Hailes Quarry Junior Parkrun proving runaway success
Ten schools have signed up for the Hailes Quarry Junior Parkrun, a huge lift for the organisers.
The parkrun started in September but the Sunday morning run has already clocked a record attendance of over 100.
Ten primary schools have already teamed up as Parkrun Primaries, (Longstone, Canal View, Murrayburn, Sighthill, Stenhouse, Bonaly, Pentland, Currie, Nether Currie, and Buckstone.
The run directors hope that others will come on board soon, including schools in nearby Juniper Green, Colinton and Balerno.
This is, claims event rirector, Alan Gordon, the only Junior Parkrun for juniors aged four to 14 in the west side of Scotland’s Capital, and it goes ahead every Sunday at 9.30am.
Runners meet at the children’s playpark in Hailes Quarry Park (EH14 2QR) and the course is 2000m (2k) long, considered ideal for a run of this type.
The event is run on permanent paths, although some sections may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain.
This is a free, fun event founded by Longstone Community Council, who received a community grant from the City of Edinburgh Council to pay for start-up costs, and South West Edinburgh 20 Minute Neighbourhoods.
The run is organised weekly by over 20 volunteers for the benefits of everyone. All entrants must register on the website www.parkrun.org.uk/register/hailesquarry-juniors/ before they come along for their first event.
The organisation also has a Facebook page and people can see what we get up to there.
Participants use the parkrun to test themselves against their own time, and against others, but the event organisers stress that participation should ultimately be for fun.
The average finishing time, incidentally, is around 14 minutes. You can run, jog or walk the course, whatever works for you.
Alan said that adults can accompany children but adults don't get a finish position. Buggies are allowed, subject to course conditions, but only if the adult pushing the buggy is accompanying a junior park runner.
Dogs are not allowed to accompany walkers, joggers, runners or volunteers at junior parkrun events.
The weather has been kind to the event since it started with only one really bad day which saw heavy rain falling on the participants.
However, he added: “Resilience is part of this as well as fitness. You can only teach resilience by being resilient.”
The first run attracted 83 children and 34 of them were first time park runners. December has been a good month for the group who welcomed 63 to the event on December 1, the 13th in the series which has been supported since its inception by local MP, and keen park runner, Dr Scott Arthur, who has taken part in over 400 runs in eight different countries.
Volunteers are always welcome and they can arrive alone or team up with someone, and they don’t need any experience of parkrun, junior parkrun or of volunteering.
There are a range of roles to choose from, and many of them can be combined with walking or running.
They include setting up the course, scanning people’s barcodes at the finish or ensuring everyone gets safely round the route as a marshal.
Alan said: "We never ask anybody to do anything they are not comfortable with.”
If you are interested contact [email protected]
Alan said: “It is a really run, intergenerational, inclusive event, and you can be assured of a great and welcoming atmosphere. Come and join us."