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As we approach our 4th anniversary at Strathclyde parkrun, it is time to reflect on how Strathclyde parkrun  has impacted on our lives. It is sometimes hard to imagine life before parkrun (B.p) mainly because it is such an integral part of life these days.  The biggest influence parkrun had on us was the change in focus about where we were going to live.  Suddenly, the focus was not so much on Location Dalkeith it was more Destination Harburn. Anyway just for a wee change, we thought we would answer the questions that appear on the parkrunner of the week feature on the parkrun newsletter, so here goes -

JammyJo

Number of runs : 139

Favourite Volunteer Role : Barcode Scanner - you get to interact with the runners, ask them how their run was - love it!

What do you do at parkruns :  My parkrun starts nice and early packing up the car with the gear, which usually constitutes either Moira or I asking the other if such and such has been placed in the car.  Moira drives to parkrun (I drive back), I get on the social networks and rally the parkrunners. On arrival at the park the smooth operation of erecting the funnel and scanning area swings into action.  Then it's either off for a warm-up or rallying the Dream Team (Volunteers).

How has parkrun changed your life : That's an easy one- met lots of incredible friends and feel part of something special.  Saturdays are now a time to run but more importantly to catch up with friends over a hot Chocolate.

What do you like about parkrun : That everyone contributes to parkrun, we are all in it together, we all show up run/jog/walk 5K and get the weekend off to a perfect start.

Most Memorable or Funniest parkrun moment: It has to be running along the beach at Portrush parkrun on holiday in Northern Ireland last year.  The welcome we got at Portrush was for me what parkrun is all about, you felt you were among family.

JammyMo

Number of runs : 115

Favourite Volunteer Role : Finish tokens eh no marshal eh maybe barcode scanning, actually maybe it's timer, no it's pacer or it could be run director. Oh heck I love them all!

What do you do at parkruns :  Have a great Saturday morning with great people

How has parkrun changed your life : It has made it richer, I have meet so many wonderful people and made some great friends into the bargain.

What do you like about parkrun : It's a run for runners volunteered by runners. It's there ever week and you can turn up at any parkrun and are made to feel like you belong there.

Most Memorable or Funniest parkrun moment: I agree with John, Portrush parkrun has to be up there, running along the beach is brilliant and the guys there were great. For me running my 50th parkrun was really special because it wasn't just me running my 50th then. There we were Pat Smith, Neil Robbins, Eamon Carr, Eddie Carr, Ross Goodman and myself all lined up on the start line getting there by careful coordination and timely volunteering to run our 50th parkrun together and that made it special. Oh and I baked a cake just for the occasion.

So there you have it after, almost 5 years on our parkrun journey and 4 years at Strathclyde parkrun -  we still love it more than ever - thank you parkrun (all one word all lowercase).