On a chilly first day of the year, Hazel gave herself a little push and arrived early at the venue to meet Brendan, the sole parkrun director at Woodbank, to discuss the volunteering task. With 120–170 runners showing up every Saturday, Hazel expected to be roped into marshalling duties. But surprise! There were more volunteers than runners could high-five today. So, in true “why not?” spirit, Hazel swapped the safety vest for trainers and joined the 5k run. And so, off she went—pounding the muddy paths, steep hill from Vernon to Woodbank Park, and questioning life choices somewhere around kilometer three. The reward? Not just the glory of finishing, but the sweet promise of chocolates at the end. Because nothing says “healthy start to the year” like sprinting for sugar. Hazel’s verdict: Not a bad start to 2026. Volunteering postponed, legs slightly shocked, but spirits high—and blood sugar higher.