Another week, another Saturday parkrun for GoodGym Norwich to help at.

This week, it was Sloughbottom parkrun's turn to host us.

Myself and Tasha were marshals, Elizabeth was time keeper and Ian (plus his little girl) were tailrunner.

This weekend, is was our turn to do a takeover at Sloughbottom parkrun.

7 GoodGymmers were there to help out, with Sinead being Run Director.

Myself and Woody were on finish tokens, Emily was tail walker while Kathryn, Rose and Simon filled marshal points.

It was a very chilly was gorgeous morning with exactly 200 finishers, most of whom received a GoodGym flyer after they crossed the finish line.

#IWDparkrun saw Goodgymers volunteering all over the Country.Here in Norfolk Angela was number checker at Conley with Pete running and Cheska and I were at Catton with Bill, Brad, Tasha, and Darren ( running for the first time after his Big Vitality 1/2 last Sunday in Goodgym apparel , 🏃👏 very well done Darren) Catton #337 with 376 participants Conley #117 with 268 participants I think everyone was pleased the weather was positively summery and certainly dry after last weeks awful downpour. Well done everyone, and to all your ladies happy International Woman’s Day. Here’s to International Men’s Day 🧡❤️

Angela and I volunteered this morning to help make sloughbottom parkrun happen for the 267 runners. Our volunteer role this morning was marshalling. Well done to all the runners for attending this morning after the festive holiday. Today was the last parkrun of 2019. I look forward to volunteering and running many more in 2020.

Parkrun is only possible with the help and support of volunteers. You help future events happen by emailing :- sloughbottomhelpers@parkrun.com. The future roster can be found here :- https://www.parkrun.org.uk/sloughbottom/futureroster/

Happy New Year!

Robert

Up and out early, I did a festive jog down to Sloughbottom Park in my favourite Penguin christmas jumper (WITH flashing lights!!), carrying a precious Yuletide delivery of mini mince pies for the Slow-bum parkrun crew. After all the heavy rain of late, it was actually a lovely, dry morning and I was lucky to catch the Winter sun rising over the River Wensum by the Dolphin Bridge.

I arrived at the pavillion heavily populated with runners in Christmassy attire, Santa hats being a clear favourite. Katie asked me to marshal up at Anderson's Meadow with Andy, pointing over to a gentleman in full Mr Claus outfit complete with white beard, my marshal-partner-in-crime. So I set off with Father Christmas, arrows, mark-out cones and runner signs to the meadow, as it was about a mile away, and then this was the point when the heavens opened to give us a proper good soaking for about 20 minutes. The course was now even soggier, just adding a bit more to the splash-mud fest!! :0) Wildlife watch this week included a mammal - a huge rat crossed in front of me looking for shelter in the bushes from the rain.

The front runner was soon upon my marshal point followed by a steady trickle of people which included some superbly decorated buggies that put my decorating efforts in my front room to shame! ;0)

Lots of "Merry Christmas-es", no dramas, 163 runners through safely and the sun came back out for the stroll back to HQ.

Merry Christmas everyone - wishing you all happiness, health and fun for 2020!

Wow, that title almost rhymes, I'm a poet and I didn't even know it!!

The "little" in the title is not referring to my short 5 ft 1.5 inch stature - the 0.5 does matter btw :0) - but about the little "hill" at my marshal point on Anderson's Meadow this week at Sloughbottom.

A mostly flat run according to the regulars - lazily, not having run it myself yet - a common remark I get at this marshal point after a "Good morning!" or "Thanks, marshal!" or "How much further to go?!" is, "Oh no, it's a hill!" Though only 10-20 metres in length and more of an incline, it must feel like a hill if you're pelting round a 5k on a Saturday morning - so, kudos to all the 180 parkrunners that attacked it with smiley faces that are often induced by a good run!

A gorgeous crisp morning for it, this marshal point is great with the trees, birds chirping above your head, and as this course is partly run on a disused railway path frequented by other public users, there's always good banter to be had - this week I got to stroke many dogs, chatting with their owners and also, spoke to a railway enthusiast who asked me how far it was to walk to the Hellesdon platform which has been beautifully restored.

I love volunteering at this little parkrun encompassing the perfect parkrun ethos with a nice course mixing in the park, railway path and meadow with river views, almost as if you're not just 1.5 miles from the Norwich city centre.