07/02/2026
Harwich 5K Your Way, Move Against Cancer the run report from today ☺️🩵
Here are event #30's statistics in all their glory!
Thank you to Peter Edwards for this week's run report:
Christchurch Park parkrun 07/02/26 | #30 Run Report
As this is my home event and I've been running parkruns in Christchurch Park for many years, It didn't really occur to me that I could bring anything new to the table writing up a run report for
today's event. But, after our delightful volunteer coordinator suggested it, I realised that it has actually been some years since I have contributed a run report for my home run and certainly not since last year's great restart of the event with a new name and resetting all the event numbers. So maybe it was about time I contributed some words again!
I had a bit of a tough time getting myself out of bed this morning, but the beauty of the parkrun report writer volunteering role over, say, the event day course check is that you don't have to arrive at the start particularly early - all the work is done after everyone has gone home. :D
I managed to pull the trainers on eventually, and made my way over to the familiar Christchurch mansion. Our Run Director today, Matt ticked my name off and I started swapping greetings with the many friends I have made in the local running community. It is easy to forget if you spend too much time touristing in remote and foreign parkruns, the warm welcome which awaits you when you stay local!
I listened into the first timers briefing along with the seven runners new to Christchurch Park parkrun, just to get a feel for how new visitors to our park might experience it. At least I tried to -
sadly, there were a few loud locals amongst the busy crowd who hadn't twigged that their excited catch-up conversations were drowning out the speaker. Fortunately, most of the first timers did their best to move out of earshot and all could see the course map.
One nice thing about Christchurch Park parkrun is that it is relatively straightforward - after an initial extra bit that the whole crowd mostly sticks together for, the majority of the route is two large sunwise laps around the park, with little scope for going awry.
The course is primarily run on concrete footpaths which means it's typically good footing in all weathers, with the rare exception of ice. This morning, there was only a threat of rain in the air but
thankfully the Met Office forecasted that it would likely hold off until we'd finished.
Matt stepped up to perform the Run Directors briefing and quickly had the crowd in hand. After covering the basics, he introduced a guest speaker - a volunteer from the 5k Your Way (https://5kyourway.org) support group. I had been introduced to these volunteers a while ago,
whilst visiting the nearby Harwich parkrun.
The group supports anyone who has been touched by cancer, and meets monthly at a parkrun to encourage people to participate in a fresh air walk or run in a supportive environment, surrounded by an understanding community. I learned today that this group had more recently expanded out to Clacton too.
All the volunteers from the group I met and talked to today were very passionate and had turned out in force to spread word of their group and see if they could encourage volunteers from the local area to get involved too.
There were nearly sixty more participants than usual and, in amongst them, were two runners, Jamie and Paul, celebrating their first 25 milestone run, whilst Patricia had made it to the big 100 - an epic
achievement!
Following the briefing, the epic crowd were herded up the path by the pond to the start line and we were off before most of us could hear the official shout. The first bit uphill always results in a bit of
shuffling as participants find their place in the crowd but by the time we joined the main loop, most of us found ourselves in roughly the right places.
I did my best to shout my appreciation to the volunteer marshals as we passed. The event volunteers are the unsung heroes of parkrun, without whom the events could not take place, so I tried to call out my thanks to as many of them as I could - even when running up the tough lengthy hill on the second lap!
By the time I crossed the finish line in amongst the nearly 340 participants that made it out this morning, I was delighted to be there in the sunshine which was holding its own against the rain
clouds. I was, despite my best efforts, not one of the incredible 66 people who managed to set a personal best this morning but fair play to all of them for achieving that so early this year!
Special shout out to long-term Ipswich parkrunner and my friend, Adele, who has recently returned to Christchurch Park parkrun after a lengthy absence and has been doggedly smashing her course PB, pretty much every week since. Another minute off this week - incredibly inspirational, and a reminder that I've been stagnating around the same mark for ages!
Whilst cooling down, I reflected on what a fantastic community it is, that comes together here weekly - a wonderful mix of locals and tourists alike. Many thanks to all the Christchurch Park core team and volunteers that made this event possible for us all. I will most definitely be returning! :)
