Skint Mini Runner - a Homage to Pocket Parkrun
- Shorty
- May 26, 2020
- 9 min read
Bloody typical, isn’t it? The perfect title for a new post presents itself shortly after I’ve scrapped ‘Skintminimumma’ and rebranded. Ah well.
Running, then. Hmm.
When it came to PE lessons I was that small, scrawny kid who was always last to be picked when choosing teams (why was that ever allowed!? Utter brutality!) “Come on then, Eliza-BURTH”, the team captain would huff, rolling her eyes, and off I’d meekly trot behind these tall, burly, poodle-permed girls (it was the late '80s) as if apologising for my very existence.
I hadn’t thought about those days very much (she lies) until new year’s day this year when I ran a double parkrun with my friend Paul, who cutely dubs me his running wife. It was a breakthrough moment for me in several respects. Not only did I feel that I truly belonged, that it was OK to have branched out from my strictly solo plugged-in gym routines (so alone, so safe) and that people would now be kind … but I realised just how far I had come in terms of fitness, stamina and - well - happiness. Nothing endorphs like those lovely endorphins.
The previous new year’s day had been equally special, for very different reasons. Having held my best friend’s hand through the worst year of her life, we sat around the firepit on new year’s eve, burned an effigy or two, wrote a few mantras, had more than a few drinks and vowed to start 2019 with a healthy and uplifting Pocket parkun. Despite our hangovers we made it round, with a good few walk breaks, and crossed the finish line once again holding hands. It was the most incredible start to a far more positive year for us both.
That first parkun with Ruth gave me the confidence to go again the next week on my own, and the week after that. I’d never really enjoyed running before, and knew I’d never be fast. I also never thought I’d get further than 1k without needing a break, but within a few weeks I was able to complete the first of two laps without having to stop. By the time I was able to eliminate walk breaks entirely I was running with Paul, my ‘running husband’, and we quickly established a routine of chatting away during lap one then huffing and grunting our way through lap two. It was and still is a bit of a lottery as to who would finish first, but these days it’s usually him (husbands, eh?)
I loved the feeling each time I achieved a new PB. Gradually my time whittled down from around 37 minutes to between 31 and 32. (Since lockdown I have managed some longer runs, including a half marathon, as well as a few sub-31 minute 5ks. Running is keeping me sane during these crazy and uncertain times, which is another source of gratitude.)
As the months went on, I enjoyed the subtle changing of the seasons week by week. You notice this stuff on foot, especially in the mornings. Even more than that, I loved the sense of community and encouragement. At Pocket parkrun I have hugged strangers when we’ve struggled across the line together after helping each other round during a hideous storm; have bellowed “come on then!” at another woman who challenged me to a sprint finish when I thought I was knackered and collapsed in fits of giggles at the end with our arms round each other’s shoulders; and experienced countless words of kindness, encouragement and advice. I’ve watched my son Toby improve as an athlete beyond all recognition, regularly finishing in the top 15, and seen how proud and motivated this makes him. Everything - everything - about Parkrun restores your faith, not least the many wonderful volunteers who make it happen.
Which brings us smoothly on to the founder of Pocket parkrun, Stephen Ferguson. I met Stephen for an interview back in January, on the day of his 200th parkrun as it happens, intending to write this piece shortly afterwards. Sadly, I experienced a bereavement that kind of made the world drop out of my bottom for a little while … and then of course the world flipped upside down and fell out of everyone’s bottom, and here we all still are. Parkrun stopped and I thought “Oh well, now isn’t the time to write about it.” But actually, I decided now absolutely is the time to write about it, and to celebrate everything it means to people.
In as small a nutshell as I can manage (ideally I would write several pages on Stephen’s story alone, because it is fascinating!) Stephen describes himself as someone who isn’t great at sport, but who loves it. He undertook a Couch to 5k some years ago, motivated by a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, which he has now successfully reversed. Before moving to St Neots he was a run director in Oak Hill, London.
“Eight or nine years ago parkrun was much smaller; kind of a dirty little secret. After I moved to St Neots I used to drive back 60 miles each week as I missed it so much.”
In November 2017 Huntingdon District Council was looking to start a St Neots parkrun, and Stephen was the only volunteer to apply. A core team of six volunteers was required, and then there was the issue of finding a venue. Paths were too narrow at Riverside Park and Priory Park had football training on Saturday mornings. Pocket Park was fairly unknown, but close to One Leisure, which was considered a plus. Various obstacles needed to be overcome: land use permission from the four landowners; building a team; issues of mud and flooding in areas of the park.
Gradually, it all came together (Stephen went to so many meetings at St Neots town council that he was elected town councillor off the back of parkrun - that's another story waiting to be written right there!) It took until June 2018 to get all the permissions, which included a caveat about not running along the riverbank from November to April, hence the creation of the summer course.
Despite claiming he’s not good at sport, Stephen has completed all the major marathons, Boston being his favourite. Another proud moment was finishing first at the Moberly Missouri Parkrun (which, to be fair, included just one other participant!)
Stephen is keen to stress that everything about parkrun is very much a team endeavour. Decisions are taken jointly with co-Event Director Kenny Leckie, and Pocket is still about “that small, simple vibe”. For Stephen it’s “as much about the community as anything … all the lovely people I’ve met.
“Nothing I’ll ever do on the council will be as big an achievement as setting up parkrun. Giving the briefing at the first ever Pocket parkrun was the proudest moment of my life.”
Pocket parkrun is indeed special, and while we’re off doing our isolated or socially distanced non-Pocket 5ks (the results of which Stephen & co continue to collate and publish - a generous and much appreciated gesture), I think now is as good a time as any to remember and celebrate what we love about it by sharing the thoughts of some of its participants. Here's hoping we'll all be back soon.
Paul T-C
“I started running mainly because my older daughter asked me to go running with her. However, I had been looking for a way of getting fit. It's been a year since we both started running at Pocket parkrun and we've not looked back since. I've made new friends, picked up a second wife (I now have two wives - if you know, you know), found something else that my daughter and I can do together (albeit she's usually three minutes ahead of me!) and most importantly got fitter and lost a bit of weight.
Some might say it's become my second addiction. I've done a number of 10k's, and a 16k - and I just LOVE collecting the bling! That's all down to Pocket parkrun!” [Note: Paul was due to complete the London Landmarks half marathon which was cancelled due to the lockdown, but completed his own half marathon in St Neots that same month instead]
Natalie B
“I started going to parkrun to better my 5k times and it definitely worked - every week feels like the excitement of an actual race but at no cost! I love the community feel of the parkrun, I usually go on my own (apart from with my dog, Buddy) but everyone is so friendly that I don’t feel like I’m on my own - I enjoy chatting to people I’ve not met before or maybe people I recognise from a previous run. Buddy is always making new friends too!”
Jill R
"Parkrun was great for me when I first started running and gave me loads of confidence to keep trying to get better. The support from other runners was amazing. I don't often run one myself any more (we're in Peterborough for a music school with the boys on a Saturday) but I do volunteer when I can. I love doing that. To see the front runners going past in such style is a massive inspiration. I also love to see that they are obviously working just as hard as us slower runners, they don't sail round without getting out of breath! The spirit of everyone supporting each other is quite a unique thing."
Jo C
“I first did a parkrun in 2011. From the off I loved the sense of community, the encouragement from others, and the competitive element (against myself - those stats are addictive!) The tourism element is awesome too; the fact that parkrun is the same, but different, wherever you go. I love that I can parkrun when I visit my parents or in laws and you can bet I check whether there’s a run nearby when we go on holiday!
"I love seeing people try their first parkrun, and then return. I love hearing the PB bell ring and understanding the elation (and exhaustion!) that person feels (and hoping I will be getting a PB again myself some day). I love being out in the elements after a week spent mainly indoors, sitting at a desk. I love trying my hardest, and seeing others try their hardest, and knowing that it’s the same experience for everyone, whether they are crossing the line in 16 minutes or 60. I love having all this less than a mile from my front door.”
Toby W, 15
"I started at Peterborough (now Ferry Meadows) parkrun a couple of years ago, averaging around 27 minutes. It's my uncle's local parkrun and I had no chance of catching him. Now, thanks to Pocket, I've managed to improve my time so that I'm only slightly behind him - I even finished ahead of him once! The first time I ran sub-21 minutes I was ecstatic. I do tend to put on a sprint at the end, regardless of the sometimes unfortunate consequences(!), as it gives me that extra sense of accomplishment."
Claire R
"I began running three years ago. It started as a buggy walk, then run, with my six month
old. Three months later I found out I was pregnant again. Despite being told to stop I continued to run. When my baby boy was born in November 2017 I restarted and haven't stopped since. In June 2018 I found out a parkrun was starting a mere five minutes from my home. I didn't know anyone there. Everyone looked fit, fast and as if they knew what this running was all about. I didn't - I went along and winged it. Each week it got better: more people said hello, more people started to chat, and now those people are my friends. Parkrun has opened up such a community of wonderful people and I love the spirit and happiness these runners give every single week. No matter how fast or slow, everyone is a runner."
Jo K
“I have been taking part in Pocket parkrun since Sept 2018. I originally started with friends and have even tried encouraging my boys to share in my love for this particular event. I have volunteered for way more than I have actually run/walked myself. I seem to spend my life trying to convince people to give parkrun a go, just ask everyone at Slimming World! It took me over a year to finally get my husband to take part in his first event on New Year’s Day. He even beat me by 11 seconds, which he thought was brilliant (I was the tail walker). I love the fact that anyone of any age or ability can run, walk or jog as long as they have a barcode ... and if they haven’t they can soon sign up for one as it is all free. Not much in life is free these days so a regular event like this is brilliant. Once you start you might find yourself chasing those milestone t-shirts. I love the support that the volunteers give everyone and even the support from the other participants as they go flying past. It is an amazing community to be a part of whether you run, walk or jog or even just volunteer."
Claire F
“I started parkrun fairly regularly this year having cheered my girls, Izzy and Amelia and my husband Steve on as they’ve done it on and off for a couple of years - first at Huntingdon and now at Pocket. I’m not fast like they are, but for me it’s about getting my family out in the fresh air and running with a good friend whilst putting the world to rights on a Saturday morning. We chat all the way round and I love getting the weekend off to a productive start. Maybe I’ll get quicker or maybe my times will stay roughly the same, I’m not overly bothered, I’m just happy to do it."
Izzy F, 14
“I started doing parkrun to maintain my fitness after I stopped gymnastics. My dad and sister used to do it so I just went along and joined them. I love the feeling you get when the times are through and you’ve got a new PB, but I also love seeing friends from school or my running club there. It feels good to be up and doing something positive too."
Amelia F, 14
“Usually on a Saturday morning when I first wake up I think that I’d rather stay in bed than run, but whenever I do that I regret not making the effort to get up. Sometimes I go for a fast time and use it as a tough training run, and other times I just enjoy taking it easy and running at a slower pace or running with friends and chatting. I even ran parkrun with a massive helium balloon on my birthday!”
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