Conkers Parkrun

Sometimes our run reports border on the eccentric, sometimes along comes one that cheerfully nips over the border. Well done Dean crackin' report, really enjoyed it. Roger

The results are now on the website for Conkers parkrun No. 400. Thank you to everyone who contributed to another fantastic Conkers parkrun whether you were participating or volunteering.
Don't forget that as part of our '400' celebrations a challenge has been set to collectively run 400K tomorrow on the parkrun course (80 laps). Everyone is welcome to run a single lap or as many as you want within the time of 9am to 12pm. You can run it, walk it, jog it or any combination o...f the 3. Personally, I am bringing a litter picker and bin liner and doing some litter picking on my way round on one of my laps.
A special well done to Isobel Deane visiting from Eastleigh who did the entire course barefoot. Also we were pleased to see an enthusiastic contingent from Arrow Valley parkrun / Kingfisher Harriers in Redditch, I hope you all enjoyed your Conkers experience.
Roger x
http://www.parkrun.org.uk/conkers/results /latestresults/
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Quiz Night Tonight at 7:30 Box Club, Woodville Come and see if you’re brainier than Roger!Quiz Night Tonight at 7:30 Box Club, Woodville Come and see if you’re brainier than Roger!

I’m not sure we’ll need our hoods in the Walking Group this week but we may need to make sure we don’t get blown away! Whatever the weather brings us we will definitely enjoy a bracing walk along the trails. If you want to join us meet me at the back of the start line, I’ll be in pink hi-viz Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

On sixteenth of April, 2011 Conkers parkrun arrived under the stewardship of Andrew Harris with 30 parkrunners;(over half are still involved with parkrun as a parkrunner or volunteer). On that day, there was six volunteers to manage everything.
Move forward to 2018, during the last month there has been an average of 513 parkrunners at Conkers, supported by an average of 34 volunteers. For those who are keen on chasing after a PB, we should reach our 20,000th PB in around s...ix weeks; will it be you? It won't be me :-)
So here we are on parkrun No 400 tomorrow, Conkers parkrun has a justified reputation for being an extremely social parkrun, this can be from the welcome that new parkrunners receive, the encouragement that we get as we make our way round the course and of course, the post parkrun get together in the café. I have been asking for a while now if we can be moved back upstairs to the more comfortable café. I am told by Jo, Paula and Matt that the only thing stopping us from moving upstairs, is the Thermoplan coffee machine is on its last legs; it is just taking too long to make milky drinks such as latte and cappuccino, which in turn is making everyone else wait a long time to be served. So that is the deal we move back upstairs, which most people prefer in the winter but there won’t be the milky, frothy stuff. We will be able to have black coffee, white coffee, tea, any number of flavoured teas, cold drinks etc. We will be downstairs when there is a function on in the afternoon and they have to set up in the morning.
OK I shot off on a bit of a tangent with the café stuff, what I was going to say was that don’t forget that tonight at the Box Club in Woodville we have a quiz night as part of our 400 celebration. The timings are arrive from around 7:30pm and we will kick off at 8pm finishing at around 10pm. The quiz is being run by Laurence Kingscott, who does a couple of these each week around the Ashby area.
As Conkers tradition dictates, we set ourselves a physical challenge based around the number of parkruns we are celebrating. On Sunday from 9am until 12pm, we are aiming to run, jog or walk a collective 400km (80 laps). Everyone is welcome, you can just do a single lap or as many as you want; I am aiming for three but might try to wring another one out of my legs.
Back to tomorrows parkrun unless the weather is going to change, we are set for a nice morning with a warm breeze coming up from Madrid with love. The temperature will be around 20C so not too many layers :-)
We have a full roster tomorrow and are just looking for someone to have a bit of fun in writing the run report. We also need three people to join Lisa Wright in holding the time signs at the start. Let us know on here or by emailing us at conkershelpers@parkrun.com.
I look forward to seeing you at the run brief and hopefully in the café upstairs afterwards. Be smiley Roger x
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We’re just looking for a run report writer and someone to pack away this week, both roles mean you can still run so what’s stopping you?? 😉 If you can help please message below. Thanks Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

Don’t forget it’s our quiz night this coming Friday, 7:30pm at The Box Club in Woodville. The lovely Laurence will once again be our Quizmaster. It’s £2 per person and teams of up to 6 people. Don’t worry if you don’t have a team there are a few of us that will make a team up. If you haven’t already let us know you’re coming please comment below so I can add you to the list 😊 Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

Overseal Running Club enthusiastically took over all the volunteer positions on Saturday and what a great job they did. Hopefully on their next takeover the weather will be kinder to them. If you want to find out more about them, take a look at their website at www.orc.run
This weeks run report was written by Overseal Runner Melissa Howell. Thanks for the report Melissa you have done a great job. Roger x

****** Something to think about when going for an evening run ******* Now that the evenings are getting darker earlier at a time when many of us are out there running, wearing the right attire and lighting is so important for our safety and for others who may have to take evasive action to miss you. On average it takes a driver two seconds before they can react (OK I just learned that on a speed awareness course), you really don't want to be wearing something that would put you within that zone.

After a fantastic applause from all of you in memory of Nicola Potter, 399 runners, joggers and walkers set off and finished the course today. Today was Event #399... how’s that for a coincidence?
What wasn’t a coincidence was the amazing team of volunteers today. Overseal Running Club did a brilliant job keeping our spirits up in the rain, and making sure everything went smoothly - thank you for all the effort and planning that went into your takeover today, ORC. Great job!...
Next Friday, we’re hosting a quiz at Woodville Box Club to mark our 400th parkrun. We need to know names in advance please, then just pay on the door. Comment below or send us a message so we can add you to the list.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend and see you back at Conkers next week. Lyndsey x
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I am the bearer of sad news. Nicola Potter after a long illness slipped away from us this morning. Nicola had cheerfully moaned her way round 184 parkruns, all of them at Conkers. Those of us who knew her and loved her company, will always smile at her deadpan humour. Nicola’s last run at Conkers was 18 months ago, she said that she couldn’t run at Conkers anymore because all she kept thinking was “that it was only a matter of time before we were giving her a minutes respect...ful applause like happened to that nice man who used to run round”. Your moment has come Nicola; make them smile as much as you made us smile.
Nicola leaves behind her husband Darren and lovely daughter Freya and a whole bunch of people, family and parkrunners who will miss her dearly.
Much love from all at Conkers parkrun Nicola.
Roger xxx
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I can’t promise you the sunshine that last week’s Walking Group enjoyed but I can guarantee you a 5km walk along the Ashby Woulds Trail with great people! We usually walk the course in about 53 minutes but you can speed walk it or take it down a notch. However you decide to walk parkrun you won’t be last, that’s the job of the tail walkers, so if you fancy joining me I’ll be in the pink hi-viz at the back of the start line. See you in the morning Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

Let us get the bad news out of the way first, of course there is very rarely bad news at Conkers parkrun so that didn't take long (there isn't any).
This Saturday is International parkrun Day as the nearest Saturday to the anniversary of the first parkrun at Bushy Park. Fourteen years on and parkrun is now a truly global organisation contributing hugely to health and wellbeing everywhere we have an event. As part of that, many parkruns including Conkers are teaming up with lo...cal GP practices as an alternative to medication where appropriate.
This week the rapidly growing Overseal Running Club are taking over all of the volunteer roles tomorrow. If you are looking for a friendly running club (all the local ones are friendly) then speak to any of the volunteers and they will be happy to tell you about when and where they run. Guest RD tomorrow is John Camp from Overseal Running Club; please pay attention to John’s run brief.
Some dates for you: Next Saturday (13th October) is the 400th Conkers parkrun, as tradition determines when we reach these nice round figures we return to Conkers the next day and take on a challenge. On Sunday 14th, we are going to collectively run 400K which is 80 laps. We are there from 9am until 12pm to achieve the challenge. You can pop down at any time on those 3 hours and run or jog or walk one lap or as many laps as you feel like. We will be adding them up on the whiteboard. Come on down and join in the fun. On the Friday (12th) at the Box Club in Woodville, we are having another quiz night. The cost is just £2 per person and teams can be any number up to a maximum of six. The evening starts at 7.30 for and 8pm start and should be over by around 10pm. There will be prizes, some sensible, others may not be. I am told that it is upstairs so if you are bringing a child in a pushchair make sure you bring some muscle to help carry it up (and down).
Another date coming up in October is the registration for the Conti Thunder Run next July. If you are interested in forming a Conkers parkrun team then keep a look out for the registration day. If someone wants to coordinate this then let us know,
We have registered Conkers parkrun for being open on Christmas Day and New Years Day at 9am. Our friends at Rosliston will hopefully be open on NYD as well at a time that will allow you to run both; the only day of the year when you can log two runs on the same day.
The weather on Saturday is going to be great for a run, we are promised a nice refreshing shower to wash away the stresses of the working week (we gotta think positive! ).
I look forward to seeing everyone completing the Conkers 5K, whether you are running, jogging, walking have a great time, and if you think you have a PB or just feel like giving the bell a ring – go for it.
Keep smiling!! 😁 Roger x
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The 13th October will be the 400th Conkers parkrun event and as a social occasion we have a quiz night on Friday 12th October at The Woodville Box club with our fabulous “Funnel Manager-come-Quiz Master” Laurence Kingscott. The cost is £2 per person and teams should be no more than 6 people. You can get your name down and pay at the desk on Saturday. Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

As if you needed an excuse to come to parkrun, but this Saturday is International parkrun Day, so come and join us! Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

Julie Hanson volunteered to write this weeks run report and I am so pleased she did. Julie goes through the same routine as many of us. Get up, open curtains, gauge how many layers to put on; Robert was doing it for the 250th time. Thanks Julie great job done. Roger x

After a colder start, 517 runners, joggers and walkers definitely warmed up at this morning’s Conkers parkrun! Well done everyone and thank you to all this week’s team of volunteers. We couldn’t do this without you! Big shout out to Maureen who led our walking group today and rang the bell to celebrate her first time volunteering! 🔔 👏
These two had reasons to celebrate too - today’s first finisher Gordy and first-time daddy, Chris. Congratulations!
Next week, we’ve got a f...ull house from Overseal Running Club who are taking over the volunteer roster, then the week after we mark our 400th Conkers parkrun. Isn’t that amazing? To celebrate, we’re holding a quiz night on Friday 12 October. More details throughout the week!
Have a great weekend. Lyndsey x
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Well, the mist is clinging to the canal this morning! And look what I found on my walk down to Conkers... See you at 8.50am ready for the briefing. Lyndsey 😁

Leading the Walking Group this week is the glamorous Maureen who has become a walking regular since completing her first Conkers parkrun in May. Meet her at the back of the start line, she’ll be wearing the pink hi-viz! Jen ❤️🌳 #loveparkrun

Yesterday I took part in my first park run really enjoyed it great course and well organised event would recommend it to anyone

We absolutely loved our time at Conkers seeing Santa, pot painting, ride on the train, mulled wine and mince pies.....and what was even better.....The kids loved it too, they really enjoyed everything about it... we will definitely be coming back to other activities. The staff were all amazing and friendly which is definitely an added bonus in enjoying our time there xxx

Very well organised and friendly parkrun. Everyone is really encouraging and supportive. Made new friends, enjoy volunteering as well as running. Great start to the weekend.

Really friendly and had as my home one but have now found rosliston which is a bit closer for me! Will still go back to rosliston for a change every now and again!

Not long got back from my first park run at conkers! What a weekend to pick everybody there so friendly and helpful with all info :) everybody dressed up looked brilliant too! Will defiantly be back soon. Thank you all today xx

My wife's first ever park run and she knocked over 6 minutes off from her treadmill pb. Soon she'll be faster than me!

Thanks for the well organised event and making newcomers feel welcome.

My 3rd Parkrun but first at conkers. Great atmosphere and volunteers. I had never ever imagined that I would enjoy this on a Saturday morning but it really sets you up for feeling great at the weekend. Thanks everyone.

My 2nd time running Conkers and it gets better every time. Can't believe I lived less than a mile away for almost 9yrs and never heard of it. Fantastic course, bit hilly in places but that's what makes it fun. Well done to the marshals and everyone involved

Love this course, love the mixed abilities and ages of people, we run it as a family aged 8 to 46 so it is perfect.

The Marshall are friendly and very encouraging.

We look forward to our Saturday morning parkrun. Jx

I started running it earlier this year with the aim of getting from couch potato to do a 5k run. As my wife and a friend were already doing the Conkers Parkrun I decided to give it a try. I approached my first run with some trepidation but found everyone very welcoming and friendly. Having completed my first "run" in around 39 minutes, I joined the rest of the crowd in the cafe for a well deserved coffee and fried egg butty. I am now on my 15th run and have gradually improved my time to just under 30 mins. However, whether my time has been faster or slower than the previous week there is always great encouragement from those running around you and cheers and encouragement as you cross the timing line, whether you have run it in 16 minutes or walked it in 50. Oh and by the way it is n't in any way judgemental of body shape, size or age - Oh yes I forgot to say I was over 70 when I did my first run in August this year.

I have been running locally on my own and everyone had been saying about parkrun so went along and it was so friendly and welcoming, everything was explained and instructions were clear and helpful, the route was good and challenging in places and the results email was great, can wait to go back and it's all thanks to the great volunteers

I am well overweight and my Daughter took me the first time and I did the run(walk) in just under 1 hour and have just done my 3rd run and have knocked 6mins off my time. Very pleased and the people there encourage you all the way around. I am 70 next year and never thought for a second that I would be doing this at my age.

Had a good run today, I wasn't sure what to expect from Conkers but wow, what a course. The Hill was a little unexpected and it definitely took it out of me: I am definitely going to be visiting again soon.



Thank you to everyone who makes Conkers Parkrun happen, ��

First time at conkers . The hills took me by surprise but I’ll back back next week aiming for a good time � enjoyed my visit

First park run ever, definitely will not be my last. Was made to feel very welcomed and the volunteers do a fantastic job and all the runners are very supportive of each other.

First park run (well run walk run) aged 64 & 3/4 on 28th October at Conkers & what an amazing experience. Everyone was so lovely, run well organised & encouraging. Had huge fun. Thank you to my lovely daughter for encouraging me to enter & thanks to all of the Conkers team. I think I’m hooked now & will be back �

First of all congratulations for winning the battle and to all the Volunteers who enthusiastically helped out this morning. It was very cold, you all did a great job today, a big well done and thank you from me.

It was very well organised and prepared, despite the race being run on snow. Conkers is a beautiful Parkrun, i would recommend anyone to visit this run, set in woodland with some lovely scenery.

There were 231 runners who managed to get off their drives in the thick snow and make it today, a much lower attendance than normal i suspect. Amazingly, there were 4 PB's, David Vincent, Barry Ross, Josh Harrap and Steve Gallagher. How in those conditions, i do not know. There were 11 first timers,

of these Luke Smalley and Bradley Wardle had their first ever Parkrun. Welcome. Chris Batman Lockhart won the race in 17.23, an amazing time in the snow.

It will be memorable by the fact that the vast majority of Parkruns in the country were cancelled.

From one beautiful Parkrun(Arrow Valley) to another, keep up the good workand we hope to see you in Redditch sometime.

regards,Scott Beverley.

This is a great one lap course, really enjoyed it. Only down side of a New Years Day run was toilets weren't open. Work with the centre to secure the keys for next year. When you travel a long way as a tourist they are a must. Thanks.

Had a good day enjoyed 4D cinema with the kids, the adventure areas however could be better organised waited in the entrance queue for 20 mins only to be told pre paid tickets was a different queue- wasn't signposted at all!

Yesterday I took part in my first park run really enjoyed it great course and well organised event would recommend it to anyone

We absolutely loved our time at Conkers seeing Santa, pot painting, ride on the train, mulled wine and mince pies.....and what was even better.....The kids loved it too, they really enjoyed everything about it... we will definitely be coming back to other activities. The staff were all amazing and friendly which is definitely an added bonus in enjoying our time there xxx

Very well organised and friendly parkrun. Everyone is really encouraging and supportive. Made new friends, enjoy volunteering as well as running. Great start to the weekend.

Really friendly and had as my home one but have now found rosliston which is a bit closer for me! Will still go back to rosliston for a change every now and again!

Not long got back from my first park run at conkers! What a weekend to pick everybody there so friendly and helpful with all info :) everybody dressed up looked brilliant too! Will defiantly be back soon. Thank you all today xx

My wife's first ever park run and she knocked over 6 minutes off from her treadmill pb. Soon she'll be faster than me!

Thanks for the well organised event and making newcomers feel welcome.

My 3rd Parkrun but first at conkers. Great atmosphere and volunteers. I had never ever imagined that I would enjoy this on a Saturday morning but it really sets you up for feeling great at the weekend. Thanks everyone.

My 2nd time running Conkers and it gets better every time. Can't believe I lived less than a mile away for almost 9yrs and never heard of it. Fantastic course, bit hilly in places but that's what makes it fun. Well done to the marshals and everyone involved

Love this course, love the mixed abilities and ages of people, we run it as a family aged 8 to 46 so it is perfect.

The Marshall are friendly and very encouraging.

We look forward to our Saturday morning parkrun. Jx

I started running it earlier this year with the aim of getting from couch potato to do a 5k run. As my wife and a friend were already doing the Conkers Parkrun I decided to give it a try. I approached my first run with some trepidation but found everyone very welcoming and friendly. Having completed my first "run" in around 39 minutes, I joined the rest of the crowd in the cafe for a well deserved coffee and fried egg butty. I am now on my 15th run and have gradually improved my time to just under 30 mins. However, whether my time has been faster or slower than the previous week there is always great encouragement from those running around you and cheers and encouragement as you cross the timing line, whether you have run it in 16 minutes or walked it in 50. Oh and by the way it is n't in any way judgemental of body shape, size or age - Oh yes I forgot to say I was over 70 when I did my first run in August this year.

I have been running locally on my own and everyone had been saying about parkrun so went along and it was so friendly and welcoming, everything was explained and instructions were clear and helpful, the route was good and challenging in places and the results email was great, can wait to go back and it's all thanks to the great volunteers

I am well overweight and my Daughter took me the first time and I did the run(walk) in just under 1 hour and have just done my 3rd run and have knocked 6mins off my time. Very pleased and the people there encourage you all the way around. I am 70 next year and never thought for a second that I would be doing this at my age.

Had a good run today, I wasn't sure what to expect from Conkers but wow, what a course. The Hill was a little unexpected and it definitely took it out of me: I am definitely going to be visiting again soon.



Thank you to everyone who makes Conkers Parkrun happen, ��

First time at conkers . The hills took me by surprise but I’ll back back next week aiming for a good time � enjoyed my visit

First park run ever, definitely will not be my last. Was made to feel very welcomed and the volunteers do a fantastic job and all the runners are very supportive of each other.

First park run (well run walk run) aged 64 & 3/4 on 28th October at Conkers & what an amazing experience. Everyone was so lovely, run well organised & encouraging. Had huge fun. Thank you to my lovely daughter for encouraging me to enter & thanks to all of the Conkers team. I think I’m hooked now & will be back �

First of all congratulations for winning the battle and to all the Volunteers who enthusiastically helped out this morning. It was very cold, you all did a great job today, a big well done and thank you from me.

It was very well organised and prepared, despite the race being run on snow. Conkers is a beautiful Parkrun, i would recommend anyone to visit this run, set in woodland with some lovely scenery.

There were 231 runners who managed to get off their drives in the thick snow and make it today, a much lower attendance than normal i suspect. Amazingly, there were 4 PB's, David Vincent, Barry Ross, Josh Harrap and Steve Gallagher. How in those conditions, i do not know. There were 11 first timers,

of these Luke Smalley and Bradley Wardle had their first ever Parkrun. Welcome. Chris Batman Lockhart won the race in 17.23, an amazing time in the snow.

It will be memorable by the fact that the vast majority of Parkruns in the country were cancelled.

From one beautiful Parkrun(Arrow Valley) to another, keep up the good workand we hope to see you in Redditch sometime.

regards,Scott Beverley.

This is a great one lap course, really enjoyed it. Only down side of a New Years Day run was toilets weren't open. Work with the centre to secure the keys for next year. When you travel a long way as a tourist they are a must. Thanks.

Had a good day enjoyed 4D cinema with the kids, the adventure areas however could be better organised waited in the entrance queue for 20 mins only to be told pre paid tickets was a different queue- wasn't signposted at all!