Wilson number one

It was an absolute privilege to be tailwalking at the newest parkrun in Essex, Markshall Estate, which had event number one this week.

Large attendance at inaugural events isn't desirable for teams that are tweaking their set up and the publicity is generally low key. I was timekeeping at a test event last week and am pleased that today went equally smoothly, with 210 of us completing a fabulous 5k which is mostly on the paths around the arboretum with a small, very uneven section on grass at the finish.

I was overtaken by a late arrival about 5 minutes in. The buggy pushing, dog walking couple are regulars at my home event and are shortly moving very near to this new one. The small person who runs, walks and rides in the buggy will be 4 in just over a weeks time and get her own barcode. I actually tail walked with her and her mum the week before she was born.

I mostly walked and chatted with Dan in the picture who has completed quite a few parkruns, including one when he ran in actual chain mail (he participates in re enactments and role play) He has been struggling with motivation to get to parkrun or back running lately. I hope tomsew him in costume one day.

The post run cafe arrangements are also excellent. I will be back.

In the evening we ate at a local Italian with good friends. It was a lovely evening until a large group of women arrived and their chatter made it impossible for us to even hear each other. Terrible acoustics.