Introduction

On Friday morning August 12th the news of a wild goat in distress from Kilorglin’s Puck Fair broke. The entire nation descended on Joe Duffy’s radio programme to voice their opinion. Julie and I briefly discussed our previous experience in politics and how we were happy to be beyond that chapter in our lives. The thought of being a TD, Minister or even worse the Taoiseach and receiving hourly updates on the welfare of a distressed goat in West Kerry on the hottest day of the year in Ireland made us both shudder. We couldn’t believe someone in 2022 thought this was justified treatment of any animal.

There is another GOAT the acronym Greatest Of All Time. This seems to be the category where Marlay parkrun resides. Marlay parkrun holds the record for highest attendance at parkrun Ireland 795 runners. The park itself is marvellous, the parkrun team are magnificient. The market after in the park has a majestic backdrop of a wide open field and a small river. Finally, the journey to the park on a bike was a magical with 80-90% on segregated cycling track. We’re covering Dublin parkruns one cycle lane at a time.

parkrun Life

This week was odd for Julie and I. We’re Event Directors (ED) in Tramore Valley which means from time to time we engage with the politics of parkrun. I find myself being protective of our new core team. This is a leadership failing I need to educate them and help them navigate this parkrun world. I’m reluctant I don’t want them getting dismayed at the difficulties that arise. I feel they need more time to learn. I need to rethink this because as you’ll see below I’m out of time. Until this week ED had been straight forward register this here, deliver that here, listen to John & Maretta on this and generally advising the team on their great parkrun journey.

On Monday August 8th 2022 the Running In Cork blog implied that Tramore Valley parkrun destroyed the attendance at a 5km race which took place the day after parkrun in the same park. We weren’t offered a chance to comment and in hindsight that was probably a good thing because I was incensed and as my brother said at my wedding “Andrew will reply on social media”. To describe me as combative is apt. I don’t like that part of myself but it seems to come out most when my family or team are in the firing line which maybe a good thing? If I’m the leader it’s my job to defend you publicly. Privately within the team we may disagree fiercely on what we believe in. This makes us a better team and family.

This blog post felt like a sucker punch. We’d been measured in Tramore Valley. Julie and I went to extraordinary lengths to re-open softly. We got buy in on this from the local papers and the team (of whom some are very prominent on social media). I felt the blog portrayed us as the big gun flexing our msucles and overpowering the little guy. In truth we’re walking a tight rope at Tramore Valley parkrun. If we hit huge numbers Cork City Council may have to step in again and cancel us. We know what happened last time it took forever and a day to come back. Portraying us as the carefree, massively successful free parkrun is wrong. We’re free yes but we’re hanging on in there.

Having a week to think about it didn’t make me feel much better. I’ll clarify for those in doubt parkrun has nothing to do with competitive races. We’re NOT direct competition. We want people to walk, jog or run 5km once a week and see what that does for their health. I seriously doubt Tramore Valley parkrun on it’s 3rd event had even a remote impact on a road race taking place the day after parkrun. We got tagged on said races social media posts. When I saw it I thought the race was on the same day at the same time. This does happen at parkrun and it’s not unheard of for the parkrun involved to be asked to cancel which they kindly do. After that I forgot about the race. I had parkrun stuff to do. I don’t see how parkrun is responsible for another race. I reject the Running in Cork Blogs inferences completely.

Thank god Saturday brought me and my wife to Marlay parkrun because when Tramore Valley parkrun gets to this level of attendance this is the ethos I want to deliver parkrun.

Course

Marlay parkrun is 1 lap course. We had never done a single lap parkrun until now. A word of caution you have no first lap to recalibrate yourself like other parkruns. This is a one and done scenario do overs are next week at parkrun. The Marlay parkrun course itself runs down away from the children’s playground turns sharply right, rapidly right again, up a long hill, down the brow of that hill, across the Rugby/GAA grounds, back towards the main house by the market (where you’ll smell the freshly baked produce), threw the trees back down the first hill, left, left again back to the start line now the finish line for a massive Marlay parkrun sprint finish.

My parkrun was very enjoyable. I got carried away at the start and bolted to the first corner. Once I turned around and onto the hill it took me a few hundred meters to realise that the hill was long and that wishing it would finish soon wasn’t working. Once I got over the hill I realised the descent was quite lengthy and got my breath back. I started passing people and climbing up the ranks. The heat was killing me too but I was in good form so I ploughed on across the middle of the Rugby/GAA pitches. I lived a little here looked left and right and took in the grounds, the sunshine and felt grateful I was here at a parkrun with my wife(Please do the same in your own way). Just after the 2km mark I met the first of nine motivating marshals. This lady was showering runners with motivation I was separated from the pack so I got a personal “You’re looking strong and fast keep parkrunning”. This was followed by the gentleman at 4 km who said “You’re looking well there sir”. Made my day much more positive. Thanks guys.

At 4.2 km I passed a lad beneath the trees. I heard him mutter “Ya f*cker passing me at the death” under his breath. I immediately went for race mode thinking “I hear you sir and raise you a sprint finish”. I could hear a small pack close up behind me as I turned onto the massive Marlay sprint. I kept my nose in front until 50 meters to go and floored it to ultimate victory. In the longest finish funnel ever I turned around and there is my rival gasping for air on one knee and me thinking now is the moment we shake hands. He chokes “I got a PB”. Me still in super competitive rage monster mode “for f*ck sake I just paced a guy to a PB, I didn’t even get a volunteer credit and I’ve recorded the most pyrrhic parkrun race victory ever”. I’m sure someone will push me that way on another day at parkrun. The parkrun gods owe me.

Volunteers

The volunteers were marvellous. What a team. At large events it’s hard to remain nice and friendly to everyone and yet somehow Marlay parkrun have cracked it. The RD Delourdes opened her safety brief by reminding us that on a hot day “You have nothing to prove you’re already a parkrunner please take your time and our marshals have water if you need it”. Later we found out that Delourdes held the record as RD for attendance in Ireland of 795 parkrunners. Thank god she was there that day as we chatted she gave us an insight into the back channelling she does to persuade people to volunteer. She is clearly very resourceful as well as friendly and calm under pressure. Oft overlooked and undervalued traits by parkrun top brass.

Motivating marshalls. I’ve referenced my two experiences above but I’m certain everyone felt the motivation flowing from the Marshalls around the course. The finish funnel was at least 400 meters long and that took more than a minute to set up. Finally the barcode scanners took an extra minute to check my wife’s barcode scanned properly. These little touches were everywhere at Marlay parkrun.

Conclusion

Marlay parkrun you’re a marvellous run with a massive kind hearted crew of volunteers.