parkrun, lap two

robinph

I finally did my 2nd parkrun of the year, NYD being the only other one. Limited time for running, kids weekend activities and needing to make my one run a week more than 5km meant I've missed them and not been doing every single opportunity to parkrun as previously, even on days when other races were on.

Change to the kids activities and me running a 20 mile race the next day meant I could give one a go though, but expected the kid to protest and play on the swings instead. But somehow they were unusually motivated and happily ran/ walked around with me. Probably just under 50% running, and needed to play some Disney soundtracks on my phone for the last lap to stop too much dawdling taking over. But got around for their second 5km and no arguments on the way round.

Hopefully I can get them out for another one again sometime sooner rather than later. :)

flazio

Well done, do you mind me asking which venue?

robinph

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120392531#Comment_120392531

Was Newport in the UK so unlikely to be on your venue choices. But of the multitude of events within shooting distance of home we picked that as the most likely to be successful due to a few things.

Being 3 laps meant we could stop early if it became too much of a chore. Is a nice National Trust estate so country woodland type trails but nothing too challenging and plenty of distractions like, run to the next tree/ look at that birdy/ splash in the muddy puddle/ etc. Great coffee shop afterwards so had chance of offering ice cream as prizes. Still near to civilisation so had decent mobile coverage for streaming music on the way round.

Lucky to have so many events near us to choose from which are suitable for a wide variety of different motivations. :)

opus

There are two junior parkruns starting in Cork city over the next two weeks.

First one is in Ballinlough park starting on Sat 26th - https://www.parkrun.ie/nurserydrive-juniors/

Second is in Gurranabraher starting on Sat 2nd - https://www.parkrun.ie/stmaryscampus-juniors/

We've doubled our number of junior events two weeks & hopefully a few more to come later in the year.

Duzzie

Waterford Nature Park is officially gone. Hopefully a new one will start on the Greenway soon.

https://www.parkrun.ie/waterfordnature/

Pawwed Rig

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120400233#Comment_120400233

That is sad

Duzzie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120400356#Comment_120400356

It is, however having frequent very short notice cancellations, less than an hour, by the event location hosts made it unsustainable in the long term.

flazio

I'm not seeing anything new that says it's definitely gone for good. The suspension has been in place since January and it wasn't optimistic about a return back then. From what I gather it was about running across a soccer pitch and damaging it although the route map suggests they went around the back of it not through it.

Duzzie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120400519#Comment_120400519

If you read down it says "Please note Waterford Nature parkrun no longer takes place. See the news page for more detail". It used to say it was suspended

flazio

New Parkrun alert.

Watch out though, it's not exactly one you can just get up and drive to.

https://www.parkrun.ie/inismeain/

DeepBlue

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626068#Comment_120626068

An 11am start. I wonder is that a typo or if they got a derogation from the 9.30 start time for some reason.

ArmaniJeanss

Watched 'Gaelic In the Joy' on RTE where an ex Dublin footballer trains up a team of inmates.

Interested to spot one of the lads was wearing a 'Progression parkrun' t-shirt with 100 runs completed. Good to see this event seems to have taken hold.

Duzzie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626105#Comment_120626105

I'm not sure how this going to be sustainable. The only ferry operating to the island arrives after the start. There was an earlier ferry from Doolin last summer but they aren't running it this year. You can fly, but the planes capacity is 8. Accomodation on the island is limited. The population of the island won't make it sustainable, it will be dependent on visitors so unless the doolin ferry does do the extra summer trips, I can't see how it is sustainable

flazio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626105#Comment_120626105

According to wiki the native population of that island alone is 183, so the later time is probably to organise flights and boats from the mainland and the other islands to bolster the run numbers. Northern Ireland runs should technically be 9am in line with the other UK Parkruns but they are allowed to start at 9.30 with the rest of Ireland.

To add, unless you charter a speed boat or a helicopter, you won't be able to finish at Knocknacara or Oughterard at 10 and rock up to Inis Meann for 11.

Sunny Dayz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626105#Comment_120626105

Would it not be a bit unfair if they get a special start time of 11am? Isn't there another parkrun - correct me if I'm wrong - perhaps Bere Island - where it's tight going to get to the start line, you need to get a ferry. And if Innis Mean get this, well then why can't other parkruns like say Buncrana with ferry times even though they are road accessible. IMO they shouldn't be allowed to have a different start time just to suit visitors, parkrun isn't just about getting visitor numbers (although it's lovely visiting a different event).

flazio

I take your point on Bere Island, but all the others are accessible for 9.30 if you really want to, even the likes of Achill and Eris. Plus if you look internationally some Parkruns start as early as 7am local time. I'm sure even now, off shore islands have to vote in national elections and referendums a day early in case of delays. Time works differently out there.

I really don't see how one of the most remote Parkruns in Ireland starting late is going to inconvenience or harm anyone.

robinph

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626188#Comment_120626188

It doesn't need tourists to be sustainable, although tourists for parkrun would undoubtedly help with sustainably of income to the island.

All the parkrun needs is someone willing to hold a stopwatch, and someone willing to run (walk). If only 5 people of the island population take part each week then that is great and totally achieving the aims of parkrun to provide an event for any community which wants one. That it's essentially a closed community, until the ferry arrives each day, really doesn't matter and if anything makes the parkrun more sustainable as it is then 100% a thing for the local community rather than a bunch of tourists wearing yellow cow print buffs.

robinph

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626223#Comment_120626223

The NI parkruns start at 9:30am because they initially were tied in some way with the Scottish runs, and they started at 9:30am because the coffee shop in Glasgow didn't open until 10am. There were other justifications for the 9:30am start, but that is part of it.

Ireland then got a 9:30am start as well because they were then began under the umbrella of NI parkrun organisers.

A local junior event to me managed to get a special dispensation to start at 10am on Sundays due to something about trains and dog walkers. Of course nobody takes the train to parkrun with their kids and they all drive SUVs to get there, but the 10am start time certainly helps us with persuading a reluctant waker to get out of bed and participate of a morning. :)

There is only a very few other odd start times in the UK, and mostly I think due to wierd historical anomalies which they wouldn't allow for these days.

corcaigh07

Bete Island is fine for 9.30, it's pretty close to Castletownbere, you get the ferry at 9 and when across, someone drives you to the start at the GAA club. They won't start until the tourists have arrived so usually sets off 5-10 min late anyway.

diceyreilly

Did Progression last Saturday. Was brilliant.

Was their 150th one. Never seen so much cakes. The big cake baked by a prisioner was delicious.

Little tour of the place after went to one of the runners cells to tell us about the place what they do day to day.

Really enjoyable 2 hours.

robinph

Was a preponderance of 500 tops at my new nearest event last week as the With Me Now podcaster Danny Norman turned up along with all his followers. Resulted in nearly 600 for event number 3.

Then today we had Paul Sinton Hewitt turn up and another big attendance of just over 500 people for event number 4. Easily accessible course for me being just a 20 minute jog away, and it's a great having no mad hills on a local route to be more accessible to all levels as well.

flazio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120646688#Comment_120646688

Where are you talking about?

Murph_D

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120626156#Comment_120626156

I saw one of those episodes and I recognised a couple of the faces alright, having visited Progression fairly recently. Highly recommended and worth the wait - it's a surprisingly good experience.

py

Marlay parkrun and junior off for 5 weeks due to concerts.

flazio

Portumna off this weekend due to forest marathon.

Reg'stoy

Just want to compliment Poppintree Parkrun, excellent location, nice looped course with a few twists and turns to make it fun. A very friendly bunch of volunteers, and a group of sanctuary runners seem to use it as a home run. It's just off the M50, you can use the Finglas or Ballymun exits, depending on which direction you're travelling. As always, make sure to turn up early enough for a chat and the run directors brief. Well worth a visit.

opus

Junior parkrun is starting at Mallow Castle next Sunday - https://www.parkrun.ie/mallowcastle-juniors/

flazio

There's another 9am ferry from Doolin to Inis Meann this Saturday if you want to try Inis Meann Parkrun #2

nullObjects

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120680393#Comment_120680393

Thanks for that, I wouldnt have known. Is there a mailing list or anything I can subscribe to? (I'm not on Twitter / Facebook)

py

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120689412#Comment_120689412

I only know because I was looking at the volunteer roster. They had mentioned it at the juniors last week too.