Gnoll parkrun 6 July 24
I was born extremely rich and very privileged. I don't mean in an Eton, private school, Nannies and ponies type of way but being blessed with two of the most wonderful people you could ever imagine. My mam and dad. That, I would like to think is worth far more than fancy holidays and expensive trainers.
I don't live in Neath anymore, moving away from home when I went to Uni, but I was brought up there. My childhood memories centre around going 'Up the Gnoll'. Lazy, hazy days of summer were spent hiding in 'the den' (as you come up the hill on the left where parkrun used to go) that we were sure only we knew about, making yourself sick on the 'dizzy roundabout' on the field on the left where we start and the weird metal gym equipment on the grass behind the finish (I think).
My birthday parties in mid summer were not spent in paid for rip off places but my whole class were bought sausage and chips from Mrs Opals and the day playing cricket, football and rugby up the Gnoll and drinking loads of pop. All made possible by a combination of two things. My parents and the beautiful Gnoll grounds.
I'd imagine that it's pretty clear from my blog how much I love parkrun. To have a parkrun in one of my favourite places in the world is so special to me. Vast majority of the time, when I come home (will always call it home) I'll run here. I have ran at Swansea, Ponty, Bryn Bach and Porthcawl but I always prefer to run here as it's so special.
My mam died this week, and running has been a sort of antidote to dealing with the loss of someone that was so selfless, so dignified and so strong in her fight against Multiple Sclerosis. I've got up and ran most mornings, around the Gnoll grounds and down the Neath Canals. I found it to be a mind cleanser and a way of escaping into your soul, to deal with things that should happen in your sleep (rather ruined by blasting out 'Live and Let Die' on my headphones at mile 6,) which I've not really had enough of.
I wasn't sure if I wanted to do parkrun this week, only had about 2 hours sleep last night and got up at around 5.30 to have a bit of a potter and to sort more things out in the house. Of course, when around 8.30 came about, the inevitable happened and I made my way up past the Gnoll gates, the 1st pond and up the hill to parkrun.
As soon as I saw the 2nd pond, I must confess getting a bit emotional. the wonderful memories of summers past came flooding past, with last summer when I pushed my mam up the hill where we spent 3-4 hours eating ice-cream and making fun of my dad at the forefront of my mind.
Being a good British lad, I shook my head, went, bwamwaamea and carried on walking.
The parkrun itself, as you can see by the picture is centred around such a gorgeous location. You really do get a bit blasé about it, but today we had visitor from around the parkrun world, including at least two lads from clwb Bryn Bach (even though the gits beat me) and somewhere called 'Bushy' ? (Must be a new one not heard of it before, don't you hate these newbie parkruns jumping on the bandwagon )
For those who haven't done it before...where have you been and why haven't you ran the only parkun that beats the (second) best parkrun in parkrun world, Woodbank ?
It's a three lapper, but, by Jingo, it's a helluva lot more than that. It's a three lapper that is gradually longer and tougher than the one before it.
You start with a tour around the pond, (check out the wooden bridge and the rapids on your left on the far end), you go around again, but this time run down to the old cellars from the Gnoll House. Third time ? Well, there's a reason there's no pacers here (at least I don't think there are) It's a climb up a beauty of a hill, across the top, before a mad as beans sprint/slip and slide down the hill, finishing off with another trip to the cellars and a sprint home to where the cafe and all your bags are.
One of things I miss about Neath are the accents. Mine has been tempered somewhat with living away for 20 odd years, but there is nothing better to make you smile than some of some of the most enthusiastic marshals belting out support in a strong South Wales accent. Never change Neath, I love you all.
Cafe is really worth a visit, the coffee is really nice and a wide selection of baps (even though I always go for sausage and egg)
This is my favourite parkrun for many, many reasons. Thank you to the kind people up there today that were aware or became aware of what was happening. You're very special and your words meant a lot.
We are not asking for flowers for the funeral, but if anyone can make even the tiniest donation to the MS Centre, it would mean the world.
Take care of each other and don't sweat the small things, they really, really don't matter x
John Richards is fundraising for The South Wales Ms Therapy Centre (justgiving.com)
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