At Pitshanger Junior parkrun today, Gaby took on a new role handing out finish tokens. She's become really keen to help at an event that's so close to home for her. Today she paired up with an experienced volunteer and they had a good chat while recording each runner's finishing position.

Elsewhere, there were a lot of volunteers present. So many that Steph, Kash and Sevan were assigned to a single marshal post, number 7. They decided that Sevan would clap, while Steph and Kash would take on high-fiving duties. Kash was in her element. Is there a job where giving high fives is the main skill?

All of the children were happy with the vocal support and almost all took Kash or Steph's hand when offered. Some runners even zigzagged across the path to collect power boosts from all 3 GoodGymers. Conversely, some runners were totally freaked out by the outstretched hands, trying to make themselves as small as possible to squeeze through the gap between Kash and Steph. Hopefully they aren't traumatised by the experience.

There was a biting cold wind blowing through Pitshanger Park this morning for Junior parkrun. It blew straight through the volunteers too, who nevertheless put on a cheery and enthusiatic event for all today's runners.

Steph Ducat, Chris McC, Kash, Gaby and Sevan all used their motivational skills to help the 61 finishers around the course. Kash and Gaby as marshals and Chris and Sevan as timekeepers were all cheering and put the power of the high 5 into action. Steph on the other hand had to be more creative as the tail walker, hopping, skipping and running to keep the final child entertained and moving towards completing his 2km.

At the finish, Mohamed was getting to grips with funnel management, keeping children in line. Harvey was barcode scanning and Chris Y was providing everyone with moral support. Chris was also silently mocking everyone else's lack of planning as he rocked his woolly mittens 🧤❄️.

There were a big group of volunteers this morning at Pitshanger Junior parkrun, both from their regular volunteers and 6 GoodGymers who were out of bed bright and early. They included Lucy, who completed her first good deed after joining us for a social run to Acton last weekend. Welcome Lucy! 👏🎉

Today, Lucy joined Harvey on finish tokens, while Run Director David assigned the 4 marshalling GoodGymers to the most challenging part of the course... the muddy part. Kash and Sevan were paired up ahead of a truck-created cavity running along the path, with Mohamed next, warning runners of uneven muddy ground. Steph was last up, telling the children and adults that the rest of the course was relatively hazard free.

In the funnel, there were all sorts of fun goings on with tokens tumbling, double counting of runners who passed through the funnel twice and others who bypassed it completely. It was very eventful by all accounts!

After the fun and games, the GoodGymers went to warm up with a coffee, ahead of their next task of the day at Pear Tree Park.

Misty Sunday morning and last one for 2024. This also means last Pitshanger Junior parkrun for the year. The countdown started for the juniors to run 3-2-1 Go!!!!From the mist, we had 43 runners appearing around the park for the season finale. These figures were outnumbered by one of the Goddgymers : Yes Harvey celebrated in Alan Shearer style with one arm up, little finger out as he has reached a massive 750 good deeds!!!

Today Kash was on barcode scanning, Harvey on finish token support, while Mohamed and Steph Ducat on the course marshalling and cheering the juniors.

At the end the junior runners, parents and volunteers were welcomed by biscuits and sweets : how the finish a year in style!!!

Happy New Year and see you in 2025 for more Junior parkruns!!!

In the run up to Christmas, junior parkrun attendances tend to drop off. Despite the beautiful morning, there were only around 10 runners ready for the warm up at Pitshanger Juniors today.

Most of the remaining runners arrived just in time, with a few more who were a bit after time too. When the runners started, the tailwalkers, including Steph, didn't go anywhere. Run Director, Amanda, asked why they were chilling at the start and the responded by pointing to the last children, who were still preparing to set off.

The tailwalkers eventually got going, then 2 runners showed up even later. Two Thames Valley Harriers arrived 7 minutes after the start in neon socks and did a great job of catching the rest of the field, shooting past Harvey, Kash and Mohamed, who were marshaling the course.

The award for having the right priorities in life went to a little boy who was more interested in arithmetic and counting the cones leading up to the funnel than in crossing the line. He was being chased down by a girl behind and only just kept his place after lots of encouragement from volunteers and family to get moving, including Sevan who was timekeeping at the finish line. How many cones were there? Lots! Ah-Ah-Ah!

This morning's Pitshanger Junior parkrun had a glut of volunteers. In fact the run director, Karen, was heard to say:

"We have so many volunteers today that we have a page 2!"

As there were so many helpers, the 3 GoodGymers all ended up at the same marshal post. Each took different routes to get there. One was signed up as a marshal on the roster, one hadn't signed up and the other one was running late and arrived after the runners had set off. They grouped together to give the children and parents and extra loud cheer at the first/last marshal point on the course.

86 children in all finished the course and there were almost as many adults running the 2km too. Impressively, one child counted 25 high fives on their way round from 8 official marshal points.

After a quick refuel, Kash and Sevan headed onto the day's next task woodchipping a new path at Pear Tree Park.