It's been quite a while
since my last post. Things are not going the best running wise with my
times slower than they have ever been. But in terms of getting round the
Scottish parkruns it really has been the shining light of the year. I was
pretty much ticking off one a month up to July, then in July I did 4 new ones
and August 2 including trips up to Lews Castle in Stornoway and Bressay in
Shetland. Also, a trip to Bushy parkrun, which was the very first parkrun
thrown in for good measure. A couple of new ones started up in recent months,
one over in North Berwick - Whitekirk Hill parkrun and then one down in Castle
Douglas, Carlingwark Loch parkrun. And that was me finished them all :-)
It has been some journey and didn't come without its challenges but I feel so
fortunate to be able to have done this. And with the people I have met on the
way, seeing some amazing places and getting to get out and run.
Background
So how did it all start? As has been well documented on here my parkrun journey started way back at Pollok in 2009 where it was the only event in Scotland at the time. But as I was a longer distance runner at the time, although I got involved with parkrun. My actual parkrun journey didn't really start proper till my return to running till 2014. Between 2014 and 2019 I did do various different parkruns but it was really just to mix things up instead of going to Pollok all the time. In 2018, 2 chaps named Douglas and Craig set off on a challenge to complete all the Scottish parkruns in 1 year and filmed each one for you tube. There were about 33 when they started and 43 when they finished. I didn't know them when they started but it turned out they were local Glasgow southsiders too and I met them through Rouken Glen junior parkrun.
So the seed was planted through them that I thought I'd give it a go too. But I thought I would start in Spring to start the journey as winter is often prone to cancellations. But in February I remember talking about it with my parents over tea and I remember my dad saying why don't you just start the challenge now. Then suddenly, the next week I headed up to Aberdeen to do Aberdeen parkrun. That was the first time I had done an overnighter purposely to do a parkrun. That year I had a lot of adventures and went up to Aberdeen 4 more times. While also ticking off Thurso, Elgin, Kirkwall, Alness, Dumfries as well as other ones in Fife and Edinburgh.
In 2020 I did Fort William parkrun and had booked others like Shetland but had to cancel because of course when March came round, we were all confined to our homes and parkrun was stopped due to COVID. It wasn't until August 2021 when things started up again and I was able to get on the tourist path again. There were quite a lot of new parkruns starting up in 2022 which meant it felt like when you completed one you were never quite reaching the goal. But in 2023 only 3 have started up meaning it's been a lot easier to catch up.
Challenges
Obviously Covid was a big barrier to progression but that couldn't really be helped. But there were various other challenges along the way too. For example, Crathes castle in Aberdeen where I nearly didn't make it. As my bus "broke down" halfway from Aberdeen to Crathes castle and had to get a replacement. The normal bus was due in at 9am. So by the time they got the replacement I arrived at Crathes at 9.26. With half a mile still to cover to get up to the start. I literally got there just as the final announcements were made.
There were other times I have had to persevere to get to a parkrun due to having to call off for various reasons. Stranraer (Agnew parkrun) took 3 attempts. The first time I was meant to go down with group I used to go running with, but all the hotels were booked out. The second time I booked and had a half day from work. Then I got to Ayr and the train to Stranraer which I switched on to was cancelled and the next one wasn't for 2 hours. So, I went and got a drink and a bite to eat in Costa filling the time. Then went back to the station only to find all trains to Stranraer for the rest of the day were cancelled. It wasn't even due to weather it was staff shortages. Luckily Ayr isn't too far from Glasgow, so I headed back up the rails on Friday night.
I have also used work nights out on Friday as an excuse to get a hotel in Edinburgh and do a parkrun the next day. But even then, there was a time when that didn't go to plan. And last December I woke up to snow where most of my targeted parkruns were cancelled. And trains home to Glasgow had major delays so ended up not completing parkrun and getting home mid-afternoon.
Where it went right
But a lot of the time things went right and there were a lot of memorable moments on the way. I did go to many of the parkruns on my own. And most of the trips did go like clockwork and my timings were usually spot on. I think the most memorable trips though are the ones you meet people. And as welcoming as parkruns are it's not always the easiest thing to do. Walking into a new parkrun you haven't done before. And there are people there who see each other every week and know each other well. And you're coming in really just for a once maybe twice visit. But I've found the best trips are the ones are the ones you do meet folk. For example, in Bressay, Shetland I met Ibrahime, Erin and Wendy and they encouraged me to go to the cafe after with them and I had a great morning.
Lews Castle in Stornaway I ended up chatting away to a load of folk and I did actually walk this one with the tail walker due to forgetting my shorts and had a great time. Girvan is one of the smaller parkruns in terms of numbers and by the end of it you feel like you knew everyone running. Meadowmill was another memorable one as I got chatting to quite a few of the volunteers and to get to my train I had to walk back up the course so got to speak more to the marshals too. I found it easier to do this at the smaller events rather than the bigger events. The bigger events were still good in their own way though.
Parkrunning adventures with folk
All the parkruns described above have been adventures on my own. But there have been many adventures with other folk too. My parents who have played a big part in letting me reach parts of the country that are trickier to get to by public transport have helped with 14 parkruns in Scotland. Then you get all those English trips down to see family and other trips down south and you can nearly double that count. The most adventurous one recently was Aviemore where most of Scotland had an amber warning for rain. And it absolutely chucked it down for the entire event. The trails were covered in puddles, and I think my shoes are still not recovered yet. The journey home the rain persisted and there were quite a few times we had to divert to avoid tailbacks due to flooding at various points.
I mentioned Craig W and Douglas at the start, and I have had the pleasure of their company on a number of trips too. Along with various members of a bigger gang - Jo (Craig's wife), Susan, Mhairi, Jenn, Scott. Mix and match with these guys I covered - Erskine Waterfront, Auldcathie District, Mount Stuart, Lochore Meadows, Whitekirk Hill, Carlingwark Loch, Palace rigg A course and maybe more.
The group I used to run with during loch down, Blythe, Kirstin and Claire had a trip up to Faskally Forest, Pitlochery to complete that incredibly scenic course. Ritche and Caitlan who I met through volunteering at Queen's did Kirkcaldy parkrun together and we also met Rob and Ann there who I've got to know at various events. Ritchie, Stuart R and I also had a morning through in Springburn. Campbell accompanied me to Plean and him and his wife also came along to one of my visits to Falkirk too. Craig P, a Stirling local went with me to University of Stirling parkrun and did his first ever parkrun. And finally, my brother Ken where we went to Drumpellier parkrun. I think that's all but hopefully not missed anyone. So many memories, laughs and runs shared.
My favourites
I mentioned above my favourite experiences and the great people I have shared many of the parkruns with. So, this is a list of my favourite courses.
1. Alness
2. Lews Castle
3. Faskally Forest
4. Hazlehead
5. Whitekirk Hill
What's next?
That's a tricky one and I don't have a definitive answer. Long term I would like to get to 500 parkruns but it's deciding how to get there. There are folk who do another loop of Scotland. While I don't mind repeating if there are other people up for going places, I don't think I'll be actively chasing a second loop. The other option is to do the Northeast or Northwest. Which I may chip away at but no plans to fully complete them as that would involve a lot of time off and there would be many that are awkward to get to. But this year I have certainly been sharing the journey a bit more with folk and I do hope that continues.
