You've been winding me up as well about what it might be zip wires, you know, toboggans.
People start running for all different reasons, whether it's to feel better,
meet new people set a new challenge or goal or just to try something new.
Everyone can remember their reason for starting, but what's your reason for carrying on?
What drives you to keep putting on your trainers and heading out the door to run? Well for seven
million people and counting parkrun is that very reason,
and I'm here at Brewton parkrun to meet two runners, Rahema and Megan. And I'm here at Tremorfa
parkrun to meet Dave.
These are three runners who without parkrun wouldn't have carried on.
Stay tuned because we're gonna be setting these runners a huge challenge later on.
But first, let's go meet them, give this video a thumbs up
if you're a parkrun fan and drop a comment below saying what you think the challenge is going to be. Here's a
hint, it's gonna be hard.
Good morning.
I'm off this morning to go and meet Dave at Tramorfa park run.
Now, Dave like many people came to running a little bit later on in life to help address some health
issues that he had.
He started off the couch to 5K and then when he completed that, he felt a little bit lost and
this is where parkrun came to the rescue and he's now nearing his 10th
parkrun anniversary.
I'm just hoping I can keep up with him, but let's go find him.
I'm on my way to meet two awesome parkrunners, Meghan and Rahema.
So parkrun played a massive part in Meghan's life in her recovery from
an eating disorder and she now is a run director at one parkrun.
And then Rahema has also gotten into parkrun and it plays a huge part in
her life.
She now volunteers.
She's got a 25 Volunteer Milestone and her 50 parkruns milestone too.
So let's go meet them.
It's so hard to describe what is so amazing about parkrun.
I was thinking about this is this morning in advance of this, you know?
But obviously runners just want an excuse to run, let's face it.
But secondly, just like an excuse to get together and just like chat and the
biggest thing about it to be honest is breakfast afterwards.
So you know, Yeah, I don't know, it's usually
avocado on toasted rye bread or something like that, you know?
Yeah, yeah. I started coming to parkrun a bit more when I
was just come back from my eating disorder, I just came out the eating disorder
unit and then I wanted to get back into running and use it as a healthy way.
And then I got introduced to parkrun.
And that's how I met all the lovely people and that's how I got
into parkrunning and then the rest is history now.
Now I've done 235 now so. That's brilliant!
What is it about
parkrun and that you love? I just love the atmosphere.
I love seeing my running family.
Um you you do create so many different relationships as well.
Like it's just nice because I just love it really.
I just it makes my day really when I see everyone.
Yeah, go off we go, Saturday morning has started.
So Meg tell me your involvement in parkrun.
So after doing loads of running, I decided to do a lot of volunteering.
So I've just done the odd marshaling and stuff then I've done all the
setups as well all the way to doing the run directing really.
I love the run directive.
I like to talk. That's why.
I was going to say, what is it about being run director that you really enjoy/
Just seeing everyone now when you get everyone set off and then you
seeing everyone smiling like they come up and talk to you just seen people if your enjoyment of
people doing parkrun.
So, cast your mind back to that first parkrun you did
Oh my word?
You stood on that start line, In jogging bottoms.
A long sleeve wooly top, getting ready to go. Yeah.
How are you feeling like, what did you what did you think of all those
runners standing there.
Well, I was just not used to that at all because back then I had no idea about run clubs.
I had no idea about races or anything like that.
So that was quite daunting actually, I must admit.
But then a couple of minutes in just like now you're just like what was I worried about?
And it's nice, isn't it?
You're surrounded by other people doing the same thing, you've all got the same goal and it feels quite
supportive but you know, there are people in front of us who have teared off into the distance. There are people
behind that are just about to lap us. But we're
all doing the same thing aren't we?
There's some fun.
Exactly, yeah.
Yeah, it is the sense of community with it is absolutely brilliant.
Everyone just enjoying a good start to the weekend.
So yeah, we're tail walking.
What is it about this role at parkrun that you love?
Um I just love volunteering for any road really.
But with the tail tail walking um you know, you get to cheer everyone along because
they're going past and just making sure nobody's last, isn't it?
Because that's a worry, especially with the worry from when I did my first parkrun, I was like, oh gosh, I hope I'm not the
last one.
And so yes, it's nice that there's somebody you know right at the end.
I've been battling an eating disorder for a few years when I so I
decided to try and get back into my running but use it for a healthy way
and and I came across parkrun and I thought it's good.
Then I started running the parkrun, try
and start talking to people as well and that's how I got to know a lot of, I
got to know a lot of friends who supported me through my eating disorder recovery
and that's how I got into it really, and I just fell in love with it really, and that was, it was history really.
And in school I was totally put off sport,
I just found it like a totally toxic male atmosphere, you know, that
horrible school sports sort of atmosphere.
So I had no interest in school, I didn't do anything
until I started running at about 40 years old.
I wouldn't say before I started running, I was like a miserable person,
you know, but I do think like the people I know now
who have always known me as a runner probably wouldn't really quite quite
believe the person before to be honest, you know,
Absolutely changed my life really.
In what, in what way do you feel like it's changed your life?
Oh, it's made me more confident because um you know, just talking to
people as well, you know, everyone's just super friendly at Park Run.
Um I've got you know, new opportunities through running as well, so it's been fantastic,
even going through that first couch to 5k
session, I was like, oh my gosh, I'm not sure if I can do this, but everyone was so
friendly and then even going to to parkruns as well,
you know, this is my home one, but I've been to a couple of other ones and it's like I can do this because I
know runners are friendly, you know, everyone's going to give you a warm welcome and
if you're running everyone's cheering you on and it doesn't matter what place you're going at.
That's what I love about parkrun.
So you could be like super fast if you want to, you know, parents with their buggies.
Um we've got Margaret to the zimmer frame, you know, it's for everyone, you know, it's absolutely fantastic.
Yeah, the health benefits, you know, I still have a bit of high blood pressure,
but in every other regard, like my health is just so
improved and there's things I do now with
running, I never in a million years I thought I would do
or be able to do.
So how long have you been running Meg?
I've been running since something 16, so I can't do mental math
right now.
But yeah, I've been running, I'm 33 now, so yeah, a while.
And when you got into parkrun, obviously that's a really different kind of running too, you
know, running when you're 16 or competing and stuff.
Well, we didn't have parkrun back in those days, or the couch to 5k,
just it is so different, you know,
If we ever go anywhere on bikes I'm like, is a parkrun nearby,
especially if you're doing the London Marathon and like the amount of different ones I've
done in London because I want to come out,
and then yes, it's nice.
Have you got a bucket list?
parkrun tourism you want to do?
I've got a bit of a list.
I want to go to the hardest one.
Which is Woolabombe Dunes. Oh Woolacombe Dunes?
Apparently there's, there's a few over in Ireland.
we want to do because obviously Ryan's from Ireland.
Oh, cool.
So we want to do some over there.
So when you're not tail walking, are there any other volunteer roles that you do?
Yeah, scanning.
I've done timekeeping.
That's quite a few ones actually.
But yeah, but this is definitely one of my favorite ones because I like chasing the milestones.
But this is like a running one and you get a volunteer about milestone as well.
So it's a bonus. Brillaint.
And have you talked to me about your milestones?
Where where are you at with your in your park running journey?
Um, so I've got my 25th volunteer one.
So now I'm chasing my 100 for running.
So I'm on 62 I think at the moment.
So hopefully if at the end of the year, if I just keep running if I don't miss any parkruns, I'll
get my 100th.
From all that beginning of parkrun like 10 years ago and
starting running about 11 or so years ago and now, you know, I'm a
qualified running coach.
I got my own running club, you know, and it's
not to say, oh, you know, look at me, I'm amazing.
But it's it's great to see how much your life can change and that's because
and it's because of running and of course, like being on the brooks team as well.
That's fantastic.
So amazing people in that crew.
I mean, the fact that you're called a run happy, team member,
I mean you pretty much perfectly fit that bill.
I don't think I've ever met a happier person.
And how do you feel after you finish a parkrun?
And I just feel really, I feel really good.
I just feel really, like I'm ready for the day because obviously parkruns that time in the morning,
you still got the rest of the days to do so get up, get it done and then
I just have a coffee and that and then carry on,
you know, I forgot to start my watch.
Doesn't count I'm afraid, you're going to have to start again.
You're going to have to use this footage to prove that.
Well, the great thing is you get your official parkrun time, don't you?
Yeah. So that'll do.
Got that uphill finish
haven't we?
Come on, come on.
Oh no, I still got to pose for the cameraman as well.
This is not going to be a pretty sight.
After you, go on go on. Yes I get to win.
It's really hard just stepping out of my house and just go outside and start running.
So that's why I came to parkrun every week since then because I was like, I feel safe at park run because there's
all this other runners around me and no judgment, no nothing.
It doesn't matter how fast or slow I'm going, you know, people are always cheering each other on, so I absolutely
love the atmosphere.
It is like one big family.
Yeah, definitely.
I found like it definitely got my confidence when I came back from having my eating disorder.
Like I wouldn't say boo to a goose before.
Like, I was really shy, I see in the corner and then when people started coming up to chat to me and I was like, oh, actually
this is this, this is helping then, and it's just the rest is history.
Really, I just fell in love with it.
And then when people say they're not super quick
I was like, you don't have to be and then I find a lot of people do part run and then they suddenly gaining that
confidence to maybe enter a race in the future or being around other people
knowing they they're not gonna get judged as well, that's what I love about parkrun.
So we finished parkrun.
How are you feeling?
I'm feeling all right now,
I've recovered.
After we sped up a bit.
You've got breakfast in your mind.
Breakfast yes.
Is the focus every week.
This is your last chance to guess what you think the challenge is going to be?
I can feel the nervous energy radiating off dropping the comments right now.
What you think the challenges?
What do you think the challenges is? All I could think of was a bit of tourism or something, a bit of parkrun tourism.
and tourism.
Okay, so whilst you all guess in the comments, I'm going to ask you Rahema and Meg,
what do you think this challenge could be?
I'll do anything as long as it's not an icebath.
There's no ice baths.
What about you?
What do you think it is? As long has nothing to do with baked beans
I'm happy.
Their are no baked beans involved. Okay, are you ready?
I'm going to tell you. The challenge is in a few weeks time.
We will be taking you to Woolacombe Dunes parkrun.
The toughest parkrun, Woolacombe Dunes.
I wanted to do that one.
I'm excited.
It is tough
but I have done it before, so don't panic.
It's my personal worst
but I can tell you it's an awful lot of fun.
Oh my God, that's amazing.
I read about it the other day.
I read about it the other day and I do like sometimes I just want to get a really fast time like on a
course like this, but other times I like interesting, difficult
courses and that sounds amazing that one. Have you run on sand before?
Yeah I've run on sand before and I know how hard it can be especially if it's not if it's
dry it's even harder.
So, yeah but so what it sounds amazing.
Oh I do love it when a challenge comes together.
Stay tuned as we are going to be bringing you along with us as we tackle one of the hardest
parkruns in the UK.
This is gonna be epic.
And what a rewarding way for these guys to celebrate their commitment to parkrun.
I couldn't agree more Sarah.
It has been so lovely coming and having a natter at Park Run with you both
Meg and Rahima.
Thanks so much for having me.
Thanks for having us as well, brilliant.
How about you guys at home?
Do you have a similar parkrun success story?
What keeps you motivated to keep showing up and running?
Tell us in the comments below, we'll see you next time on the running channel