The original parkrun event was held at Bushy Park in London in October 2004.
Organised by Paul Sinton-Hewitt it was originally called ‘Bushy Park Time Trial’ and it had just 13 participants.
It now regularly attracts over a thousand participants, while a recent anniversary event there saw more than 6,000 runners take part with 136 volunteers helping to organise it.
Guernsey’s parkrun welcomes anything up to – and sometimes over – 200 runners per week, with around 20 volunteers coordinating the necessary roles.
These volunteers include Ms McDonnell who is still involved and often takes on volunteer duties around the course.
She shared her memories in this week’s parkrun report, thinking that the global 20th birthday provided a “nice opportunity” to look back at where it all started here.
Ms McDonnell also shared some “news behind the scenes” which shores up the future of Guernsey parkrun with additional administrative support as the local event continues to prove popular.
“I am pleased to welcome Kirsten Price on board as Co-Event Director and Nicola Sharp as Volunteer Coordinator,” wrote Ms McDonnell.
“Having done the majority of parkrun admin on my own since we started in April 2016, it will be brilliant to have additional support from two hugely enthusiastic parkrunners.
“Kirsten has been a regular volunteer since May 2016, having amassed 240 volunteering occasions, joining the Run Director team in December 2017. Nicola also started volunteering in May 2016 and has 226 volunteering credits to her name. She loves all things parkrun and certainly brings a smile to our faces when she and baby Henry join us each week.
“We also welcome a new parkrun ambassador, Nigel Herbert, who will provide us with ongoing support and use his experience to assist with any queries or concerns. We look forward to Nigel’s first visit to Guernsey parkrun next Spring.”
April 2016
There were 107 runners and walkers taking part in the first Guernsey parkrun, including parkrun Ambassadors; Andrew Lawrence (Gunnersbury) and Geoff Miles (Osterley).
Ms McDonnell said “both (were) instrumental in helping me and the team set up our event”.
The first Guernsey parkrun was made possible by “a great team of 17 volunteers, many of whom were colleagues of mine from Saffery’s, a few friends from my Gazelles running group, Jenny Murphy from the Guernsey Sports Commission and also Nigel Hurford from Intersport, who remained an enthusiastic supporter of Guernsey parkrun for many years to come”.
Ms McDonnell wrote that the Guernsey parkrun community remains “hugely appreciative of the funding grant provided by Generali Worldwide, to the practical support provided by The Guernsey Sports Commission through Sports Development Officer Jenny Murphy, to the staff and directors at Saffery Trust who provided both funding and ‘willing’ volunteers and to several parkrun friends without whom our first weeks would have been a real struggle”.
The first finishers during the inaugural Guernsey parkrun were visitor Clayton Barrett, and Nicola Smith (now Sharp).
Today
Many of the participants and volunteers from the earliest Guernsey parkrun days remain involved today.
Nicola Sharp has amassed 334 parkruns in total, including 289 at Guernsey, and has volunteered on 226 occasions.
Karl Brouard was named as a volunteer “who has been with us from week one” along with others singled out for praise including Mr Hurford, Simon and Mary Hollyer Hill, Lorna’s husband Tony, Joshua Savident, Kirsten Price, Sarah Smith, Soo Wellfair, Joanna Hollyer-Hill, Louis Bell, Mandy Langmead, and Nicki Watson.
Another ‘milestone’ participant and volunteer was named as Alex Allan who, at 92 years old, has volunteered for Guernsey Parkrun more than 100 times. He still shows up to walk the route frequently too.
The current crop of Run Directors are a “brilliant team” who Ms McDonnell says she is “very appreciative of”.
They are: Karl Brouard, Kirsten Price, Charlotte Dunsterville, Julie Twist, Graham Hall and Gashirai Masvikeni.
“Thank you all so much for all you do for our parkrun community,” wrote Ms McDonnell.
“From 13 runners and 5 volunteers 20 years ago, to a worldwide community of millions today, we wish you happy 20th birthday parkrun!
“A big thank you to all who have joined us at Guernsey parkrun in whatever capacity over the years. It is all of you who make our own parkrun community so special, and long may that continue,” she wrote.