Volunteered at Hackney Night Shelter

The morning air was crisp and carried a buzz of anticipation, the kind that hints at something special about to happen. For the second month in a row, the tally confirmed it: seventy-two young runners, a sea of bright faces and restless energy, had gathered, continuing our record-breaking streak and solidifying a new era of enthusiasm for our junior parkrun. At the heart of this weekly miracle was a mission perfectly aligned with our own: to galvanise a community, to turn fitness into fun, and to ensure every child felt seen and cheered.

The starter’s signal sent the flock on their way, a vibrant blur of determination. Leading the charge was our elite runner, JP, who powered through the course with a fierce grace, flying across the finish line just a heartbeat shy of her personal best—a sure sign of even greater triumphs to come. But the true victory was in the beautiful diversity of the field. For at least ten children, it was their very first time, their faces a mix of nerves and excitement that melted into pure, triumphant joy as they completed their 2k journey. For many more, it was a return to the fun, a testament to the joyful habit we are building together, proving that parkrun is, and always will be, for everyone.

None of this magic unfolds on its own. It is meticulously crafted by a team of hi-vis heroes, and this week, the Good Gym crew was the steady heartbeat of the event. Expertly leading the charge was Good Gymer Sooz, whose calm coordination and infectious enthusiasm set the tone for the morning. She led a dedicated team of Good Gym regulars—Hayder, Louise ****, Rue, and Sarah—whose presence formed the operational backbone of the run. They were more than just volunteers; they were the embodiment of our mission, combining their fitness with tangible community service. Their cheers at marshalling points became the soundtrack of encouragement, their diligent timekeeping ensured every effort was recognised, and their watchful eyes guaranteed a safe environment for all.

Their collective spirit was so powerful it created a ripple effect of community engagement, encouraging several parents to jump in and lend a hand, seamlessly joining the crew. The morning was so wonderfully busy, in fact, that we didn't have a spare moment to snap a single action shot—the ultimate sign of a fully engaged team! So, here is a picture of three of us squinting into the bright autumn sun after successfully sorting out all the finish tokens, a small, quiet moment after the glorious chaos.

In the end, we didn’t just manage a run; we fostered a space where personal achievement and community support intertwine, where every child’s run was celebrated, and where the simple act of showing up creates a healthier, happier neighbourhood for all.

Found the lovely Mrs S at the starting time, and wow there's a good amount of work to be done....

Mrs S has Jasmine, Lilac and some smashing Hydrangea but oh boy the rest of the garden has gone a bit wild.

Within 10 minutes it started to rain but for safety reasons I felt compelled to carry on... There is Bramble and slippery moss covering the hard surface and making the usual trip to the loo an accident in the making.

We have definitely made an impact and Mrs S is really pleased with our efforts.

Smashing.

Today there was a set of activities related to fitness and Zumba in Hoxton Garden and as I arrived I went to the compost area to sort compost, making some new batches and sieving the previous one . No other goodgymmers managed to join for this occasion but hopefully next time as we already pre-book this recurring event for the next 6 months .

A record turnout this morning at the Field's as we welcomed 84 runners (plus a lot of coaches and encouragers, and a small table laden with cakes and drinks, and a TV celeb doctor...), as this week we were joined under the big tree by children from Year 4 of Hackney New Primary School who were attending as part of a fundraiser (for Macmillan Cancer Support) for one of their teachers.

Run Director Jonathan certainly had his hands full making sure everything ran smoothly, and between him and timekeeper Rue they did another excellent job in persuading a number of parents to don the hi-viz and act as Marshalls/TailWalker, and with all the posts filled we were good to go. With so many first timers (26) there was a lot of nervous anticipation on the start line...

It's fair to say that not everyone followed the strict boundaries of the course all the way around, but the fastest finishers put on another show, with the top 3 all coming home in under 9 minutes, and everyone else seemed to be enjoying their run/jog/walk around the park - with 20 PBs it was another successful morning for lots of them.

If this is the new normal in terms of attendees at the Fields, we're definitely going to need some more regular GoodGym volunteers on Sunday mornings to support the core team, so please do come along if you can - absolutely no prior experience is required!

What a morning at London Fields! A fresh but bright start set the tone for another brilliant event, and we were thrilled to welcome a record-breaking 65 juniors– our highest attendance to date! Thank you all for being part of it.

Amongst our runners, hoppers, and skippers, we had 17 first timers to London Fields parkrun, including 13 brand new parkrunners joining us for their very first event ever.

A huge welcome to you all – we hope this is just the beginning of your parkrun journey!

The conditions clearly suited many of you, with 14 personal bests recorded – well done to everyone who pushed for a new time.

This week’s event ran smoothly under the excellent stewardship of Mas, our ever-reliable Run Director. Not only did Mas lead the charge on the day, but he stayed behind afterward to make sure all the finish tokens were tidied, sorted, and available up to 100 – all in preparation for next week’s local school takeover. Huge thanks to Mas for going the extra mile behind the scenes.

Speaking of volunteers, GoodGymers Sarah and Rue gave their usual support out on the course. Sarah is so consistent that she now has her own eponymous marshal point – a true London Fields legend!

Some of our regulars were off tackling the Shoreditch 10K – we hope you all had a brilliant race and look forward to seeing you back in the park soon.

Next week’s shaping up to be another exciting event as students and staff from a local school will be taking over volunteering duties to support one of their teachers. It’s bound to be a good one, so spread the word, bring a friend, and don’t forget your barcode!

As always, a massive thank you to all our volunteers – we couldn’t do this without you.

See you next Sunday at London Fields!