For our weekend in York we headed to Millfield Juniors parkrun to do some volunteering. Nearby Knavesmire Junior parkrun was not on, so this was the nearest one to where we were staying. This week we were both marshals as the bar code scanning (my husband’s preferred role) was already filled.
Read about Junior parkrun on my previous post.
Millfield Park & Recreation Area, Millfield Lane, Easingwold, YO61 3JR
Facilities
Offering plenty of free parking (30 places) with a Junior parkrun sign outside so you knew where you were going. The website does say that afterwards they go for breakfast but apparently this is no longer the case as it was getting expensive each week. We opted to save some money and headed to a nearby McDonald’s afterwards.
- Millfield Junior parkrun also has a skatepark.
- Toilet facilities are available in the Marketplace.
- There was also a permanent sign regarding the 5K event that is held there. Including a QR code to scan for further information.
Again we stayed on a nearby campsite in order to also do York Community Woodland parkrun.
Millfield Juniors parkrun Course
2 lap course all on path.
Starting near where the warm up and briefings are, the course goes up and around the edge of the park. Next it t goes down an incline – around a marshal and then back up. Then it splits to the right before heading off (up) to do another lap. The second time the finish peeling off to the right on the grass. It is much more straightforward than I have made that sound and of course it is well sign posted and marshalled.
Congestion
The up and down bit at times can be congested. What with children in both directions, adults being able to run with a pushchair on the course, and other park users. In the case of when I was marshalling this involved a cyclist. It is on the York to Middlesbrough cycle route.
Results for Event 153
10 people did their very first Junior parkrun. A further 11 children were tourists attending Millfield Juniors parkrun for the very first time.
15 of the returning children achieved PBs.
Finishing Times
Joint 8:16-23:18. Although one young lady did do one lap so do not be put off by this relatively quick last finish time.
- 5 children finished under 9 minutes
- 12 under 10 minutes
- 20 under 11 minutes
- 30 did 12 minutes or quicker (equivalent to a 30 minute 5K)
- 46 sub 13
Age Grading
First female was 9:20, and the young 8 year old also held the highest age grading (70.26%).
Neither of the first finishing boys had the highest male age grade which went to third place 8:33 (70%).
My Experience
It was really lovely to see children volunteering. Now they can also get their own milestones for this (see my post about Junior parkrun). One of the young men even did the warm-up. So lovely to see his enthusiasm.
This Junior parkrun seemed to have lots of the really small children, as opposed to the tweens. Personally this is even more reason for the older ones to appreciate that Junior parkrun is not a race. It is for fun.
It was a lovely Junior parkrun and I particularly loved all the hi-fives everyone gave me. Very welcoming indeed.
We started our parkrun journey with Junior parkrun after reading about it on Sarah’s blog (MumofThreeWorld). You may also be interested in my previous post about Should children do parkrun?