Racing parkrun, and thank you to Run For All Neath

Gnoll 20 July 

I love parkrun and I love the Gnoll grounds.  My brother and his boys (Gavin and Dylan) flew over from the States this week.  One is 19 and the other 14.  Gavin, the eldest, a couple of years ago, had an 18 minute PB, since then though, he has really got into his rugby and has put on a lot of muscle and hasn't done a lot of distance running, even though I am around 25 years older than him, I fancied racing him and seeing if I could take his American ass (have to cater to his vocabulary) down.

The two boys, Gavin and Dylan have done parkrun before last time they were down in 2017 and I have been extoling the virtues of it ever since so I was very excited that they lined up on the start line with me today.

I also was given the privilege of doing the first timers briefing today.  This is one of the best volunteers roles someone can do.  It gives you the chance of not only telling tourists about your parkrun but also welcoming 1st timers to the madness of parkrun and as I explained to Sue Rideout and Nicola Davies the gateway to the addiction.  Ladies, behold parkrun Day (also one word, always lower case) the day formally known as Saturday.  Both of you got a really good time today.  The challenge you now have is beating it next week

Today, thankfully was a break from the really hot weather.  Even though it was still very warm there was a touch of rain in the air which made for almost perfect running conditions.

One of the best things about having my American cousins over to stay is showing them how hospitable and friendly us south Walians are.  They loved and love 'Nana Wales 'Grampa Wales' but without an exception, the courtesy and kindness shown wherever we've been makes me very proud to be from the lovely part of the world, from friends of my parents who have popped in to say hello to the lovely people up Neath Rugby Club who have been so accommodating allowing them to have a kick about on the pitch to inviting Gavin to train with the team next Tuesday.  

That warm Welsh welcome was extended to my parkrun family.  Thank you to Darren,  Lauren and Andrea and everyone else for coming over to chat and being so lovely which them feel like part of the set up. (even though Dylan pinched one of the tokens...sorry...(he did give it back)) 

I could be lazy and just say have a look at my previous run report for a description of the course but it's such a good 'un, and I really liked the way in which Darren described it to me as he is spot on.

It really is like a computer game.  First level is a very pleasant jaunt around the pond , no trouble, no lives lost.  Second, getting a little bit tasty, maybe think that you possibly went out a bit too fast on the first lap as here, you go round the pond, but then head a bit off road down to the cellars before coming back for your third lap where you will face the momma and poppa bear, the Al Pacino, the Pontypool Front Row, the Big Boss Man of hills and the main baddy of the parkrun level......  The Hill of Eternal Peril !  

Here you will face, steepness of the levels for which you will not have encountered before, a hill so washed in loose gravel and sparseness of foot grips that seasoned mountain goats would probably think twice, a hill where only exceptional runners run up without taking a walk break....it is therefore here where I ran up, and flew past the exhausted Gavin, being the young scamp that he is and sprinted off like a gazelle dosed up to it's tits on E Numbers and fizzy pop to enjoy the mad dash back down the other side, a quick trip back around the cellars and the final push for home.

We all know that parkrun is not meant to be a race, it is a run, but you know what ? When  Gavin flew past me in the first 500 metres, I made a deal with myself that he was either going to leave me in the dust or he was going to blow on the hill.  I therefore ran a lot quicker than I have in a long time, to keep him in sight and finished over a minute quicker than when I last ran here, two weeks ago and only 20 seconds slower than my PB.    Many thanks also to (I think it was) Steve Williams and his dog for the nip and tuck run we had together.  Racing someone (even if they may not know you're racing) certainly makes things far more fun.

One of the things I love to do at this parkrun is to bring my dad down and wave at him (less and less vigorously with each lap) through the cafe window.  Having three generations of the Richards family at parkrun meant a lot to me, especially being at the Gnoll.

We're taking dad back up North to live near us at the end of the month and I'm not sure where we are going next week, may well be here for a return smackdown with Gavin or we may vernture over to Swansea for a flat sprint.

If this is the last time I visit this very special place, can I thank each and every one of you, especially all the runners at Run for All Neath for making me feel so welcome when I asked about going for a run many years ago when visiting mum and dad.  You are exactly what a running club should be.  

Much love to you all.