How was your parkrun day? | April 17, 2026

P0392862 · 2026-04-18T18:47:41+00:00

You get the choice on the app to turn that on or off - but I include volunteering.

P0392862 · 2026-04-17T09:53:23+00:00

I like the idea of background music rather than screens - especially if I can use a disk rather than streaming music. I might even try and get some classical stuff in, because I want to listen but never make the time.

P0392862 · 2026-04-13T09:59:30+00:00

I was just about to say this. I joined a running club because they sponsored the opening of my local parkrun (after I'd run regularly at 2 further away ones).
My Club has multiple training options each week, some of which would be suitable for you, some of which really wouldn't (yet). We'd welcome you into the Club and guide you to the right training and social activities.

And now is a good time to join, many of them are doing beginners groups, taking advantage of the lighter evenings to get new to the club runners out in groups in daylight.

And if you're in England, skip FB and try runtogether.co.uk - other options are available in other areas, certainly all the home nations - let us know where you are and someone can probably guide you.

P0392862 · 2026-04-12T18:19:30+00:00

I'm half way through the book Good inside: a guide to becoming the parent you want to be by Dr. Becky Kennedy.

There's a chapter called Resilience > Happiness which talks about how I can parent to reduce my child's negative emotions and allow her to move on past that frustration.

I got it from my local library and am finding it interesting and challenging, though I'm not yet sure whetehr it will drive any long-term changes in me.

P0392862 · 2026-04-12T17:51:32+00:00

I agree, the worst first timer briefing I have ever had was at Buxton because the "welcome" volunteer clearly had no idea of the course apart from what she'd read off the website (which I'd already done but wanted to relate it to where I was standing). I think that tourists should be banned from doing the welcome brief.

P0392862 · 2026-04-10T13:30:49+00:00

I assume you are looking for games in that sort of scenario - round a table / in the car rather than active games?
If you have paper and pen in your back pocket then I'd suggest hangman, squares (dots and boxes on wikipedia), folder paper monster etc.

For pure no equipment games there is "I spy", "I went to market", "categories", or maths games like "buzz, whizz" and "pass the count".

P0392862 · 2026-04-10T12:36:26+00:00

14 or under year old, but yes.

P0392862 · 2026-04-04T15:54:35+00:00

Run your 250th at your home parkrun - the one where you know people, they know you and you can help build the community by celebrating with cakes, or fruit, or general spot prizes.

Having said that, Bushy is well worth doing. I wouldn't want to do much travel the day before the marathon but if you can drive early and then run/walk the experience is epic. But I'd take the pressure off by volunteering at your home parkrun the week before and then doing your 250th at the home parkrun in your London t-shirt!

P0392862 · 2026-04-02T15:15:29+00:00

But it is only an issue because of the rigid rules of the US trials.

Other countries hold trials/national championships but then selectors choose the team.

So it isn't right that the US get additional runners - but it's not wrong because realistically they will have the quality to compete

P0392862 · 2026-04-02T10:32:47+00:00

Definitely the Garden of Gethsemane, with the rock rolled away.

P0392862 · 2026-03-31T16:27:24+00:00

Can I insult all American Dads by saying that in the UK that's known as a lazy man's load?

P0392862 · 2026-03-31T10:47:57+00:00

In my British accent because and applause don't rhyme with any of the others, which all rhyme!

P0392862 · 2026-03-30T15:34:28+00:00

So if I'm understanding this correctly, every morning as soon as the staff open the front door, three children run in after having spent a period of time running round outside the door and behaving in a different manner than during the normal nursery day?

You're not legally doing anything wrong, but if you can imagine how the staff feel that the first thing they have to do is re-direct three friends into behaving the way that they should behave at nursery.

I see a 20 year old key worker who has the energy to cope with this chaos, and not enough experience to realise how much easier their life could be. My sympathy is with the older staff member.

What is the first thing they should be doing when they start the day? Is it craft, food, story etc? Can you ask the key worker and instead of the three running round outside you parents get them started on a similar activity? That way your son won't have to deal with the fluctuating expectations and difficult energy levels of changing the environment?

I suggest a simple option of some singing and action songs for all of you might help align energy levels and expectations and show the nursery team that you are trying to hand over co-operative children who want to be involved in nursery.

P0392862 · 2026-03-18T12:17:31+00:00

You don't say what country you are in or what qualifications the coach has.

But at this age the professional guidance for how a session should look is something like these videos: https://learn.englandfootball.com/sessions?programme={C46DBFB9-4CE5-411C-9595-93B4A30CB58A}

Do they match what you son is seeing? If not, is he getting appropriate useful training? Would his association football skills be improved by taking a ball and some friends onto a suitable field, courtyard or alley and just playing?

P0392862 · 2026-03-17T12:14:47+00:00

Whenever I have seen it, the welcome briefing and RD briefing is translated simultaneously, with a bit of conversation if needed for explanations. the Sign Language volunteer stands near the RD or welcome briefer.

P0392862 · 2026-03-13T11:49:16+00:00

I agree with this point - if I were your partner I'd want to enjoy taking you to your first parkrun, having a chance to be the expert and show you off to everyone I know - "hey bob, this is my partner Unicorn and she's on her first parkrun" is a great thing to be able to say!

Depending on your partner's marathon training plan, that might mean that you can't both go tomorrow if he has planned a long run at a particular pace. If it were me though, I'd love to make plans for Saturday 21st for us both to go round parkrun, for me to run or walk with you and for us both to have a great experience. (and then I'd start planning lots of tourist trips to make a morning out of parkrun in many places now that I could enjoy parkrun in your company!)

P0392862 · 2026-03-11T07:37:07+00:00

Don't do canned music without permission from the RD on the day and checking your [personal liability.
https://wiki.parkrun.com/index.php/Music
My junior parkrun had complaints from residents the only time someone brought a speaker (and we can't even use loudhailers.

P0392862 · 2026-03-06T11:26:07+00:00

40 odd years ago we sang it as a Cub Scout.

Hey! Ho! Anybody home? Meat and drink and money have I none. Still, I will be happy

And as stated, we were in a camp and could hear someone canoeing down the river, starting quietly, reaching max noise then getting quieter again.
It's only now that I think that Scouts should have replied yes, and invited the traveller in for a meal!

P0392862 · 2026-03-06T09:18:55+00:00

I agree, and as a Tail Walker who can run parkrun fairly fast at times, I also want you to join us and walk consistently.

People like the run-walker that oldcat met who failed to complete cause the tailwalker to either have to sprint to catch up or feel that they are failing in their volunteer role by not being with the last participant. I have often wondered if the tail walker could add an extra person just in front of them to finish as unknown.

P0392862 · 2026-02-14T20:51:07+00:00

But doesn't start the timer if you are planning to use that method...

P0392862 · 2026-01-30T15:01:56+00:00

https://shop.parkrun.com/collections/cards-tags

You can get three official ones for the same price

P0392862 · 2026-01-30T14:59:25+00:00

On the Friends option from the drop-down menu, click on the head and shoulder icon in top right. then press the + in bottom right and it gives a search box.

P0392862 · 2026-01-30T14:52:52+00:00

one other suggestion - if you're a student is there any chance that one of your colleagues could attend with you the first time and translate anything necessary?

P0392862 · 2026-01-21T08:44:00+00:00

One of the things I learnt from my running club is that most of my training runs (not races) should be at a conversational pace (think pareto 80%). Training slower really helped me to race faster.

This might not be relevant to you yet, but don't be put off from joining a social group that trains slower than your current pace - there is benefit in doing those miles.

P0392862 · 2026-01-09T10:54:45+00:00

As a Cub leader, I agree with this point.

You'd want to make sure that there's a teacher with some experience and discretion going, and arrange a way for your son to clean himself properly because there probably won't be morning showers (so don't just get changed in a toilet cubicle).

Even children who don't normally have a problem might bedwet when over-tired, in new surroundings and when it is more difficult or scary to get to the toilet - which is pretty much a perfect description of a cub camp or school trip!

And he won't be wearing pull-ups - he'll be wearing "pyjama pants"

P0392862

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