People say that you get that warm fuzzy feeling after volunteering, but what I got today was frozen fingers... Seriously now, a group of us went to the Knavesmire first thing this morning to help with delivery of Parkrun York. Not deterred by sub zero temperatures just under 800 people turned up to run, or walk seeking that endorphin boost. GoodGym volunteers busied themselfes with roles such as the Race Director, pacer, funnel manager, barcode scanner and finish tokens handler. Many "thank you" , "well done" and "Happy New Year" wishes were shared and exchanged and from my perspective 99.9% participants had a good time, even if that wasn't their initial thought at the 3km mark. After the task the bravest of us went to another stint of volunteering on Holgate Allotments, while others went to seek some warmth at home and a cup of tea.

🦫 17 eager beaver GoodGymmers decided to kick off 2026 with a bang by volunteering at NYD parkrun 💥

🥶 It was a chilly one, which began with a debate as to whether or not we saw the sunrise (and therefore how many January Challenge bingo squares could be ticked off) 🌅

🥧 Carb-fuelled by pie (and potentially hampered by cocktails), there were pacers, marshalls, timekeepers, number-checkers, funnel managers (always a tricky one, especially when it comes to the decision of whether it’s a double or triple funnel day) and a parkwalker (plus friend 🐕).

🥪 Soon, it was time to regroup and warm up at the Knavesmire with a very welcome butty. The work wasn’t over for everyone as Louise had nobly volunteered to token-sort (and roped in the rest of the table to help, with very little persuasion). After some healthy debate with the regular token-sorting team as to the correct method, we reached an amicable approach that everyone seemed happy with and (equally importantly), got the job done ✅

🏠Then it was time to head home, for a brief reprieve for some even eagerer beavers who were heading to this afternoon’s double tree task session 🌳

🤩 Thank you everyone, and Happy New Year 🥳

A bunch of GG legends were up early on Saturday to help pace the runners of York around Knavesmire at York parkrun, funnel manage and keep time.

We had all paces and even had Barbara and Vicky doing run / walk pacing.

Pacing continues next week but this time in Penrith!

15 GG heroes descended on York Knavesmire to work as ice marshals, finish token hander outers, barcode scanners, funnel managers and run report writer ensuring that York parkrun was one of only a handful of events that go to go ahead in Yorkshire this week

You can read Ed's parkrun report here - https://www.parkrun.org.uk/york/news/

❄️ 8 excellent GoodGymmers gathered on a cold but crisp Saturday morning for a spot of parkrun volunteering. We had pacers, marshalls, timekeepers and token-ers, all trying to keep warm to the best of our ability.

😎 Afterwards, some people went on to the next task (and the one after that, and maybe even the one after that!), keen for a whole day of doing good.

Good work everyone 💪

More puddle than track but that didn't hold back GG York volunteers who paced, kept time, scanned barcodes, funnel managed and checked finish numbers for the first good deed of the year!

588 parkrunners got their feel good start to the year thanks to our volunteers!