Run Wales programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What followed was a journey lasting over a year, visiting all the established parkrun events in Wales, and even experiencing some new ones in the way. The relay\u00a0aimed to provide all Run Wales registered\u00a0groups<\/a>\u00a0with a platform and event to showcase their group, share information about their activities and encourage more people to participate in social running outside of their regular weekly parkrun.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read<\/em> on below for the roundup of the baton’s journey:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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14 Months<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea to hold a baton relay<\/a> was first conceived much earlier in the year, originally as an event to celebrate the birthday of Run Wales, although we never envisaged the scale to which the relay<\/a> turned out to be! Such is the scale and breadth of the growing social running scene in Wales, we wanted to take the time to showcase as much of the scene as we could! Each week was a new challenge, a new place to see and a new group<\/a> or event to showcase. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over 30 Social Running Groups<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was so good to see our registered running groups<\/a> getting out to their local parkrun on the Saturdays and being able to promote their history, activities and their achievements on a weekly basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also owe it to you, our social running community, for making this event possible. Whether it was carrying the baton, writing your run report, volunteering at parkrun or helping us promote your group, we can’t thank you enough! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you’re looking to get into running, get moving or are inspired by one of our featured groups, you can use the Group Finder<\/a> on our website to find the one closest to you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

980 Hi-Vis Heroes<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All 49, and now 50 parkruns, in Wales, could not happen without the work of volunteers who turn out every week come rain or shine. As you can see, the Run Wales baton relay would not have taken place if it were not for at least eight volunteers on all of the 49 weekends. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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On some of the bigger events, this number hit closer to thirty hi-vis heroes. Whether the band is small or large in number, or whether Bryn the Baton is visiting or not, this only serves to emphasise the importance of the efforts of so many to ensure we all have access to our local, weekly and free events. It was fantastic to see photos of so many of you heroes in hi-vis! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2500 Kilometres Travelled<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not just North Wales, South Wales or Cardiff. We may be based down in the Prifddinas, however the Celebration Relay aimed to celebrate the whole of our Social Running Community across the whole country, not just those in specific areas. Starting in Prestatyn,<\/a> the baton traversed the Gogledd to the Llyn Peninsula. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It then headed down the West Coast, passing Aberystwyth<\/a> on the way to the westerly Milford Haven<\/a>. We completed West Wales, heading to the Valleys next before the suburbs of Cardiff. Now into the latter stages, the baton continued East through Newport<\/a>, reaching the Severn Bridge<\/a>. Finally, we headed north through Cwmbran<\/a>, Pontypool before heading briefly back into Mid and North Wales to events such as Newtown<\/a>, Ruthin<\/a> and Pont Y Bala<\/a>. With a brief stop to check out Teifi Marshes<\/a>, it was then time to return to Cardiff<\/a> for the final weekend and the event, to celebrate the huge journey that the baton had undertaken in celebration of social running. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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49 parkruns<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the first steps were taken at Nova Prestatyn <\/a>all those weeks ago, there were 46 parkruns in Wales, an impressive number showing how the movement has grown since the Cardiff <\/a>event’s inception in 2008. Through the course of the relay, we were delighted to have the baton visit three brand-new parkrun events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We had a reservoir-side outing to Llanishen, our very own Josie R visited one of the first few events at Old Railway Trail Llangollen<\/a> and we even postponed the final weekend to fit in the new Teifi Marshes Nature Reserve<\/a>! We’re sad we couldn’t visit Aberfields<\/a> in time for it to be in the relay, however well be sure to be there soon! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6 Years of Run Wales<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Social Running Celebration Relay may be over, yet we have big plans at Run Wales<\/a>! We’re expanding our team, we’re developing our strategy and we’re so excited to continue to support our social runners, run leaders, social running groups and promote the joys of running better than ever before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keep an eye out for news on our channels for news<\/a> of our plans and new members of our Run Wales team. Remember that we’re here should you want to get in touch to see how we can support you and your social running group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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