Today was my tenth time volunteering with the Cardiff Junior parkrun team, and I got to try out a new marshalling position too. There had been a concern earlier in the week that there wouldn't be enough volunteers for this week's event to take place, luckily at the eleventh hour it was all fixed. Do consider volunteering with your local Junior parkrun, or the adult's events too.

81 juniors took part took part today.

Another beautiful autumn day in Cardiff for the weekly Junior parkrun.

114 junior runners took part today, with more than a few achieving significant parkrun milestones.

Goodgym member Flo was marshaling the 'playground' position for the first time. The particular setting up of the cones is usually aided by a red tag on the ground. However, too many pretty leaves were covering the ground, meaning the exact position set up was hard to get right without finding the pivotal red tag. Finally, a few moments before the lead runners headed Flo's way, the other marshal she was with saw the right tag and the cones could be set up accurately. No one likes it when the course length isn't exactly right!

I rocked up to Junior parkrun in Cardiff's beautiful Llandaff fields in order to help with the regular team.

This is the last Junior parkrun before this year's Children in Need on Friday 18th November so everyone was encouraged to don their Pudsey ears. I had none of my own, but there was a plentiful supply from one of the other more prepared organisers. I've not seen a bag of ears before!

I was marshaling the much coveted 'Cowbell' spot, which is a very big responsibility and usually has multiple marshals at this one spot. At a four-way junction on the path in the park, the volunteers are responsible for blocking off the one part that is not part of the route and then creating a triangular block to show the parts of the junction that are on the route. There will often be runners at different parts of the junction having covered different distances and therefore much 'Keep left' is needed to be shouted along with all the usual congratulations and encouragement.

But the biggest part of this role is using the cowbells!

126 junior parkrunners took part today, a great success!

Flo and Michael helped out at Cardiff Junior parkrun with honorary goodgym friend Deb.

An early start time was needed in order to decorate the parkrun area with suitably ghoulish decorations in honour of it being Halloween eve.

Flo teamed up with seasoned Cardiff Junior parkrun volunteers to help deliver the First Timers Welcome, and hand out the finish tokens. Michael and Deb donned costumes and were out marshaling on the course. Perhaps some children managed to set PBs by running in fright not only from ghosts, but also zombies and witches.

101 Junior runners took part today, well done!