Marshalling at the marshes - GoodGym get our volun-cheer on

10 GoodGymers (plus a four-legged friend) held a volunteering takeover at Hackney Marshes parkrun this Saturday.

Hackney Marshes is a favourite parkrun course for many GoodGymers as the flat course along the canalside is fast, beautiful and very friendly. So GoodGym Hackney were keen to give something back and help out parkrun. Toyin, Clair and Eva arrived extra early to help run director Sandra get everything set up, setting out cones, marking out the finish line and putting up flags. Then more and more volunteers arrived to get stuck in.

Steve, Patrick and Ros headed out to their various marshalling spots around the course, with new puppy George in tow, who was a very popular addition to the GoodGym cheer squad.

The runners arrived and everyone was looking pretty chirpy about being up and about early on a soggy Saturday morning.

Sandra gave the runners breifing, and then they were off! With over 300 people running this week the marshals had their work cut our for them cheering everyone on keeping the runners motivated! But there was plenty of enthusiasm, and as well as the usual shouts of 'thanks marshal' there we're also a few shouts of 'thanks Jim (Gym)'.

Shout out to Lucy and GoodGym Bexley who also came among to run the course and say hello!

As tail walker, Eva followed round at the end, chatting to those who wanted to take a slower pace.

Back at the finish line, Anna was timekeeping, Rich and Stefania were handing out finish tokens and Clair was keeping everything in order as the funnel manager. Things seemed to go without a hitch,  barring one runner who wasn't part of parkrun who grabbed a token and then ran straight off, never to be seen again!

Everyone else headed over to Toyin and Danny who were on hand to scan all the barcodes to get everyone into the system.

Once that was all done, the group helped to pack things up and went for a tea with event director Chris. Stefania then helped put all the barcodes in order ready for the next run.

Next week, as few of us will be returning to the marshes as runners to see Clair celebrate her 100th parkrun!  Hope to see you there!