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Run Report #98, October 5, 2019

Posted on October 11, 2019 by rentonoffice

There was a lot to celebrate on Saturday at the Renton parkrun; Cathryn Burby, one of our founding Event Directors, ran her 50th parkrun!! Let us explain what a BIG deal this is!!! Without Cathryn there might not be a parkrun in Seattle! Cathryn helped Kortney (who had been working for years to bring parkrun to the Seattle area) to bring it over the finish line and they both volunteered more than they participated during the first year. Most people will earn their 50th run shirt before they earn their 25th volunteer shirt - not Cathryn. She earned her 25th volunteer shirt within the first year of starting the Renton parkrun, and her 50th run shirt just shy of the 2 year anniversary. She had a few runs and volunteer occasions under her belt before moving to the area, as she started parkrunning in DC in 2016, but most have been here. So, yea - its a BIG Honking deal that she ran her 50th event and earned her red shirt on Saturday! CONGRATULATIONS Cathryn - You are truly a RockStar!!

Also on Saturday we (Nikol and Dean) celebrated earning our 25th volunteer shirt by co-directing the 98th Renton parkrun. Nikol is a regular at the Renton parkrun, and Dean used to be a regular until he helped get the Perrigo parkrun up and running… and now he’s a regular there. We earned our 50th run shirt together back in March and keeping the tradition going we coordinated our 25th volunteer milestone - because why not? There's a rumor that we will also earn our 100th run shirt together - but so far that’s just hearsay.

Dean: Congratulations Nikol!

Nikol: Good Job Dean!

Saturday was a beautiful day for celebrations and for meeting a few first-timers to parkrun and more than the average number of visitors from the UK, New Zealand, Germany, and Ireland. We even welcomed back a few folks we haven’t seen in a while (I’m looking at you Andy and Joie). Thanks everyone for coming out and celebrating our 98th parkrun with us - we hope to see you all again next week, and definitely the week after that….

REMINDER - On October 19th Renton parkrun will be celebrating its 100th event! Dean has made it clear the Perrigo parkrun currently holds the record for highest attendance at a Seattle area parkun. Nikol thinks that the Renton parkrun deserves that honor! So, mark your calendars now, and invite all your friends to walk, stroll, or run the event with you! Cam has mentioned (more than once - so it must be true) that there will be cake!

Nikol and Dean

Co-Run Directors

Run Report #93, August 31, 2019

Posted on September 5, 2019 by rentonoffice

It was a beautiful morning for parkrun #93 along the Cedar River Trail in Renton. This week 40 people ran, jogged and/or walked the course of which six were first timers, Welcome! We hope you enjoyed yourself and make parkrunday the regular start to your weekend!

We also had 11 people attain personal best times, congratulations to you all! Our talented volunteer photographer Liisa Heinonen-Miller beautifully captured the joy of participating at parkrun, whether you walk, jog, run, stroll, with a friend, with a barkrunner, or it's your just taking time for me time, your smiles warm our hearts and make it all worth while.

Event #93 was made possible by 11 wonderful volunteers who gave their time to make this day run smoothly. Thank you so very much Karen Gates, Liisa Heinonen-Miller, Ken Homan, Heidi Horn, Nitin Jacob, Blake Kennedy, Cam Kennedy, Regan Nolten, Kaylie Saechao, Koy Saechao, and Hillary Webster. For one volunteer it was a very special day indeed, Kaylie Saechao's very first parkrun after turning four and becoming an official parkrunner with her very own barcode. Parkrun is about more than fitness, it's about community and making friends as the following series of photos shows, hope you join us this Saturday and follow the example of our newest Renton parkrunner!

Run Report #91, August 17, 2019

Posted on August 19, 2019 by rentonoffice

I think of all the times I’ve been going to parkrun #91 was the funnest for me. You see, it was my first time as Run Director, and what a fun day it was for me!! I have volunteered for almost all the roles... I might be missing a couple, but never for Run Director. I was intimidated, my voice doesn’t carry, I don’t like the spotlight on me, I’m a ‘supporter’ not a ‘leader’, but with a little encouragement from Cam, I decided to give it a try, and if you want a long story short: It was AMAZING!!! But, I know you’ll continue reading because I have a call to action for everyone at the end.

Okay - so there were quite a few people that turned out on Saturday: 47 in all! We had some regulars, lots of first timers, and lots of visitors from within the great State of Washington, National (hello friends from Montana), and Internationals (looking at you my friends from Australia and the United Kingdom)! Because this was my first time as Run Director I wanted to ‘capture’ the moment with a selfie. So I called everyone in and asked them to indulge me while I took a selfie/group picture! I realized when I turned back around that I didn’t need to talk as loud because everyone was RIGHT THERE!!! (high fives to me)

After the run briefing everyone gathered at the Startline and I got to do the count-down “3-2-1 PARKRUN!!” I wish I could say that was the highlight of the day…. But it gets better!

All the participants were off and in that 5-10 minutes where it’s just you and the other volunteers I got the time to chat with them and make connections! (I love making connections!) Thank you Blake Kennedy, Cam Kennedy, Karen Gates, Matt Morgan, Paul Hsu, Ray Arrington, Steve McCarthy and Wendy Sweeney for doing such amazing work - you made my job SO MUCH easier!

As the participants made their loop and headed back to the finish line the real fun began! There was so much going on, I had people talking to me about volunteering for future events (THANK YOU!!!), writing down names and barcode numbers for those who’s barcode wouldn’t scan, and people asking questions in general, celebrating Personal Records, and First-time finishers! I’m very grateful that Cam was there and for all her support she provided! Thanks again Cam!!!

Oh - what was better than the Startline count-down? It was all the people that showed up at Luther’s Table afterwards! I love heading to breakfast afterwards, it’s a great time for getting to know the other participants and making CONNECTIONS!!! For example, I met two ladies who I had seen on the course, but have never spoken to (other than the “good job” that I tend to yell at everyone as they pass me by). Turns out we have quite a bit in common, including the love of Farmer’s Markets! (Hi Dottie and Nancy)

Okay and now my call to action (stepping up onto sewer access perch): If you haven’t had the chance to volunteer for a parkrun event, please put it on your “Bucket LIst”. It truly is a great experience no matter what role you volunteer for. We are all in this together, let’s support one another and the things that we are passionate about - like parkrun. (stepping off my sewer access perch now).

Thanks again everyone for making Saturday one of my Top 10 Most Fun Days this year!

Nikol Gianopoulos, Volunteer Run Director of the Day

Run Report #90, August 10, 2019

Posted on August 13, 2019 by rentonoffice

The day started out with a bit of surprise rain at Renton parkrun #90. But that didn't stop 45 participants and 11 volunteers from starting their weekend with some parkrun fun.

It was a fantastic day of celebration as Ken Homan donned the volunteer super hero cape for completing his 25th volunteer occasion. parkrun exists because of the community of volunteer participants who take turns running the show, keeping parkrun going week after week, in Renton and all over the world. Congratulations on your achievement Ken! Thank you so much for your commitment to providing this free 5k run, walk, jog event to our community. And thank you to Alex HOWE, Blake KENNEDY, Cam KENNEDY, Cathie KNOX-BROWNING, Gena WOODKE, Karen GATES, Matt MORGAN, Nicole HUSTON, Steve MCCARTHY, and Tom HOWE, for rounding our our volunteer crew and making the day such a fantastic success!

It was also Renton parkrun's second time as an event in the annual South King County Challenge. The Challenge is a series of events taking place in the region, to encourage good health and fitness. We had 15 local first timers come out, many of whom heard about parkrun because of the Challenge. We hope they enjoyed their first parkrun and will continue to challenge themselves by making Renton parkrun a regular part of their Saturday mornings from here on out.

One of the things newcomers might find surprising about parkrun is it's not just about what happens on the course. Many people choose to stay and cheer on participants as they continue to cross the line and often then go on to Luther's Table for coffee as a group afterwards. Hanging out is a great way to make friends and catch the kind of parkrun fever that keeps you coming back week after week.

We're looking forward to seeing everyone this Saturday!

ps. It's Nikol's first Run Director in Training day, pictured above in the grey cap talking with frequent Renton parkrunner Leif in the white cap. Lets show Nikol our support by taking part as participants or volunteers for her Run Director debut, this coming Saturday, August 17th, 2019.

Run Report – June 8, 2019

Posted on June 9, 2019 by rentonoffice

Finding myself in Seattle on Saturday, I had a rare dilemma for a UK parkrunner in the USA. Whilst us Brits are spoilt for choice with literally hundreds of parkruns in our small island nation, the vast country that is the USA presently has just 34. But two of those are in the Seattle area, soon to be joined by a third, so I spun a coin which fell on 'Renton'. And I was glad it did.

First, the parkrun is a beautiful one, set in the Riverview Park along the Cedar River, tarmac trails running through lovely forests. Second, there's a great and friendly volunteer team: today it was Patrick Ward as Run Director ably assisted at the finish line by Phil, Ken and Laura. As well as helping out, regular volunteers Cathryn and Cam had the chance to run today, while Daphne fulfilled the important role of tail-walker.

On a cool morning that was to get warmer, the duck parents on the next-door pond were showing off their newborns as the runners and walkers got off to their 9am start.

Both first man and first woman came from the UK, like me. Henry Hamilton and Georgina Reeves were in Seattle for the marathon on Sunday, and came home in, respectively, 20:12 and 21:37.

Natalie and Jodie Ailor were both doing their first ever parkruns, and crossed the line pretty much together - a particular 'well done' to them, hope you enjoyed your introduction to the parkrun family. Don't forget, now you have your barcodes, they can be used at any parkrun in the world!

I'd be fibbing if I said I'd be rushing back soon - visits to the north-west USA are, for me, extremely rare; but I loved my morning with the lovely folk at Renton and wish you all the best for many, many more happy parkruns.

-Simon Grigor

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