Parkrun volunteers keep us up and running

This Saturday was a beautiful morning, many club members of Up and Running Torbay, Torbay’s wellbeing running club, dressed proudly in their blue and white shirts headed off to Teignmouth to help out running the Teignmouth parkrun.

Members enjoy a weekly parkrun on a Saturday morning at 9am, a great deal of them can be found normally at Torbay parkrun at the Velopark at Clennon Valley. They also have a good turnout at Teignmouth parkrun which is along the seafront, each week, as well as many other parkruns in the area like Haldon, Totnes and Parke.

The parkruns offer a free morning run in a very friendly environment. Although your run is timed, it is not a race and it is just a lovely way to meet up with friends each week and get some exercise.

The club thought it would be nice to say a massive thank you to all the normal volunteers and the organisers that make these parkruns possible each week, without them we would not be able to go ahead.

So, having already offered help back in January at Torbay parkrun, Up and Running Torbay offered to fill most of the volunteering roles in Teignmouth this time. It was so lovely to be involved in the running of the event and see all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.

 We were welcomed and supported by the Run Director Keith and other regular volunteers. Tabards issued, sand swept away from the promenade and positions taken as the runners started to arrive for their briefing.

There were runners, park walkers, buggies, supporters, inflatables, Hawaiian shirts and birthday attire making it a truly inclusive event on the out and back route around the promenade. The run was started and it is so lovely to be able to encourage and support all the fellow runners taking part.

All the club members thoroughly enjoyed the ‘takeover’, helping out at Teignmouth parkrun and would like to say again a massive thank you to all the regular volunteers for making the run possible each week for us and anyone else that enjoys the wonderful atmosphere of a parkrun. All your hard work, support and encouragement is greatly appreciated.

Also, this Sunday many of our members were putting on their trainers again to compete in the Wray Trail 10k and Half Marathon in Bovey Tracey. One member, Helen Brenton, completed a very hot half marathon in Bristol.