We headed to Barnstaple Juniors parkrun as it was the closest one to where we were staying in Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks. This time I tried Finish tokens as well as warm-up. With my husband also doing barcode scanning. You can read my previous post about Junior parkrun.
Rock Park, New Rd, Barnstaple, North Devon, EX32 9AQ
Facilities at Barnstaple Juniors parkrun
- Free parking
- also accessible by bus or train
- Toilets
- Play area
- Outdoor gym
- Basketball hoop
- Refreshments kiosk
- Football pitches
The Course
One anti clockwise lap around the playground followed by two anti-clockwise laps of the outer perimeter of the monument section of the park. Starting and finishing on grass – but tarmac around the park.
Described as mostly flat with small undulating slopes. Personally I thought it was an impressive slope they had to run up!
Note if coming with very small children there is open water not far from the course. It is far enough away not to worry about falling in but just to be mindful if you have a runner.
My Experience of Barnstaple Juniors parkrun
Of course another lovely, friendly parkrun junior which I would recommend to both volunteers and children. In fact it was funny to meet someone who knows the Admin from the West Midlands parkrun group. More and more someone knows someone else I know from the parkrun community wherever we end up!
Warm up Leader
For my warm-up I did it in front of the start line but at the back. So the children (and their parents) were on the grass and I was on the tarmac so they could just turn around and run.
Thank you to the children who joined me at the front to help do it. Stupidly I had forgotten an extra skort and my one from Woolacombe Dunes parkrun the day before was soaked! My shorts are too big around the waist and keep falling down! Therefore, you can imagine how appreciative I was of their help!
Once again the music was enjoyed and indeed a man came up and thanked me, saying it was really good.
Finish Tokens
It was my first time doing finish tokens in a long time and I had never done it at juniors before. Absolutely loved being able to see the children finishing. Plus I do like to encourage the finish.
So many polite children with lots of thank yous. Even first finisher thanked me, not even remotely out of breath, despite his new PB of 7:34!
Different Numbers
Sometimes you have to just trust the volunteers know what they are doing. Barnstaple Juniors have to start their numbers at 101. Obviously this is sorted into the correct finish positions. Luckily only one boy seemed concerned by his finishing number!
Stay in Order
Quite hard to get the tokens off quickly enough but was worried if I took them off before needed I might mess up the order or drop them. This is how I discovered just how important it is for people to stay in finish position in the funnel.
One lad did go in front of a girl (in the finish funnel) and had to ask who was first – reminding them all to stay in order.
Barcode Scanning
My husband is getting to really like this role I feel. This time he had a little bucket. He likes how he can congratulate them and that they seem to like going to him to be scanned.
Barnstaple Juniors parkrun Results
A total of 82 children completed Barnstaple Juniors parkrun between the times of 7:34-18:41
- 67 sub 15
- 47 sub 12
- 27 sub 10
- 11 sub 9
- 1 sub 8
The fastest girl JW10 8:24 (PB) was also highest female age grade 73.53% (6th place). However, the highest age grade went to JM10 73.57% in 8:28 (7th place).
All 8 first timers were new to parkrun.
Read about my volunteering at Junior parkrun
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?