Bushy parkrun #1000

It was the 1000th parkrun at Bushy Park, the site of the original event that became parkrun, this morning. We thought it would be fun to go.

We booked a hotel room further away from the start than anticipated because someone underestimated the size of the park and didn’t check where the start of the course was. We ran to the start as a warm-up.

We got there early, but not before hordes had arrived. Then more hordes arrived. And more. In fact, they just kept coming.

Normally, they have around 1500 people, I was told by a regular (the 5k app fines and average of 1440 for the year to date). They predicted 5000 people would turn up today, to be guided by 125 volunteers. We might get 125 participants on a good day.

The start was crazy. The horde moved slowly at first, then sped up to a gentle trot. I sent Mr Pandammonium off by himself. We’d already arranged a meeting place for if we got separated.

Some people took a different trail, cutting off a corner; most followed the path we were already on. I asked someone which way it was; they said this way. I was on the right path.

I normally dislike running, but for a while, I embraced it because it was a special occasion. The horde around me were largely going at a comfortable pace for me, although I overtook a few people, and a few people overtook me.

I chatted to a few people as I ran; I like that because it takes my mind off the running. I told a couple of people who looked like they were flagging a bit that they were doing well. I know I appreciate a bit of support when I’m struggling.

We’d been told to run straight through the finish funnel, getting a token at the end, and to move away straight away. This would keep the hordes flowing. It was the first parkrun I’d been to with multiple funnel lanes.

We were all plodding merrily round when the end approached. People were standing around on the path. I was going to run past them till the volunteers told us that it was the queue for the finish funnel.

They told us there were 4700 people in front of us. Looking back, I couldn’t see the end of the queue of people behind us (see photo).

It took about 10–15 minutes to shuffle to the funnel. I don’t know if anyone timed us across it or not; I didn’t see anyone do that, and nor did the ladies I’d got talking to in the queue.

At some point, I texted Mr Pandammonium to see where he was. He’d been scanned, but they’d run out of tokens, so he’d been given a card printed with a (position) barcode on it. They ran out of this at some point, so they started writing numbers on people’s hands.

Over an hour after the ladies and I entered the funnel (see extra for a panoramic photo of the funnel), we were nearly at the front. One lady was ready to give up and go. I talked her out of it.

There were still loads of people in the funnel behind us, in all lanes, of which there were at least six. I heard mention of eight, but I’m not sure that’s true.

After another ten or so minutes, the volunteers told us to get our (personal) barcodes ready for scanning: the scanners would come down the funnel and scan us – but we’d have no position number. I have no idea how that will work, but it sped things up no end.

I emerged from the funnel and found Mr Pandammonium surprisingly easily – nowhere near where we’d originally arranged to meet, of course. There was no time for dithering; we had to hurry back to the hotel for an extended check-out time if noon; it was well past eleven by this time.

We made it, but the room keys didn’t work – back at reception, they said the check-out time had been extended, but they couldn’t change the time on the keys. The receptionist sorted that, and I asked if she could extend it a bit more so we could shower. She told us it would be fine.

What a difference to yesterday’s receptionist, who was adamant that we couldn’t extend beyond noon because ‘the ladies need to be in by twelve’.

Clean and shiny once again, we headed home. As yesterday, we had a smooth journey on public transport, with trains being perfectly timed for our arrival at the stations.

Back at home, we looked to see if there was any progress on the results processing. I would not want that job. We certainly weren’t expecting them any time soon. On Facebook, they said they estimated 6000 people had gone, and the results would be out on Monday. Probably.