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Eastleigh parkrun

Restart A Heart at Eastleigh parkrun, 15th October

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This Saturday 15 October the Restart A Heart charity will be running a bystander CPR training event at Eastleigh parkrun from 8.30am.  By giving up a few minutes of your time, you can learn how to give someone who has collapsed the best chance of survival.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, performing immediate CPR can help double their chance of survival in some cases.

The team of trainers will be on site before, during and after the parkrun, outside the Blackbird Café at Pavilion on the Park, Fleming Park.
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parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

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Despite its name, parkrun isn’t about running.  It’s about social interaction and community.  In fact, it could be described as a community event masquerading as a sports event.  I’ve written before about how participants are welcome to run, jog, walk or volunteer and that every form of participation is equally valuable and equally welcomed.

parkrun turns 18 this month, and to mark its birthday it is running the parkwalk at parkrun campaign to celebrate the value of walking.  For each of the five Saturdays participants will be encouraged to walk and chat their way around the course.  There will even be dedicated “parkwalkers” who will be more than happy to walk with you. [Read more…] about parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

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parkrun rewards for persistence

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Almost 7 years since my first parkrun (though parkrun was suspended for 70 weeks of that time), I have recently completed my 250th parkrun.  That’s 250 Saturdays, plus a few Christmas Days and New Year’s Days, that I’ve got up early enough to run 5km at 09:00 am.

unofficial 250 parkrun tee shirt
Chippy models his home-made celebratory shirt before his 250th parkrun

That’s some persistence – and a milestone.  But a milestone that is easy to achieve.  All you have to do is keep going back. [Read more…] about parkrun rewards for persistence

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parkrun is back

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And it’s back!  After 70 long weeks of suspension, parkrun finally returned to England last weekend (24th July).

start sign

Almost 250 runners assembled at Fleming Park, both this week and last, plus about 40 volunteers to make sure the event ran smoothly and everyone stayed safe.  This week’s participants included twenty brand new parkrunners, plus another nineteen who had never run at Eastleigh before. [Read more…] about parkrun is back

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A year of notparkrundays

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Yesterday (Saturday 13th March) was the 52nd notparkrunday. That’s a whole year without parkrun. When Covid-19 caused parkrun to be suspended back in March 2020, Mrs Chippy and I decided we would carry on with our regular 5 km runs at 9 am on a Saturday morning. Originally, we called them Socially Distanced Runs, until the notparkrunday word was created. I don’t think anyone expected parkrun to be suspended for more than a few weeks – there was astonishment when we reached 13.

running shirt with slogan a year of not parkrundays
A new shirt to mark a year of notparkrundays

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parkrun – it goes beyond running

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There have now been 23 Saturdays without a parkrun in the UK – or indeed most of the rest of the world.  The Covid-19 pandemic has meant that, for the first time since its inception in 2004, all events were suspended in March.  Since then, only New Zealand has been able to restart (but has subsequently been re-suspended).  Yes, we were 90% proud of New Zealand parkrun, but 10% jealous!

How have we coped?  How have dedicated parkrunners  managed without our weekly fix of running and camaraderie. [Read more…] about parkrun – it goes beyond running

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Eastleigh parkrun 400

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If you were near Fleming Park last Saturday morning (21st April) you might have seen a number of tutu-clad people – both male and female – heading to or from Dragonfly Park.  What was going on?  Was it a flash-mob performance of Swan Lake?  A group of half-hearted entrants to a drag-queen competition?  Take-your-ballet-dancer to work day?

The reason was far more exciting than those possibilities.  It was the occasion of the 400th Eastleigh parkrun, and the event organisers thought that a tutu-wearing event would be a good way to celebrate.  [Read more…] about Eastleigh parkrun 400

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parkrun 101 – a run (or walk) in the park

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A few years ago someone told me that a group of people meet in Fleming Park every Saturday morning to run 5 km.  My first thought was “why would they do that?”, swiftly followed by an assumption that it was a training run for a local running club, and wouldn’t be open to non-runners like me.

That’s before I discovered parkrun.  I ran my first parkrun – after over 25 years of not running – in March 2015 and since then have been back 100 times – pretty much every week.  I think it’s safe to say I’m hooked. [Read more…] about parkrun 101 – a run (or walk) in the park

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Support St John Ambulance: Hendy Ford Eastleigh 10k Road Race 2016

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The Hendy Ford Eastleigh 10k Road Race 2016 will take place on Sunday 20 March (Palm Sunday).

This is the 32nd year of the event, which for many years has been sponsored by B&Q. And this year, one of Chandler’s Ford Today’s contributors will be taking part. [Read more…] about Support St John Ambulance: Hendy Ford Eastleigh 10k Road Race 2016

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News from Eastleigh parkrun

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There were extra opportunities for a parkrun over the Christmas period in Eastleigh.

As well as the standard Saturday morning events, runs were also organised for Christmas and New Year’s Day mornings. In addition, the New Year’s Day events in Winchester and Southampton started 90 minutes later.

This gave the truly dedicated a total of five parkruns in nine days.  I managed three of the five – so I must be semi-dedicated. [Read more…] about News from Eastleigh parkrun

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Eastleigh: 250th parkrun

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Did you know that Eastleigh held its 250th parkrun last weekend?

We’re a quarter of the way through the year. How are you getting on with that New Year resolution to take more exercise? You didn’t make such a resolution? No, neither did I, but let’s just pretend that we did.

If, like me, you are not a runner, [Read more…] about Eastleigh: 250th parkrun

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