Royal Canal Parkrun

Royal Canal Parkrun John Ryan

It is just over 15 years since the first ever parkrun took place in Bushy Park London. It has now spread to over 2400 locations in 23 countries. On the island of Ireland there are 123 5km parkruns plus 29 junior 2km parkruns. There are a wide variety of locations from urban parks to forest tracks to Atlantic beaches. You can even apply to run in Mountjoy Prison, and you do not have to commit a crime!

Once you register online, which is free, and print off your barcode you can take part in any parkrun anywhere in the world. The mantra-like phrase to describe parkrun is: it is free, it is timed, it is 5km, every Saturday morning! While the title parkrun includes the word run it is not about running per se. Everyone of all ages and abilities are welcome. There is no time limit. People are free to run as fast as they wish, or they can push the kids in a buggy or walk the dog. Wheelchairs are permitted including racing wheelchairs but not hand powered cycles.

The mantra-like phrase to describe “ parkrun is: it is free, it is timed, it is 5km, every Saturday morning!”

There are no winners in parkrun, there are first finishers. It is a great way for club athletes or anyone with a competitive streak to push themselves a little bit harder in a very supportive environment.

Royal Canal parkrun started on 13th April 2019. Over 1700 different people have run, jogged, or walked the 2.5km out and back course on the recently refurbished towpath. The event has attracted parkrunners from as far away as New Zealand and Australia. Not only do parkrunners like to visit other events while on holiday, a regular feature of parkrun every Saturday is the number of people who travel to take part in different parkruns around the country. This is known as parkrun tourism.

“Volunteers are an essential part of parkrun as it is very much a community-based organisation and there is no hierarchy.”

Every time that you complete a parkrun course your barcode and finishing position are recorded. After the event you will be sent an email with your time. When someone completes 50 parkruns they qualify for a free red t-shirt, after 100 a free black t-shirt and after 250 a free green t-shirt. Post and

packaging extra.

Volunteers are an essential part of parkrun as it is very much a community-based organisation and there is no hierarchy. To date 170 individuals have volunteered at Royal Canal parkrun. Each time that you volunteer you get a volunteer credit. When you volunteer 25 times you qualify for a purple t-shirt. In the ideal parkrun world, a parkrunner will volunteer once every 8 to 10 runs. One of our volunteers, Dermot Kelly, won the VHI hero award for January 2020. He has photographed almost all our parkruns and captures the essence of parkrun. All the photos can be found at www.facebook.com/royalcanalparkrunkilcock Another integral part of a parkrun are the coffee gatherings afterwards. Parkruns are a great way to meet new people, get to know the neighbours and catch up with old friends.

“Parkruns are a great way to meet new people, get to know the neighbours and catch up with old friends.”

Details of how to register are here www.parkrun.ie/register There is no rivalry between parkruns. Further details on Royal Canal parkrun can be found at www.parkrun.ie/royalcanalkilcock and our North Kildare neighbours Castletown Celbridge can be found at www.parkrun.ie/castletown