It’s been a long time coming but Brecon now has a parkrun!
After almost a year of planning, a successful test event was held at the end of May and then on Saturday the official parkrun, called Y Promenad, Aberhonddu started at 9am promptly from the area above the boathouse in Brecon. The sun was shining, the atmosphere exuded positivity and 114 participants celebrated the UK’s latest parkrun addition by completing the 5km two-lap tarmac and grass course at a variety of speeds from walking to running.
The parkrun concept is now worldwide with a huge parkrun community turning out to run, walk or volunteer each Saturday. This Saturday there were seven new parkruns opening around the world - but only one in the UK.
The organising committee had done a very good job of keeping it quiet to avoid a big influx from those parkrunners who attempt to run in as many inaugural events as possible but still there were participants from Northumberland, Oxford and Birmingham as well as many other towns in Wales. It is expected that the numbers taking part could rise to 200 in forthcoming weeks, bringing a lot of tourists into the town.
One of the slightly bizarre challenges enjoyed by many parkrunners is to try to ‘run the alphabet’. Having the name Y Promenad makes Brecon one of just four Ys in the country which will undoubtedly attract alphabeteers. Even this time, when run director for the day Sharon Punter announced the name, a number of runners shouted they were completing their alphabets today - with one lady happily finishing her fourth alphabet round!
One of the best features of parkrun is that it brings together people from all areas of life to work together voluntarily. Y Promenad is a collaboration between Brecon Athletics Club and other individuals, most of whom already had experience of participating in or volunteering at other parkruns. The organising group of two event directors, 11 other run directors and more than volunteers covering all sorts of roles from timing to scanning to marshalling to course building is one of the biggest seen by the parkrun ambassadors who helped the group through the application process. On Saturday there were 44 volunteers, many of whom were there from 7:30am to put out the course.
The inaugural event saw Eric Apperley finish first in a time of 16.57. Eric sets the inaugural record while running in his 98th parkrun. Second was 17-year-old local lad Joe Murphy in 18.38 while the first female finisher was another local Aimee Ferguson, in 22.23. The tailwalking volunteer (Ruth Cochran) who ensures that you will never finish last completed in 51.54 and the average time for finishers was 30.55. Full results can be seen by searching for Y Promenad parkrun and selecting the results dropdown option. What you can’t see there are all of the positive comments about the wonderful scenery and views and the encouragement from the marshals who cheered anyone and everyone.
Anybody can take part in parkrun free of charge but you need to register with parkrun first at www.parkrun.org.uk and bring your barcode along. It would be great to see more and more Brecon people taking part, either participating or volunteering.
The organising group are very grateful for the financial support from the Audrey Tyler Trust and the significant practical support from Brecon Town Council and Powys County Council. Also to the parkrun organisers at The Groe (Builth), Parc Bryn Bach (Tredegar) and particularly Hay on Wye for letting the volunteers gain valuable experience at their events over the last few months.