Latest news with #ParkRun
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Durban North resident laces up for debut Comrades Marathon
WITH under six weeks of preparation to go, excitement is building for Aaron Biggar who is taking on his first Comrades Marathon on Sunday, June 8. The 30-year-old qualified for 'The Ultimate Human Race', as the marathon is officially referred to, at last year's Cape Town Marathon. The Durban North resident says his objective for his Comrades debut is to just 'finish and have fun'. 'They say your first one is always your PB (personal best) and my objective is definitely to finish. I don't want to go in there and thrash it out. I want to dance at almost every water station. I want to have a good time. If you've seen me run I'm not someone who keeps quiet, I expel a lot of energy and I plan to do that with the crowd. You won't need to find me on the course, you'll hear me before you see me,' he said. Also read: Comrades Marathon confirms new finish venue, official race distance Biggar, who comes from a sporting background, explained how his journey started. 'I first started off with Park Run. That's where my passion for running came about. That transitioned to being named the captain of Adidas Runners and then me entering the Comrades Marathon. I think the Comrades is the ultimate representation of Durban. I turned 30 this year and some of my family members have run the marathon, that has all led me to enter this year,' he said. Biggar will be supported by his wife and his family along the route and said he will feed off their support along the route. 'I've done a few route testers and I know it is going to be a painful race. However, I'm confident in my training and all the mileage I've covered. I know I will get more energised seeing family members along the route. I need that energy to carry me to the end. With it being a Down Run, I know where all my Durban people will be and I will start to see familiar faces at the point where I need them the most. The other motivation is I will be running home in familiar conditions,' he said. Also read: Comrades Marathon to introduce two race starts While he is yet to complete his first, Biggar has already set his sights on getting his back-to-back Comrades medal and has mentioned 2027 which will be the 100th running of the Comrades Marathon. Fun on the run What is your earliest Comrades memory? 'In terms of memory, it would be watching it on television with my parents. They always watched it. In person it was cheering on runners at 45th Cutting and then with the Adidas Runners group, we had an informal cheer zone where we interacted with and encouraged runners to the point where I said to myself 'I have to be a part of this someday'.' What is the worst thing to shout out to a runner in an ultra-distance marathon? 'It might be 'how are you feeling?' when you're close to the end of a race. You know the person is in pain. Personally I'd much prefer a clap or 'keep it up' or 'keep going'.' What is an essential food item you like to eat on a long distance run? 'This is something I've asked my wife to bring me at the 50km mark. An Afros Chicken meal with strips and chips and lemon and herb sauce. I will probably take a few minutes to eat it and then get going again.' What tips would you offer to long-distance runners? 'One thing I've learnt is that mileage on the legs is important. Especially with these long ultra-marathons, you need to do consistent mileage. Yes you can add up all your short runs and they are beneficial, but nothing prepares you better than doing long distance runs.' Why the Comrades Marathon? 'My grandfather Peter and my uncles have attempted the Comrades so I'm inspired by my family. There is also talk of creating a legacy with my two younger brothers who want to run the Comrades Marathon in the future with me which would be something special.' For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Irish Examiner
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Welcome to Park Run: 'People of all ages and abilities turn up; it's clear that everyone belongs'
Until a few months ago, I wouldn't have dreamed of doing a 5K on a Saturday morning. I used to enjoy running, but hadn't so much as run for a bus since my daughter was born three years ago. Lacking motivation and confidence, I wondered if my running days were behind me. Then, at the beginning of February, parkrun came to my local town, Midleton. Parkrun is a free, timed event where you can run, jog, or walk 5k. It's a run, but not a race. It's an international initiative, with runs in countries such as Australia, USA, United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. The first parkrun in Ireland was in 2012, and now there are over 110 events around the country. Ireland is currently the leading parkrun nation globally, with nine per cent of the population registered – the highest percentage in any country in the world. The Midleton parkrun takes place on the recently opened Midleton to Youghal Greenway. It's a flat, safe path – ideal for novice and seasoned runners alike. Curious to give it a go, I joined over 600 runners on the morning of the inaugural event. I brought along my daughter in her buggy, thinking I'd just walk near the back. Once I got going, the energy was infectious and I jogged the whole way. I felt brilliant after it, and was hooked. Since that first run, I've been back several times. Each week my time is logged using my personalised barcode, and my official result is recorded online. Whenever I get a PB – personal best – it's displayed next to my time in celebration. There's also online kudos for volunteers, and people who hit milestones such as their 50th run. Everything about parkrun feels encouraging. For those who might find run clubs intimidating, parkrun is an accessible, community-focused initiative. People of all ages and abilities turn up each week, and it's clear that everyone belongs. Catriona McGregor after the Park Run at Modelton Greenway. Picture: Noel Sweeney 'The distance is doable for walkers, beginners. Advanced runners can do a time trial on it. So it caters for everybody,' says runner Catriona McGregor, 64, from Midleton. It's been a good morning for Catriona, who set a new personal best. 'I broke 27 [minutes],' she says with a smile. A former runner, it continues to be an important part of her wellbeing. 'It's good for your mental health, it's good for your physical health,' she says. For anyone considering parkrun, her advice is to just give it a go. 'The surface is brilliant. There's all shapes and sizes. So just so come and start, and then it's just a matter of getting into routine, and you'll enjoy it,' she says. It can help to have a running buddy. Friends Aoife O'Sullivan and Alannah Berkeley, both 18, like to do the run together. They are in the middle of Leaving Cert preparation, and running is a great way to take a break from study and have fun. 'It's so nice to have the community of it, and everyone running together. There's a good environment, and it's not personal, it's not competitive. You can beat your own time, but it's not a race,' says Alannah. They love the fact there's all ages at the event. 'Even the little kids are passing us when we turn around,' laughs Aoife. 'And I love watching all the really fast people come past us. It's crazy, they go so fast.' With 5k done, the pair are off to the nearby Midleton Farmers Market. 'We're going to the market to get pizza!' says Alannah. 'We have to treat ourselves,' adds Aoife. Cian O'Connell from Carrogaline, after the Park Run at Modelton Greenway. Picture: Noel Sweeney For many runners, parkrun is a family affair. Ross and Sandra Keogh both take part, taking turns each week pushing their nine month old son Dillon in his buggy. 'I thought it was easier, running with the buggy, because you're kind of distracted, ' says Sandra. Dillon enjoys it too. 'It won't be long now and he'll be running himself,' says Ross. Sandra has found parkrun helpful for her postpartum recovery. 'I had him nine months ago, so it's good for me to get back into it. I find it hard, but I've kept going,' she says. 'I'll get stronger and stronger, and I love running.' Ger O'Regan, 55, is Chair of the local running club Midleton AC. He regularly runs the course while pushing grandkids Luke, 5, and Joey, 3, in a double buggy. 'It's great. It's fun, and the lads enjoy it,' he says. Luke even joins him to run some of the route. 'He asked me at Christmas will I train him, so he's going to be a runner, I reckon.' One of the younger runners, Alex Fowley, 13, enjoys doing parkrun with his dad. He says running helps with all the sports he plays in Midleton: 'I like doing things with him, and it's good for fitness for soccer and Gaelic.' Conrad Watt and Nick Hogan after the Park Run at Modelton Greenway. Picture: Noel Sweeney Alex admits that he is faster than his dad, but that doesn't bother him. 'I have to slow down, but I don't mind,' he says. Overseeing the whole operation in Midleton is Event Director Liagh Miller, assisted by a group of dedicated volunteers. Liagh is responsible for establishing the Midleton Greenway parkrun. She moved back to Cork from Dublin a couple of years ago, and was surprised that there was no event in her local area. With encouragement from parkrun Ireland, she decided to set one up. At the time, the Greenway was still being constructed. 'It took probably about a year, working with the County Council and Cork Sports Partnership, and then we finally got the permission,' she says. When her house was severely damaged in the floods during Storm Babet in October 2023, parkrun gave Liagh something to look forward to. 'It was pretty much destroyed,' she says. Ger O'Regan with Luke and Joey O'Doherty after the Park Run at Modelton Greenway. Picture: Noel Sweeney 'Parkrun, even though it was a lot of work, it ended up being this amazing channel, something positive to focus on.' Liagh's warmth and enthusiasm has a ripple effect, and she has gathered a 'merry band of volunteers' who make each event happen. "The organisers are always looking for more people to come and lend a hand. 'I wish people would do it more, not just to help, but the craic we have and the camaraderie and the fun, it's a huge thing,' she says. Margaret McDonnell has volunteered at all 13 of the Midleton parkrun events to date. She first heard of parkrun back in 2016. She had recently taken up running, and a friend encouraged her to give it a try. A big plus for Margaret was that she would never be last. 'Somebody's job is to be last, because parkrun always has a tail walker. So I was like, if I can run 5k and I won't be last, I'll try it,' she says. Since then, she has taken part in events in Scotland, England and Cork. She decided to spend some time volunteering to help get the Midleton event off the ground. 'It's a nice way to meet people. It's a really nice thing to do on a Saturday morning. By the time you get up and you do it, you feel good. You've been out in the fresh air. You've seen people,' she says. For those who still want to run, they can combine that with volunteering. 'You don't have to stand around and go home for the day. You can actually do jobs and walk or run your parkrun and still get your movement done.' Margaret hopes to give back and help other runners grow in confidence and connect with community too. 'When I started running, 5k was a long way. And it's still a long way, but it's a doable long way, and you can do it with other people.' Find your local event at
BBC News
20-04-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Bristol in Pictures: City, Tuna Turner and Park Run competitors
Why does the weather so often ruin Bank Holiday weekends? A question for another day that the rain and wind stopped life carrying on in Bristol, with plenty to enjoy indoors such as the Tina Turner musical at the Hippodrome and tasty treats at bakeries in the kept up their play-off push and the Park Run competitors kept on going too. Simply the Best: The Tina Turner Musical is on at the Hippodrome until 26 April, telling the story of the multiple Grammy-winning star from her humble Tennessee beginnings to global fame. Also simply the best: Bristol & West AC runners are celebrating winning the ultimate accolade in British endurance running after becoming National Road Relay Champions, adding that to their National Cross Country Championship earlier this season. Getting it done: Bristol City cemented their place in the Championship top six by beating 10-man Sunderland 2-1 at Ashton Gate on Good Friday. Night glow: The lights of the many rides and stalls at Funderworld on The Downs are not just illuminating that part of the city, but the taller rides can be seen from miles away. Grey Good Friday: It was a damp day on Friday as the weather did not play ball with it being a bank holiday but at least the gulls enjoyed having the harbour (largely) to themselves. Maybe just one: It is hard to travel across Bristol without passing an artisan bakery of some sort or another. These cardamom and pistachio knots were being baked this week. In the shadow of giants: The cricket season is here, meaning fans heading to watch Gloucestershire home games can once again walk into the County Ground under the mural of legendary player W. G. Grace. In all weathers: Every Saturday morning hundreds of runners take on the hills of Ashton Court as part of the weekly Park Run. Easter Saturday was no different despite the wind and rain. Park life: Charity Your Park Bristol & Bath has been given almost £250,000 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to improve accessibility for disabled people and their carers in parks in the two cities. Recognition: The team at Common Ambition Bristol, which aims to reverse HIV health inequalities in the city, has been given a national award. Common Ambition raises awareness of HIV in African and Caribbean heritage communities through dedicated clinics and community events. Lifesavers: Staff from University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have been providing crucial liver scans to people in the city's homeless community with the support of the Big Issue under the "Alright My Liver?" scheme.
