University Parks parkrun – Boomerang in More Ways than One

Previously when I attended University Parks parkrun I had gone with a friend. We were Parkwalkers and had gone to just generally tick off a U. When I was there I was gutted that the boys weren’t with me as it was a fast one – so knew that it was one to return to. Plus it would mean that they would also get a U for their Alphabeteer challenges! But it was actually a Boomerang that was the deciding factor on returning.

Getting There, Parking and Toilets

Last time we ended up paying a lot for parking and missing the start. This time we left in time to park, collect the Boomerang and go to the toilet. Although, this did mean I missed the first timer’s briefing but the boys filled me in. Also there was soap but no water at the toilets – stupidly I found this out after getting soap all over my hands!

We parked near the Dragon School and it was easy to find from there. Originally we were going to go to a parkrun in Wales as it was St David’s Day so loved that there was a little nod to the occasion!

My Experience Returning to University Parks parkrun

It was a beautiful day to be in the park – with the sun shining but it being not too warm. The course was clearly marked and it was nice and easy to see where the finish was.

The Start

At the start it was really busy, but they gave us plenty of time to move into position. People weren’t quiet and I gave up on trying to listen to the Run Briefing. In fact when we were asked to move into position I thought we had started.

There was a whiteboard it said that the Boomerang came from Newport, and that other tourists from Coventry, Lytham Hall (Lancs), Whitehaven (Cumbria), Bournemouth and of course Gloucestershire.

Personally I think that people should to move to the front in order of when their time is (like all the 16 minuters go first, then the 17 and so on) – because it was just not possible to get passed everyone.

The Run

Somehow I ended up optimistically by the 25 minutes but they were much slower and we walked for quite a bit to get going.

It was lovely people noticing the Boomerang – especially the person who I was trying to keep up with right at the end. It was like suddenly us struggling to breathe was no longer a thing and we were just able to chat about it!

At the end it was a double funnel finish – which I hadn’t experienced last time as they must have packed it away.

Last time my time was 57m 41s. This time 27m 35s – so quite the PB!

University Parks parkrun Stats Event 158

• 720 participants – 364 male, 269 female and 81 unscanned. 30 first time to parkrun, 113 tourists and 49 hi-vis heroes.
• 98 PBs.
• Times ranging 16:15-1:04:11
• Helped by 49 volunteers.

Milestones

Core Team Member Ryan was celebrating his 100^th Volunteer – congratulations.

25 Oliver, Robin, Austen, Peter, Hannah and Charlotte

50 Felicity, Phil and Ed

100 Anna and Lauren

Sub 30s at University Parks parkrun

448 sub30 (there may have been two more but as they did not scan their times do not show).

Sub 20s at University Parks parkrun

• 7 finishers were sub 17.
• 4 more people recorded a sub 18 time
• 16 more people recorded a sub 19 time (including an unscanned)
• 20 more people recorded a sub 20 time (including an additional 2 more unscanned)

20-30 Total Participants by Times

• 71 Under 21 Total
• 101 Under 22 Total
• 129 Under 23 Total
• 173 Under 24 Total
• 219 Under 25 Total
• 263 Under 26 Total
• 309 Under 27 Total
• 357 Under 28 Total
• 415 Under 29 Total

Over 60s at University Parks parkrun

58 participants recorded were over 60. That is just over 8% of all participants.

26 over 60s finished in sub 30. That means that just under 6% of the sub 30 finishers were over 60. But that just under 45% of over 60s were finishing in less than 30 minutes.

Males

• 20 VM60-64 – 12 sub 30 – including a 20:45!
• 11 VM65-69 6 sub 30 – with a 21:44.
• 6 VM70-74 4 sub 30 – the fastest finishing in 22:05 and the slowest in 32:21! It is this category who achieved the highest age grading of 84.38%.
• 2 VM75-79 = one in 28:02 and the other in 31:39.

Females

• 9 VW60-64 – with 3 sub 30
• 7 VW65-69
• 2 VW70-74
• 1 VW80-84 in 52:41

Younger Stats at University Parks parkrun

As a University parkrun it was interesting to look at the stats of the younger end of the participants too.

• There was only one junior (who requires an adult to run with them) finished in under 30 minutes (28:32)
• Out of both junior age categories 11-14 – only one had an age grading over 70%
• All the boys in the JM15-17 category finished in sub30. Only one had an age grading over 70%, with our son coming second in this age category.
• The girls’ category in this age group was very small with only 4 runners, 3 of whom finished in sub 30. The last one getting a new PB of 30:38 and only on her 5^th parkrun.

Young Adults

All the young men in the SM18-19 achieved a sub30 time. 3 of which were sub 19 (and almost sub 18). The five fastest in this category (19:48 and quicker) had all run over 100 parkruns each. This pattern was not reflected in the females of this age.

SM20-24

• 8 sub 19
• 3 sub 20
• 8 sub 21
• 6 sub 22
• 12 sub 23
• 10 sub 24
• 4 sub 25
• 6 sub 26
• 3 sub 27
• 6 sub 28
• 1 sub 29
• 2 sub 30
• 14 over 30 minutes

SW20-24

• There was 1 sub 19 in a time of 18:44. But she had the 7^th highest age grading (79%). This was a PB today!
• 2 sub 21
• And 2 sub 23
• Plus 2 sub 24
• 5 sub 25
• Another 5 sub 26
• 3 sub 27
• 2 sub 28
• 9 sub 29
• 2 sub 30
• 24 over 30 minutes

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