parkrun celebrates 17 years today - including 17 years of volunteering ~ and while Tampere parkrun isn’t quite that old (grin) like every parkrun around the globe it wouldn’t happen without the fantastic volunteers!
Thank you all!
Today it was a JOY to serve our parkrun family as RD (run director) at Tampere’s event #134.
It was my first time as RD since we moved to using the app after our restart in August (Covid 19 meant parkrun was suspended globally for over a year) and I have to say it’s so much easier ~ no pc, no clocks, no cables - it can all be done by phone even submitting the data (though I confess I used my mini iPad as the screen on my ancient phone is tiny!)
I feel very privileged to volunteer as part of a wonderful team - and want to give a huge shout out to Nina who has mentored this older lady (grin) in the RD role, and Olli who was my right hand person today (because admittedly I felt a bit rusty and was a bit nervous because of the long gap since I was last RD)
The trickiest task in being RD is gathering the “team of the day” (my term) - i.e the five people (including the RD) who voluntarily forsake their own run /walk to serve as time keeper (2), scanner or token distributor, plus the all important tail walker and the person who cycles to the turnaround spot to put out the u-turn sign (both of whom get times too)
There are heaps of other volunteers behind the scenes too: we have someone who takes the start video/photograph of the ‘team of the day’ at the end, and people who help set up and pack up etc … all are needed and all are appreciated!
Today’s run was pretty special for me because my young friend Lara (aged 11 not only ran her 10th run (a key milestone for juniors) but did so in record time - a personal best (PB) of under 40 minutes! Wow! I got such a kick watching her shift up a gear on the home straight - determined to get a good time. … and she nailed it.
I was also very excited to see my friend Ulla (who was the inspiration for getting Tampere parkrun up and running way back when), fly across the finish line in what was very very close (9 seconds off) to her PB, set way back at event #2! Well done!
Today there were three first timers (so glad you joined us) and four PBs.
parkrun is NOT a race but it’s very nice to celebrate not only participation but also people’s progress and improvement!
Tampere sparkled today!
The weather was bright and sunny (and warm for October) and the autumn colours were beautiful. It will look quite different when I’m RD next (just before Christmas) when the trees will be bare but with luck we might have dry, bright weather then too! Who knows?what we do know is that (barring dangerously icy conditions) Tampere parkrun happens every Saturday at 9:30am! Isn’t that fantastic!
I’m so thankful to be part of parkrun ~ for me parkrun - whether running, walking or volunteering - is the perfect antidote to winter depression. I love being part of the parkrun family and really look forward to my visits!

See you next week when we will celebrate Tampere parkrun’s fourth birthday!

Same time!

Same place!

(With a different RD and team of volunteers!)