Did someone leave the refrigerator door open? It was FREEZING this morning in Renton!

We had a smaller turnout (maybe due to the weather or maybe due to daylight savings) but we had just as much fun with a group of cross country runners keeping "the heat" on our faster runners. They took 6 of the top 10 places!

Our very own Cathryn Burby had a chance to run this morning and achieved an incredible sub 25min PB! Cathryn later said she never thought she would achieve that. For context, that is more than 7 minutes faster than her first ever parkrun in 2016 - well done Cathryn!

Leslie also had a great run this morning and was smiles from start to finish.

And we were super happy to see a few new and familiar faces this morning! While we might still be learning your names, we're so glad you could join us.

And that's it! Join us next week for our first parkrun birthday! See you in 7 days!

When we announced last week that we'd love to see some runners in costume, we weren't exactly sure what we were going to get. To our very happy surprise, there were a number of participants in their very best outfits!

There were kids in costumes including this fire truck dog --

and a gumball machine --

a couple of trick or treaters at the finish line --

(Thanks Gano family and welcome back John!)

but maybe the best surprise of the day was our parkrunner of the month: Joe Mendoza! If you've been coming to parkrun regularly, you'd know that we've been trying to give him this award for 4 weeks but we haven't seen him! Today Joe showed up an volunteered to be a turnaround marshal so he had no idea we were giving him the award. We of course encouraged parkrunners to high five and congratulate him at the second turn around -- a nice surprise that made him feel special. Thanks so much for being part of our community!

We welcomed back a few familiar faces (hello Lydia and Karen!) --

made a few new friends --

and scared a few too!

All in all it was a great morning for reptiles and mammals alike!

We'll see you again next week!

Renton parkrun #49 was a magical morning on the Cedar River with 63 participants, 15 first timers, and many more unknowns! If you didn't know, registering for parkrun is a one-time process: just register and print your personal barcode, then bring it with you anytime you want to rejoin us. Too easy!

But the two legged and four legged type weren't the only runners in Renton this weekend -- we were also joined by quite a few salmon who were "running" up stream on the Cedar River.

We owe a huge thanks to the Seattle Aquarium and the Cedar River Salmon Journey program for joining us this morning and setting up a salmon viewing information booth. Our kids and adults all enjoyed this special "wild" life viewing opportunity after parkrun with at least 40 people staying to learn about our river's ecology.

We'll see you next week, Renton!

We were happy to enjoy a cool, dry, fall morning for our run today. The leaves are beginning to turn and the air is getting cooler.

There were 39 runners and walkers, some brand new and others with lots of parkrun experience. We’re always happy to welcome everyone to our community.

Our fabulous volunteers are what make this community possible. It was a special treat to have our scanner join us all the way from South Africa. I can’t thank these folks enough!

Be sure to join us next week for Parkrun #49 where we will be joined by local naturalist for the Run Wild Salmon 5k and lean about the salmon in the Cedar River.

Written by Run Director Lynn Wunder

The weather is clearing up around the PNW and we've had plenty of sun at Renton parkrun!

Thankfully most of our trail is in the shade but we want to remind our runners and volunteers to pack a water bottle through the summer -- especially our volunteers who are always standing exposed in the sun. And don't forget your hat and sunblock!

Summer parkrun check list:

1. Water bottle (freeze the night before for cold water)
2. Sunblock (SPF 30 or higher)
3. Hat
4. Sunglasses
5. A big smile

It was a particularly wet morning in Renton today which might have been a contributing factor to our smaller than usual numbers, however, those who did attend were all smiles!

We had 22 participants participants today and 11 volunteers including three first timers: mother-daughter team Shayla and Sole Cox and David Brown who found us through Running in the USA.

Six runners earned new PBs today including twins Jack and Owen Johnson. Laura Roske also earned a PB on her 10^th run at Renton.

Joe was flying solo this morning without his son Nicholas while Lynn brought along her husband Thom for his second parkrun.

Marcy (our second marshal) wrapped up the run along with Anna and Faith from the future Des Moines Creek parkrun who were our tailwalkers (accompanied by Brutus!). Ryan and Brian manned the first turnaround point.

Cathryn got her first top 5 finish on her 30^th parkrun – not long to go before 50!

Michael, our American-Aussie tourist on loan, was back this week for his third event at Renton. He’ll be heading home soon but promised to volunteer with us on his final weekend.

Two parkrunners from our community are headed to the Boston Marathon on April 16! Nathan Clifford left this morning while Rob Gubas squeezed in one more event as a volunteer. Kortney led the group in wishing him well on his race and we sent him off with a big cheer.

And before we wrapped things up, we took a photo welcoming the newly minted Aspen parkrun to the family (the highest parkrun in the world at 8,000ft!). If you’re ever in Colorado, you now have two choices for parkrun!

That’s all for this week. See you all next on April 14^th!

Written by Kortney Thoma

On a cold, foggy and then sunny morning, 57 brave parkrunners across 15 different age categories made their way out onto the Renton course.

This week we announced our parkrunner of the month who also happened to be our run director today: Brian Thompson! Brian is a regular in our community where he has participated as a runner 8 times, volunteered 5 times (counting today) and even attended our trial events pre-launch!

Big congrats to our first finishers - Tim WHITCOMBE (18:17) and Kathleen BIBERDORF (25:19) – both setting new PBs along the way! We had four parkrun clubs represented – DC Roadrunners, Hogwarts Running Club, North Burnaby Runners and of course the best parkrun running club in the world – Derek Zoolander Centre for Kids Who Can’t Run Good (full disclosure – the writer of this run report is a member of said best parkrun running club in the world). It's always great to see running club members no matter where in the world you find them!

Interesting stats from the event this morning – 13 first-timers to Renton, of those 9 were new to parkrun, so welcome one and all! We had 20 PB’s set – well done! Seven of the magnificent walk/runners today were listed as UNKNOWN which means that they didn’t get a time recorded. Next time (and you know there will be a next time!) make sure you bring your barcode with you (print it out – laminate it, leave it in your purse, wallet, car, bicycle – I have a copy that lives in the back of my phone case just in case!). In parkrun parlance #dfyb – don’t forget your barcode!

One important stat: for those that have been to our parkrun more than once, the average number of runs is now over 10 runs for each runner which means.... The event is growing! Here is the challenge for you: bring along a friend! Introduce another person to the world of parkrun but remember it is not a race, so a walk, a walk/shuffle, a walk/run or a run – all speeds are welcome at parkrun!

Massive thanks to all the volunteers this week; without these folk, parkrun doesn’t happen: Veronica AITKINS, Cam KENNEDY, Cathy MARTINEZ, Shaddad NAJM, Kyle ROSENTHAL, Jake SMITH, Wendy SWEENEY, Kortney THOMA, Brian THOMPSON, Lynn WUNDER. If you haven’t volunteered already then consider it; it is easy and there is all the help you need to get up and going. Many hands make light work as such!

Written by Kyle Rosenthal

It was a rainy day at Renton parkrun but nothing could dampen our smiles. With 29 participants, we were a raucous and happy crowd thanks to the emphatic cheers led by Shaddad and Jake. If you missed us this weekend then be sure to catch us on February 24.

Raindrops are falling on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothing seems to fit
Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling

So I just did me some talking to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleeping on the job
Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep fallin'

But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me
Won't defeat me, it won't be long
'Till happiness steps up to greet me

Raindrops keep falling on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turning red
Crying's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining
Because I'm free
Nothing's worrying me

On a drizzly, mild winter morning, 61 enthusiastic runner/walkers turned out for Renton's 13^th parkrun. And numerous happy dogs were in attendance too.  Before the run kicked off, the presentation for parkrunner of the month was presented to Wendy Gianini, for her consistent volunteering and participation in parkrun.

It's brilliant to witness the growth of Renton parkrun in such a short space of time and to see some familiar faces every week.  We had about 30 participants in the coldest part of our winter and now we're up to 60!  One of our regulars, Wendy Sweeney, had a PR today too and couldn't wait to see the results via email. That is one of many examples of parkrun enthusiasm.

In the spirit of connecting our global parkrun community, we welcomed Christie Murphy, a parkrun tourist from Bournemouth, England, Winstorm Guo and Jen Moroz from Vancouver Canada, Dean Faber from Okanagan parkrun in Canada, Stephanie Webster from Idaho, and a group of runners from Portland, Oregon.  The Sasquatch Track Club from Portland were able to experience how parkrun operates and may use the experience to galvanize efforts in getting a Portland parkrun mobilized at some point in the future.

Jen Moroz, one of our guest runner from Richmond parkrun in Vancouver, broke our women's course record today by more than a minute! Below is a photo of her pacing the fastest men on the course during the first half of the run.

From the perspective of one who started running with parkrun back in 2004 in the UK, it's mind boggling to see the breadth and depth of our parkrun community.  I constantly hear stories of people locally who have learned about parkrun from friends abroad, or those of us who have been abroad, and now live locally and want to see parkrun take hold in the Pacific NW.

Next week we will be celebrating Valentine’s Day with a “stoplight run” and everyone is invited to find love and friendship Saturday morning. While all color of shirts are welcome, we will unofficially be recognizing green shirts as “single and ready to mingle,” yellow or orange as “in love with parkrun,” and red as “taken but looking for friends.” There will also be cake and a few fun props for photos after the run! Feel free to bring a loved one or a friend but most importantly, remember your barcode!

Haley the 6 month old barkrunner wants to say thanks again for joining us this week and we'll see you next!

Written by Leigh Stevens