Back in 2019, Tetbury Goods Shed Hosted their very first parkrun. Now 6 years later its more than a Saturday morning run with friends, its become a community, a support system and away to celebrate well-being. As we pass our sixth birthday, I have taken a moment to reflect on what parkrun has meant to me, to all of our hard working volunteer and to all who have walked, jogged, run or simply cheered from the sidelines.

My First parkrun

Probably similar to many people, I signed up for parkrun and printed off a barcode, but it took me a few months to go along and do my first parkrun. However, go along I did and after I completed the 5k run, another parkrunner came over to chat, asked how I’d found it and said she’d see me again next week. Without that conversation would I have gone again?  I’m not sure but it was just enough of a hook to find out what this parkrun thing was all about and meet a new friend again. It didn’t take me long to find out parkrun is addictive!

Why parkrun Works

Because parkrun can be whatever you want it to be it works – sometimes I go because I want a chat, to catch up with friends, because I’m feeling lonely, or just want an excuse for coffee and cake. Sometimes I go because I want to see how fast I can run, to see if I can get a PB, because I’m frustrated or angry or just had a bad day and want to run it off. Whichever reason I go, I always finish feeling better.  The community, the support, the challenge – how can I not come home with a smile.

A Happier, Healthier Planet – Starting Right Here in Tetbury

Parkrun’s aims are straightforward: to create a happier, healthier planet and nowhere is happiness more evident than at Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun. Since our first event in May 2019, I’ve been part of the Tetbury Goods Shed parkrun team as a Run Director and Volunteer Co-ordinator. We’re so lucky to have incredible support from:

• Tetbury Town Council
• The Feoffees of Tetbury
• The Tucker family, who generously allow us to use their land
• The Whistle Stop Café, who fuel us with coffee and cake

Although I had thought that setting up a parkrun in Tetbury would mean a chance to have a lie in rather than having to travel to Chipping Sodbury or Gloucester to visit one! Getting involved with the core team often means we’re there early to help set up or greet visitors – not so much fun on a cold, dark November day but an absolute delight on these bright summer mornings, in the heart of the Cotswold’s watching the rabbits while we lay the cones out or set up the finish funnel.

Celebrating Six Years of Community

Saturday, the 17th of May, was our 6th birthday. We hadn’t been able to celebrate our 1st or 2nd birthdays due to all parkruns being paused during the Covid lockdown, so it was always a privilege and a pleasure to be able to celebrate our anniversaries once we turned six.

Volunteering: A Life-Changing Experience

All our volunteers are special at Tetbury, but we are truly blessed to have our young people who are doing their Duke of Edinburgh Award that turn up with good humour and a smile whatever the weather.

At the other end of the scale, we have our band of retirees who came along to parkrun to stay active and be involved in their community, but they’ve also met many new friends including each other and our young students.

All of these have become indispensable to our team, and we would struggle to fill our volunteer roster without them

A recent parkrun survey showed that not only does volunteering at parkrun make so many people happy every weekend but it’s also a positive life-changing experience and remember you don’t need any experience to volunteer at parkrun.

All the roles are easy to pick up and there’ll always be someone on hand to explain what to do.

So, what have I learnt from 6 years of parkruns at Tetbury Goods Shed? 

As well as all the positive benefits and parkrun friends a couple of handy hints – don’t look at your watch while you’re trotting over the tree roots, take your barcode out of your pocket before washing your shorts and if you see someone standing on their own looking a bit nervous after their first parkrun, go over and tell them you’re looking forward to seeing them again.

Want to Get Involved?

To take part in parkrun as a runner, walker or volunteer all you will need is a parkrun barcode which you only need to register for once.  Available via the parkrun website with lots of other helpful advice on how parkrun works and that it’s free for everyone forever. Visit the parkrun Website.

See You Saturday?

So, see y’all on Saturday at 9am at Tetbury Goods Shed?  if you couldn’t make it for our birthday that week, we’re there every other Saturday.  And if you can’t make it to Tetbury there’s parkruns at many other locations around the UK and many other countries including South Africa, Poland and Australia.

Eileen