Jumping juniors smash the Hilly Fields

I arrived early, but the super industrious Mary, who was race director today, was already well underway with the event set up. Whilst we set up the finish funnel we were joined by her partner and boys who made short work of the outstanding tasks. Then the volunteers started arriving making up the full contingent of marshals, timekeepers, token dispenses and sorters. There was a very happy trio of junior tail walkers that took to the task with great gusto. As did the Joseph who led the warm up. He really bought some energy to the scene, Big up Jospeh. I think he along with others was volunteering as part of his DoE award. A different Joseph gave the first timers welcome and it was good to know that there were at least tow junior for whom it was their first ever suns. Mary gave the Run Director address and regular runners chanted back the right responses to the course instructions. Without too much further ado they were off! After a bunched start everyone found their rhythm. The older, quicker, runners absolutely flew. Of course the great thing about parkrun is that it is a run and not a race, so turning up and being one of the ninety nine junior runners was a massive achievement. (So too was the adults organisation and perseverance in getting them ready!) There were some amazing performances from lots of little people who loved the high fives and showed superb resilience and pluck in tackling those hills, there were some impressive parents too - styling it out! After two laps done it was all over - kit packed up and that’s it for another week. Well done Mary and all the volunteers. Mission accomplished