Egging on the mini parkrunners on Easter Sunday

While most children woke up on Easter morning wondering what chocolate egg they might be getting, more than 20 young athletes were thinking about beating their personal best.

The Junior parkrun is held on Odd Down cycle track at 9 o’clock on Sunday mornings and sees runners take to a 2km route with - or without - their parents running alongside.

This week GoodGym Bath were invited to act as marshals and “egg” the children along the course.

To warm up, GoodGymmers Richard, Mary, Ruth and Helen met at the Bear on Bear Flat and ran up the hill to the sports ground. Well, Mary and Helen ran up the hill and back again while Richard kept Ruth company in the slow lane. He made up for this after the task by running off into the distance as part of his training while Ruth promised to cut back on the chocolate.

Up on the Down we donned reflective vests and whistles and spaced out along the route ready to cheer the participants along. Fortunately whistles were not required but lots of clapping was. It is a joy to help at an event which encourages children to be active. Everyone was out to simply be the best runner they can be.

Ruth donned an Easter bonnet for the occasion but no one else got the memo - although a family took part in the run in bunny ears. They may have got a little nervous to see the tail runner disguised as a fox but luckily everyone survived.