Day 16 - Someone who inspires me.

One of my lovely lovely students, Mary says she is my inspiration. Ellie (another lovely student - who was straightening her hair at the time) says 'Your students are your inspiration.'
I'm not disputing this, actually, but I've already done a post about the wonders of my job, and this post is all about parkrun!

By Friday morning, I'm generally really struggling. Getting out of bed is the equivalent of climbing Everest, and all I want to do is curl up somewhere warm and dark, preferably with chocolate. At this point, everyone else is saying 'ah well, lie in tomorrow' - and I'm looking forward to another early morning - same time as normal - at Warlingham, to set up for parkrun.

Strangely, I don't struggle to get up on a Saturday (at least, not as much as usual!) and when I get into the car, I'm genuinely looking forward to the morning ahead. I've turned up at Riddlesdown with streaming colds, head aches, stomach cramps, the works, and still, I've really enjoyed it - rain, sun, fog...  it's great. When things go wrong - technical stuff, practical stuff, mud-based stuff - whatever! - it's not a trauma, it's a challenge, and it gets solved by team work. The Riddlesdown parkrun team are amazing. The volunteers, who are so willing, so able, and so encouraging; The runners, who put so much effort into the process, running through pain, pushing themselves to do better and doing it with enthusiasm.

And so now we come to the inspirational bit.

I am inspired by every single man woman child (and dog) who is involved with Riddlesdown parkrun. The eagerness to help, the enthusiasm for the event, the feeling of comradeship and sense of belonging that they engender. The laughter, the generosity, the support and the effort - the sense of having achieved something together. Watching pale faces turn pink, seeing the breathing getting harder - blood sweat and tears (and occasionally other bodily fluids) spent in the name of parkrun. Every week, a different combination of volunteers swing into action, and everything just happens... we've had to carry the cart back when the wheel came off, rake piles of grass of of 2km of course before 9am, run through thick fog with zero visability, and all of these things have been accomplished without complaint, with smiles, and above all, through team work.

Before the event, during the event, sorting the kit, at the pub afterwards - these guys remind me that life is worth living. As individuals they have become friends, and I enjoy their company. As athlete they show me that it  is all about the taking part. And as volunteers they prove that anything is possible.

Truly inspirational ...The Riddledown parkrun (dare I say it) family. Thank you all.

(photos will be added shortly!)