One year of running!
Uppermill Junior Parkrun has just celebrated its first birthday. Jim Upton, one of the Core Team, tells us about Uppermill junior parkrun
It’s the junior version of parkrun, a hugely successful venture that started in 2004 with 13 people taking part in a 5k time-trial in a London park, and is now a worldwide phenomena with weekly 5k runs, they don’t like them being called races, in 21 countries every Saturday morning all through the year. On the day before our first birthday, in the UK alone, there were 600 events with 150,000 runners, joggers or walkers aided by over 13,000 volunteers (often referred to hi-viz heroes, as they wear reflective jackets to guide the participants round the course or help organise the start and finish.) On the Sunday before our birthday there were 23,000 junior parkrunners at 260 events in the UK.
Junior Parkrun has the same ethos as Parkrun but is shorter (just 2k) and is for children aged 4 to 14 years old. They can take part on their own or with a parent. They don’t have to run, they can skip, walk, jump in the puddles or take a break. All along the course (ours goes from the Uppermill Swimming Pool car park along the bridlepath behind Saddleworth School and back) there are adult marshals pointing the children in the right direction, but much more importantly encouraging them and giving high-fives, as well as being on the lookout for children who have gone off too fast and need a break!
There are rewards of wristbands for children who have completed 11 runs (half-marathon distance), 21 runs (marathon) or 50 runs (ultra), which are presented at the pre-run briefing. These are when new Parkrunners are welcomed and applauded together with the volunteers. We normally have between 15 and 20 volunteers who give up about an hour from 8:30 to 9:30 on Sunday mornings, whatever the weather, to make sure the Parkrun happens. We also have younger volunteers who may be doing their Duke of Edinburgh award, the Oldham Pledge or a school project, and these are always supervised by an adult volunteer. One of the popular volunteer position is “Tail Walker”, who walks the route once all the children have left the start to make sure that no-one is left on the course at the end. They are often accompanied by children who just want to walk.
On a typical Sunday there will be about 35 children taking part, (it has varied between 6 on a particularly wet day, to 74, and on our first birthday there were 66.) Usually just over half the children will be accompanied by a parent. Finishing times vary between just over 7 minutes to about 20 minutes and the results generally appear on our website within an hour of completion of the run. Children don’t have to come every week, they can fit it in when they can. One of our runners has been to 32 of our 49 runs this year. Some are competitive and keen to beat their personal bests, some just like to run with their friends.
When the run is over some of the volunteers and runners go off for a drink and possibly a cake, at The Reclamation Room Cafe, just round the corner from our finish.
Our event was set up by James Sheard of Saddleworth Runners and with help from the running club and friends initially, although we now have other volunteers including parents and adults enthusiastic to help the community. Oldham Council were keen to get involved and provided the money to set up the event. The ethos of parkrun is that it is free for everyone, at Uppermill we have our created our own cloth badge which we sell to raise money for cakes, birthday bunting and running bibs which children can wear on their first and other “milestone” runs.
We have our own website at www.parkrun.org.uk/uppermill-juniors/ and people also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Over 330 children have taken part in our event and a total of 3,432 km has been run. One parent described it as “Friendly, fun and totally inclusive. A great way for you and your family to start your Sunday.” Another posted on Facebook “Great event, volunteers are really friendly and encouraging, nice way to get your kids exercising.”
If you want to know more visit our website or just come along on a Sunday morning at 8:45 near the Uppermill Swimming Pool car park and look out for a volunteer in a hi-viz jacket.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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