Introduction

Early on in our relationship Julie and I attended the afters of a wedding in the Midleton park hotel. This was our inaugural appearance as a couple at a formal dinner occasion. As I introduced Julie to various friends we fell into a conversation about another upcoming wedding. Julie was shocked to hear the future groom say he was doing none of the organising and that his job on the day was stand where his future wife told him. Later Julie told me in no uncertain terms if we get married that I was to be a full and active participant in the organising. Being coy I joked so you’re planning a future with me great? As I reflected on this part of our lives it dawned on my how fully the Midleton community were committing to parkrun. This was a lock stock and barrel effort. And thank god it was because a record Cork attendance of 636 ran the first Midleton Greenway parkrun….and this was the inaugural event

Four weeks out with a start date set for the latest addition to the parkrun family Midleton Greenway the buzz in the neighbouring parkrun WhatsApp groups hit fever pitch. The new leaders had joined the Glen River and Tramore Valley WhatsApp groups and as every new parkrun needs they got the best of advice and well wishes. I tell every inaugural core team that I’m jealous of them because the journey they’re about to go on only happens once. They’re going to bring friendships that will last a lifetime into their lives. They’ll feel that wonderful parkrun positivity for the first time. A parkrun rising is a beautiful thing. A core team getting together maybe the most amazing experience of teamwork someone will ever have. that being said I have heard from various sources that the fear that another parkrun opening down the road will take away from there parkrun. The prevailing evidence shows no such trend. A parkrun opening in a local area tends to bring in more parkrunners from that area. I recall such non sense being preached like it was Gospel when Tramore Valley reopened. Instead what has happened is parkrunning in Cork has grown almost exponentially. I had high hopes for Midleton nestled in a vibrant running community. I could see this working from day one.

Journey around the parkrun World

Julie and I have run in 43 different parkrun locations and completed level Dublin. Given that my son Edward is now mobile and prone to leaving the room simply because he enjoys walking out the door I feel like I maybe revisiting a lot of these parkruns again to bring him up to our location tally.

Course

Midleton Greenway parkrun does exactly what it says on the tin. It is a parkun in Midleton on a Greenway. It’s fast, flat with majestic woodland for company once you moved 500 meters away from the train station.

Stroller safe

I didn’t run with Edward in the buggy at this parkrun. His grandfather kept a watchful eye on him as we ran. Edwards grandfather would have been out there with us if the physio hadn’t prescribed a strict rehab regime for the upcoming cycling season. I do however have no hesitation in saying that I saw several buggies flying along the greenway at parkrun and that the conditions under foot were tarmac for the entire length. The course is wide and ideal for overtaking if you need to move quickly to get the little one to sleep.

Live a Little

I love an inaugural parkrun. If you get the chance attend one but strongly consider volunteering as well. The new team will need help. I finished my parkrun and jumped straight into barcode scanning entirely impromptu. I seen the masses descending on the finish funnel. I wasn’t the only one who reacted the underground network that is the Tralee parkun jumped straight into barcode scanning action to relieve the congestion at the finish funnel. If you want to live a little each week jump into you local volunteer roster. Later on we learned that Midleton had broken the record for attendance at a parkrun in Cork with 636 finishers now that will be a nice story to tell Edward when he is older.

Volunteers

I’ve volunteered over 150 times. I’ve had the pleasure of working with two core teams starting and restarting a parkrun. Volunteering is the life blood of the parkrun. I have friends that if it were not for parkrun I would not know them and this life would be a little bit empty. If you would like to volunteer at Midleton Greenway email midletongreenway@parkrun.com and ask can you volunteer.