It's a streak!
Keeping Worthing GoodGym's January parkrun streak going saw four Worthing stalwarts heading to beach house grounds to volunteer.

Not streaking! Nothing to see here.
Nerves already on edge because of the potential high numbers and the likelihood of an increasingly slippery finish funnel Belinda went hunting for an essential volunteer. Where was her timekeeper? Paul certainly wasn't streaking along. He casually appeared with his usual broad smile, unaware that he was surrounded not by misty drizzle (or mizzle to the locals) but by the steam that a moment ago had been pouring from Belinda's ears. The RD role was going to be fun today.

It was a set up
John as usual lent a hand with creating the finish funnel. Definitely essential, and due to play a central role as the morning went on. As has become the norm, it was a double. John prefers the simplicity of being single, whilst seeing the value of two, had we created enough extra length? Did we have enough capacity? Is the funnel, heaven forbid, too short? The RD role was going to be fun today.

Hitting the wall? Not on our watch
When Daisy volunteers to marshal she often manages to get a position where she can tuck herself away behind a bin, protected from the elements. Not today though! Today she managed to secure a position with a whole wall to shelter behind if needed. It wasn’t needed. The weather held, and with Daisy directing runners towards the final sprint, no one was hitting that wall today. Daisy clapped over 750 participants on their way. On their way to……….. The RD role was going to be fun today.

The RD role was going to be fun today
In the main the runners cheered by Daisy around that corner found themselves passing Paul, clicking them in as their feet passed the finish. In a week when parkrun had secured some novice volunteers (hooray) inexperience at the double funnel told its own story. A brief period of chaos led to a queue for the finish. It provided a great opportunity for runners to chat with Paul (always a delight!) as they slowly passed by him and his tightly held phone. But as for their times? The RD role was going to be fun today.

Cueing up for a strike
So, who was that RD who got all the fun. None other than the well respected GoodGymer, Belinda. She undid the chaos of the funnel, and unpicked the potential chaos of results processing. Amazing. Potential crisis averted, but cue the emails! Is there a GoodGym badge recognising being calm under pressure? Acknowledging the ability to respond positively to those “I love Worthing parkrun, but….” emails? If there is, it’s most definitely been earned today.

Oh, who is Nel, you may well ask. That’s a story for another time………

With John roping them off at the start, and Paul turning them in at the end GoodGym rounded up another parkrun!

It was an early start for Belinda with a key decision to make. Course checked and declared ice free, parkrun was good to go!

Belinda ran the show, directing as only she can. John and Anne helped pen the runners in, keeping the promenade free flowing!

John then moved on to manage the crucial final turn, directing the finishers towards the funnel where Anne assisted in keeping the hoards moving through.

Slightly exhausted after helping with deliveries last night, and ahead of starting their own Christmas Day celebrations, three GoodGymers headed to Worthing parkrun.

John set up and parkwalked, Belinda ran the show as Run Director and results processor. Roxy welcomed finishers by barcode scanning.

With Ryan, Sarah, Sue W, and Gill also out on the course we enjoyed the best way to start a Christmas day.

Given the weather forecast in other parts of the country we were rather anxious that Worthing parkrun might have to be called off but luckily the worst of the wind and rain managed to leave us alone. Eight of us turned out to volunteer and several of us ran.We volunteer as Goodgym at Worthing parkrun a few times during the year and Ricky had suggested this task as a way of marking his ten years to date as a "Worthingite". Goodgym and parkrun have played a significant part in his activities during that time so it was a good way to celebrate! At his first ever parkrun Belinda and John were the first two people he met and spoke to and little did he know he would meet them again just two days later at his first Goodgym task! Today was also John's 250th occasion of parkrun volunteering.

Ricky got up extra early to do the course check, Belinda was Run Director, Barbara and Daisy were marshals, John, Ryan and Sarah helped with set up and/or close-down and Gill was a parkwalker. When it came to running, there were around 500 participants and Ricky achieved his fastest time this year since his recovery from injury. After parkrun we wll went off for coffee and results processing.

It mattered today! Overnight rain and a strong westerly breeze made for a tough run/walk for the 578 individuals committed enough to take part. And GoodGym was there in support.

What goes around, sometimes disappears!

Before running, Sue took responsibility for the ever important course check. The all clear was declared and the run could proceed. It turned out that there was indeed much more space at the "Galloper" location than in previous weeks.

It's a set up. Again

John as usual assisted with set up, ensuring a long and winding funnel to keep the finishers busy as they head through to be scanned.

Not wild, not west

Unusually, Belinda was not in the role of Sheriff today. She was designated Marshal - and that's not a promotion as it was in the days of the Wild West US of A. Along with John she provided eyes on the course, focused on cheering and safety.

Bah, Brr, Ah

No, not Barbara, she's on a ultra volunteer shift (two actually) elsewhere! It was Roxy who braved the cold, mobile in hand, to scan those finishers.

It's a wrap

With Ryan and Sarah assisting with the clear up and close down after running parkrun ended and coffees beckoned.

It was GoodGym

It's always fun helping at parkrun. We try to have a GoodyGym volunteer focus once a month. Don't forget though, parkrun is not just for GoodGym! Recently there has been a shortage of volunteers for essential roles. It's a great reason to be up and out on a Saturday morning, and a lovely community to be part of.