The morning air was crisp and carried a buzz of anticipation, the kind that hints at something special about to happen. For the second month in a row, the tally confirmed it: seventy-two young runners, a sea of bright faces and restless energy, had gathered, continuing our record-breaking streak and solidifying a new era of enthusiasm for our junior parkrun. At the heart of this weekly miracle was a mission perfectly aligned with our own: to galvanise a community, to turn fitness into fun, and to ensure every child felt seen and cheered.

The starter’s signal sent the flock on their way, a vibrant blur of determination. Leading the charge was our elite runner, JP, who powered through the course with a fierce grace, flying across the finish line just a heartbeat shy of her personal best—a sure sign of even greater triumphs to come. But the true victory was in the beautiful diversity of the field. For at least ten children, it was their very first time, their faces a mix of nerves and excitement that melted into pure, triumphant joy as they completed their 2k journey. For many more, it was a return to the fun, a testament to the joyful habit we are building together, proving that parkrun is, and always will be, for everyone.

None of this magic unfolds on its own. It is meticulously crafted by a team of hi-vis heroes, and this week, the Good Gym crew was the steady heartbeat of the event. Expertly leading the charge was Good Gymer Sooz, whose calm coordination and infectious enthusiasm set the tone for the morning. She led a dedicated team of Good Gym regulars—Hayder, Louise ****, Rue, and Sarah—whose presence formed the operational backbone of the run. They were more than just volunteers; they were the embodiment of our mission, combining their fitness with tangible community service. Their cheers at marshalling points became the soundtrack of encouragement, their diligent timekeeping ensured every effort was recognised, and their watchful eyes guaranteed a safe environment for all.

Their collective spirit was so powerful it created a ripple effect of community engagement, encouraging several parents to jump in and lend a hand, seamlessly joining the crew. The morning was so wonderfully busy, in fact, that we didn't have a spare moment to snap a single action shot—the ultimate sign of a fully engaged team! So, here is a picture of three of us squinting into the bright autumn sun after successfully sorting out all the finish tokens, a small, quiet moment after the glorious chaos.

In the end, we didn’t just manage a run; we fostered a space where personal achievement and community support intertwine, where every child’s run was celebrated, and where the simple act of showing up creates a healthier, happier neighbourhood for all.

A record turnout this morning at the Field's as we welcomed 84 runners (plus a lot of coaches and encouragers, and a small table laden with cakes and drinks, and a TV celeb doctor...), as this week we were joined under the big tree by children from Year 4 of Hackney New Primary School who were attending as part of a fundraiser (for Macmillan Cancer Support) for one of their teachers.

Run Director Jonathan certainly had his hands full making sure everything ran smoothly, and between him and timekeeper Rue they did another excellent job in persuading a number of parents to don the hi-viz and act as Marshalls/TailWalker, and with all the posts filled we were good to go. With so many first timers (26) there was a lot of nervous anticipation on the start line...

It's fair to say that not everyone followed the strict boundaries of the course all the way around, but the fastest finishers put on another show, with the top 3 all coming home in under 9 minutes, and everyone else seemed to be enjoying their run/jog/walk around the park - with 20 PBs it was another successful morning for lots of them.

If this is the new normal in terms of attendees at the Fields, we're definitely going to need some more regular GoodGym volunteers on Sunday mornings to support the core team, so please do come along if you can - absolutely no prior experience is required!

What a morning at London Fields! A fresh but bright start set the tone for another brilliant event, and we were thrilled to welcome a record-breaking 65 juniors– our highest attendance to date! Thank you all for being part of it.

Amongst our runners, hoppers, and skippers, we had 17 first timers to London Fields parkrun, including 13 brand new parkrunners joining us for their very first event ever.

A huge welcome to you all – we hope this is just the beginning of your parkrun journey!

The conditions clearly suited many of you, with 14 personal bests recorded – well done to everyone who pushed for a new time.

This week’s event ran smoothly under the excellent stewardship of Mas, our ever-reliable Run Director. Not only did Mas lead the charge on the day, but he stayed behind afterward to make sure all the finish tokens were tidied, sorted, and available up to 100 – all in preparation for next week’s local school takeover. Huge thanks to Mas for going the extra mile behind the scenes.

Speaking of volunteers, GoodGymers Sarah and Rue gave their usual support out on the course. Sarah is so consistent that she now has her own eponymous marshal point – a true London Fields legend!

Some of our regulars were off tackling the Shoreditch 10K – we hope you all had a brilliant race and look forward to seeing you back in the park soon.

Next week’s shaping up to be another exciting event as students and staff from a local school will be taking over volunteering duties to support one of their teachers. It’s bound to be a good one, so spread the word, bring a friend, and don’t forget your barcode!

As always, a massive thank you to all our volunteers – we couldn’t do this without you.

See you next Sunday at London Fields!

London Fields juniors welcomed record numbers today with 60 young runners crossing the finish line today, in ideal running conditions.

6 newcomers to London Fields 2 marathon wristbands 12 new personal best times

With volunteers set up all around the course, it was a full house and Sooz took the helm as Run Director for the day.

Looking forward to having a full GoodGym squad back next week - join us!

What a glorious morning it was at London Fields junior parkrun this Sunday! With clear skies and warm sunshine, it couldn’t have been a better setting for our weekly 2k event – and the atmosphere matched the weather.

We were thrilled to welcome seven first-time runners to our community this week – a big well done to each of them for taking on the course! We hope they had a great time and we look forward to seeing them again soon. With nearly 50 juniors taking part overall, the field was alive with energy, determination, and plenty of high-fives.

The event got off to a smooth and spirited start thanks to @sooz, who led a lively warm-up and delivered the pre-run briefing with her usual cheer and clarity. She was also a key presence at the finish line, helping to make sure everyone had their barcodes scanned and finish tokens returned – an essential part of keeping the event running smoothly.

As always, the enthusiasm of our runners stood out, with big efforts, big smiles, and big finishes across the board. It’s especially heartening to see how the support from parents and carers continues to grow. The cheers around the course and at the finish line make a real difference to the runners – thank you for being such a positive part of the experience.

Of course, none of this would be possible without our amazing team of volunteers. Whether Good Gym regulars, or those becoming regulars, volunteer contributions invaluable. A special shout-out goes to Lynne and Kevin, who made their monthly journey down from Manchester and included volunteering with us here in the capital – it’s always such a pleasure to have visitors join us! As we head into the new school year and the autumn term, we are excited to keep the momentum going. If any Good Gymmers like you or someone you know would like to volunteer – even just once in a while – we would love to hear from you. No experience is needed, just a willingness to help and a smile! Thanks again to everyone who joined us today – runners, supporters, and volunteers alike. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and we’ll see you next Sunday for another fantastic junior parkrun.

As I walked across the Fields this morning to get to the big tree, I spotted Sarah (of Sarah's tree fame) already in place and the course cones and poles already neatly set out around the whole course, and, slightly panicked, had to double check the time to make sure I wasn't late...Run Director Rue clearly does like to run a very punctual ship.

As today's runners approached from all directions, it was also clear that today was going to be one of those lucky days when we seemingly had no problem filling the other volunteer positions, and so alongside GG high viz regulars Rue, Sooz, Sarah and Nick, 10 others kindly stepped up to help and so ensure that today's 28 highly enthusiastic runners (and their coaches) safely sped around the course without any problems - 3 first timers joined us today (and will hopefully be back for more), and with 5 PBs it proved to be another successful morning for all involved.

Same time, same place next week then.