This week we are delighted to introduce the Llanelli Striders, who are newly registered with Run Wales. Members of the Llanelli Striders entered into the spirit of the Run Wales Social Running Celebration Relay by showcasing their group at Sandy Water parkrun and having fun with the official relay baton.
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.
38/47: Celebration Relay Run Report – Sandy Water parkrun
Congregating close to Sandy Water Park in Llanelli, the first timer briefing was carried out by Run Director, Andrew Morris, who welcomed the 27 who visited Sandy Water parkrun for the first time.
Some of the first timers were from Kimberley & District Striders, Southwest Road Runners, Pembrokeshire Harriers, and Eye Community Runners from Peterborough.
There are many people who volunteer week-in week-out and without these, and many others throughout the country giving their time, these events wouldn’t be possible.
Thank you to this week’s army of volunteers at Sandy Water parkrun, who were: Emma Baxter, Ken Billington, Mair Billington, Nia Billington, Matt Callaghan, El Edwards, Bethan Evans, Emyr Evans, Alistair Griffiths, Viren Sri Gurung, Ian Hoskins, Chris Johnson, Paul Jones, Susan Jones, Craig Kearney, John Marson, Becky Mead, Bruce Morgan, Andrew Morris, Qumrun Nahar, Kim Reeves, Byron Williams, and Eirlys Williams.
At 8:55am. Run Director Andrew, who is a member of Llanelli AC and a Llanelli Strider, started the welcome brief, with the usual and important rules.
One of the Llanelli Striders, Andrew Stephens was then handed the megaphone to explain why he was holding the megaphone, namely that this week, Llanelli Striders were taking part in the ‘Run Wales Celebration Relay ’ taking in all 47 parkrun’s in Wales.
Sandy Water parkrun is an out and back course along the Millennium Coastal path. The wide tarmac surface of the cycle path makes for a comfortable run as everyone heads west towards Bury Port, before a friendly marshal directs the participants back towards the finish just outside the Llanelli Leisure Centre.
The Llanelli Striders are a friendly and social support group of all abilities which aims to improve physical and mental wellbeing through walking and or running.
The group consists of a mixed ability of non-affiliated runners and affiliated runners from various clubs throughout Carmarthenshire that like to meet for a friendly group run.
Llanelli Striders, normally meet on Saturday mornings in various locations throughout the area. This depends on what race or event is coming up. During the cross-country season, the group takes in challenging terrain within the Pembrey Country Park.
The Striders support many local running events in South and West Wales, where there is always a social aspect to the day.
If there are longer races planned such as half or full marathon distances, the group build up over time with a training plan to support those taking part. Many of the group then take the leap and have the confidence to enter a longer race which they may not have considered before.
Members also meet on Monday at 6pm from the Dragan 24 Carpark in North Dock, Llanelli, with Llanelli AC, for a steady run along the Millennium Coastal Path.
For those who like a run when the children are in school or when you have a day or week off, or retired then, Tuesdays and Thursday mornings, the group also meet at 9.30 in the carpark of Llanelli Leisure Centre in partnership with the Actif Sir Gar ‘Walk Talk and Run Group’.
Running sometimes it’s not about the distance or speed but about the friends you meet along the way.
This week there were 165 who ran and walked the out and back course with 24 achieving PB’s.
Sandy Water parkrun event statistics:
- Events: 84
- Finishers: 2,875
- Finishes: 11,094
- Average finishers per week: 132.1
- Volunteers: 274
- PBs: 1,957
- Average finish time: 00:29:53
- Average finishes per participant: 3.9
- Groups: 341
- Female record: Sioned HOWELLS – 17:25 – Event 2 (28 Aug 2021)
- Male record: Dafydd JONES – 15:15 – Event 14 (20 Nov 2021)
- Age graded record: Joanne KENT – 90.95% 19:54 – Event 66 ( 4 Feb 2023)
This week’s full results and a complete event history can be found on the Sandy Water parkrun results page.
Next week, the Celebration Relay baton will be leaping across the county as it returns to West Wales and Colby parkrun. We’d love to see more social running groups joining the celebration there, so please get in touch if you’re interested!