It must have been something about today's arctic conditions mixed with a hint of sunlight that drew our biggest congregation of Sunday morning volunteers for which we, and all of today's hardy runners (and their coaches), were all extremely grateful - if the phrase "start the year as you mean to go on" has any truth to it, we're in for a bumper year at the Fields!

In all we had fifteen generous souls don the high viz and position themselves neatly around the course, including as Marshals (Sarah, Hilary, Sooz, Lucinda, Anna, Lobo, Kareem), Timekeeper (Rue), and Tailwalker (Louise), with Nick as today's RD conducting the merry band - we were also grateful for visiting volunteers from Cheltenham, Highbury Fields, Burgess and our helpful DoE participant on finish token duty.

21 enthusiastic runners took to the frosty course, including two complete first timers to parkrun (their (or their parents') Sunday mornings will never be the same...), and, in spite of the near freezing conditions, 3 PBs were recorded, which really was some effort. Hopefully everyone has recovered full use of their fingers and toes and gathered their chilly breath, and we're already looking forward to next week, where the forecast is for it to be a few degrees warmer (but definitely not tropical).

Join us if you can under the big tree next Sunday at 0845 for more fun at the Fields.

A small and perfectly formed crowd included new parkrunners and Parkrun tourists from as far as Bournemouth for today’s last junior parkrun of the year.

22 youngsters sped round, aiming for a new course record on this two lap 2km route, and GoodGymmers as usual formed the backbone of the hi-vis heroes helping to keep them on course.

With the milestone wristbands handed out - an ULTRA marathon achieved today! - the young runners were off the flying start.

Sarah at her usual tree and Sooz at the helm as today’s RD.

Not 20 minutes later and all was wrapped up for 2025!

Who’s coming to the first event of 2026?

As the mist danced across London Fields, there was a festive feeling in the air!

With a bumper volunteer turn out, the usual suspects took to their posts:

Rue on Timekeeper Sooz on warm up Hilary, Louise, Nicolas out in marshal positions and Sarah on her tree!

The GoodGym squad as helped out as we recognised a rostrum of milestone achievers and then the junior runners were off.

Thanks to the fantastic volunteers, 43 youngsters - with NINE new personals best - made it through the 2km run with big smiles and big finishes.

See you down at the Fields next week for more festive fun!

We gathered at our regular Sunday spot in London Fields, where the puddles were deep and the enthusiasm was deeper! Our mission: to create a safe, joyful, and seamless junior parkrun for or young athletes and their families. Two first-timers joined the crowd, ready to begin their parkrun journey.

Our role was to be the supportive backbone of the event. The team moved with grace and adaptability to make the morning sparkle, so huge thanks are due - • To Sooz: For her incredible coordination, warmth, and skill in bringing new volunteers into the fold. • To Aimee: For being so willing to jump into any role with a smile and featuring her first visit to the London Fields Junior Parkrun. • To Sarah: For her steadfast and cheerful presence on the course. • To the New Volunteers: A huge welcome and thank you to the parents who joined our volunteer family today. You were amazing!

A successful morning! All 27 juniors crossed the finish line, muddy and triumphant. We celebrated two major milestones: Connor received his Ultra Marathon orange wristband (50 runs, although he has done 57 runs!), and Billy earned his Marathon green wristband (21 runs). We also noted many more runners nearing their own milestones—stay tuned for more celebrations!

Today's fitness was all about community endurance: standing tall in the drizzle, projecting cheerful voices, and thinking on our feet to keep the event flowing smoothly. It was a workout for the heart and the spirit.

With Good Deed Points off the charts! We helped turn a soggy field into a place of achievement and joy. We supported young runners, strengthened our volunteer team, and packed everything away with a sense of shared accomplishment.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a muddy, messy, and perfectly wonderful Sunday morning spent serving our community. Same time next week?

At the end of last week's run report (mostly about rain and mud), I'd (more in hope) mentioned that next week would see a return to blue skies...and so I clearly wasn't the only one delighted this morning to see the sun out and crisp-ish conditions underfoot, as we were joined by 54 enthusiastic runners (including 4 first timers) under the big tree this morning, and a full house of volunteers too...amazing what a bit of sunshine can do to the mood.

After Run Director Mas had led the warm up, and the handing out of milestone wristbands to those who'd achieved either half or full marathon status, it was a big crowd on the start line waiting for the off - timekeeper Rue kept them on their marks and then it was go, go, go for the pack, keeping GG regulars and Hi Viz heroes Hilary, Sooz and Nick to the left at all times. The sun (or a hearty breakfast) had clearly boosted a few, as we saw 7 PBs set, and a lot of rosy, mostly smiley, faces at the finish.

It'll be sunny and blue skies again next week - come and join us then for more Sunday fun at the Fields!

It was late November showers that greeted us this morning under the big tree, and as our hardy volunteer team appeared from all directions to discover that efficient Run Director Rue had already set out most of the course and checked it was "runnable", we stood in somewhat nervous anticipation as to whether any junior runners (and/or their coaches) would actually brave the conditions...

But at five to nine the first few enthusiasts started appearing, and before long we had a crowd, huddled in their rain jackets. Rue put a call out for additional volunteers and a few willing hands went up, so alongside local GoodGymmers Lucinda (timekeeping duty/scaring the Run Director) and Nick (first turn Marshall), we finally corralled 11 hi viz heroes...and in today's conditions they were just that.

A brief Hackney Haka warmup led by Rue and they were off - the going was soft to treacherous in places, so care had to be taken at the turns and the especially muddy parts, but great running by all 22 of today's participants, including 3 first timers, and everyone got round seemingly without a tumble and just a lot of muddy ankles as a souvenir. Amazingly there was even a PB.

Same time next week for more fun at the fields, come along if you can - hopefully we'll be back to glorious blue skies by then...