p is for parkrun: a journey from A-Z

Parkrun is a global phenomenon with a parkrun sub-culture of challenges, including the Alphabet Challenge. Eileen Jones, the author of How parkrun changed our lives, was close to completing her own alphabet when parkrun was forced to stop due to the pandemic. She eventually made it to Zuiderpark parkrun in The Netherlands, only to discover obsessives who were close to finishing their second, third, even seventh alphabets. This is her story of a journey from Alexandra Palace in North London to The Hague, which often involved musical theatre and sometimes drama. Each chapter leads with one featured parkrun and details of the other events beginning with that letter that Eileen has completed, 135 different ones. There are tales of record-breaking achievements beyond the confines of the stop-watch, such as the man who has done more parkruns than anyone else in the world, the popular and cheerful woman who is on her way to 100 different events, and the writer whose children's stories are set at a parkrun beginning with D. If you've done a parkrun, you'll love this book; if you haven't, this is a story that will surely inspire you to sign up and take part.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2023
Publisher: Gritstone Publishing

Parkrun, a free, weekly, 5k timed running and walking event, has become a global phenomenon, operating in 23 countries worldwide. Within the parkrun community, enthusiasts have created a parkrun sub-culture of challenges, particularly loved by those who can no longer improve on their personal best time week by week. One such challenge is the Alphabet Challenge, which involves participating in parkruns that begin with every letter of the alphabet, with a total of 25 letters in this instance. However, there is no parkrun anywhere in the world that begins with the letter X. Eileen Jones, the author of "How parkrun changed our lives" (Gritstone 2021), was close to completing her own alphabet when parkrun was forced to stop due to the pandemic. Eventually, she made it to Zuiderpark parkrun in the Netherlands, only to discover obsessives who were close to finishing their second, third, even seventh alphabets. This is her story, a personal memoir of a journey from Alexandra Palace in North London to The Hague, which often involved musical theatre and sometimes a little drama along the way. It is the story of the people she met, the powerfully cohesive force of the parkrun community, the dedicated, the eccentric, the enthusiastic runners, joggers, walkers, and volunteers whom she calls her parkrun family. Each chapter leads with one featured parkrun, followed by details of the other events beginning with that letter that Eileen has completed. Out of a tally of more than 325 events in all, many at her home parkrun, Fell Foot, in the Lake District, Eileen has completed 135 different ones. Beyond the confines of the stopwatch, there are tales of record-breaking achievements. One man has done more parkruns than anyone else in the world, even participating on crutches when injured. Another woman is on her way, way to 100 parkruns, with a cheerful and popular attitude that inspires others to join in the fun. Parkrun has become more than just a running and walking event; it has become a community that brings people together, celebrates achievements, and fosters a sense of belonging. Whether you are a seasoned runner or a beginner, parkrun offers a unique opportunity to connect with others, challenge yourself, and enjoy the beauty of nature while achieving your fitness goals.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 208 x 147 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913625108