At the start of the year, one of my parkrun goals was to achieve my single ton, which is 100 runs at the same parkrun. I was 90, so going there 10 times in a year should be achievable. In the autumn at one of the briefings they announced that the week after international parkrun day, Panshanger would be celebrating their 10th birthday, so I decided to line up my celebration so my 100th would be on their 10th birthday. It had some sort of symmetry that I liked.
Panshanger was where my love of parkrun really started. Up until it began, I was going to St Albans parkrun maybe once a month, but once Panshanger started, Dad, my brother and I had a good Saturday morning routine going, where they would drive over to me, pick me up and we’d head over there together. I celebrated my 50th parkrun (back then, the first milestone possible) on Panshanger’s first birthday (they had a fancy dress theme which explains the Minnie tutu and my friend dressed as Where’s Wally).
Panshanger parkrun itself had changed a lot since it first started as the course now starts and ends in a totally different part of the park (much closer to me). I used to occasionally cycle there (and even more rarely run there and back when half marathon training), but it was 5 miles each way, whereas now I can run there as it is now around 2 miles away, which is a good length for a warm up and cool down.
When Ellenbrook Fields started, as that was half way between where I lived and where my parents live, we’d usually meet there, and then after Jersey Farm started and EF stopped, I often head over there and run with Dad as then I can see Mum after at breakfast. Dad is still very happy to come over to Panshanger, and he was around so he picked me up, we parked by the woods and then ran there together.
So, back to the weekend. As it was their birthday, it was quite busy (even using a small field as an overflow car park), there was an amazing cake, the Scouts were serving tea and coffee (sponsored by the landowners), and they had a ‘birthday card’- a photo collage on a whiteboard with a pen so people could leave their own messages.
OH ladies selfie, cows on the course, the amazing cake, and the field where the cows usually are
We had run there and true to form I had underestimated the amount of time it would take to get there- I thought it was about a mile from where we parked but actually the distance from the gate to the actual parkrun start is nearly half a mile I think, so we arrived after ten to 9 and basically got told straight away to come and have our OH lady photo!
The RD did a great speech about how it came to fruition in the first place, but sadly it was hard to hear all of it as we were close to some really yappy dogs (with the owners making no effort to quieten them down or move away from the crowd). Anyway, they gave a round of applause to all the RD’s past and present, and mentioned that this year the landowners (Tarmac) had sponsored the scouts to provide tea and coffee for everyone at the finish. (Panshanger doesn’t have a cafe, and there used to be a coffee van when it started in Thieves Lane, but since the course change there hasn’t been anything)
I ran with Dad which was very enjoyable- he’d not been to Panshanger since the cattle grids had been installed, whereas I’ve been a few times recently. As we headed down the final stretch (and through another cattle grid) I commented that we hadn’t seen the cows yet, and as we rounded the corner they came into view! Thankfully not too many of them were there, and they had stayed away from the path as a special birthday treat!
Tar and Mac, token photo, parkrun cupcakes and signing the board/birthday card
After we finished, we got a hot drink from the scouts stall (they had soya milk for my tea hooray, but no vegan options sadly- although earlier in the year when they were fundraising they usually would have a vegan option). Anyway, the event had a great atmosphere as people were hanging around and chatting rather than heading off to their cars right away.
The board and celebrating my single-ton!
After having our hot drinks, we went to get a photo with the mascots (Tar and Mac of course), and signed the card. Of course I also had to get a photo with my 100 shirt and the pop up to commemorate the single-ton at Panshanger. Then we headed back through the woods with a run/walk combo to cool down. All in all a really enjoyable way to celebrate their 10th birthday and my 100th there!
Does your local event have a cafe or coffee van? How do you celebrate parkrun birthdays?
