Tullow park run marks its 400th event
The 400th park run in Tullow gets underway at Rathwood Photos: Paul Curran
TULLOW park run, which first started back in April 2017, recently marked its 400th event. Event director Myles Balfe (51), who has been part of the park run since it started, said the anniversary run had a good turnout, with about 120 people taking part.
The free weekly event is a 5km route that can be walked, strolled or run, and there is what is known as a ‘tail walker’ at each event â a person whose job is to come in behind the participants to ensure that everyone makes it over the line. So whether you’re running it in 20 or walking it in 45, no-one has to finish last!
“You get a good selection of people â first-timers, you get walkers, couch to 5km people and seasoned marathon runners, but they all stand on the start line together as the one community out in Tullow.
“And it’s nice that mammies and daddies can put the toddler in the buggy. You’d be surprised how quick some of the guys and girls actually kind of run around the course with them.”
What makes the Tullow park run special, says Myles, is the sense of community: “You might come for the exercise, but people tend to stay to meet others and have that sense of belonging.”
The event director was also keen to point out that the park run wouldn’t exist without all the many volunteers who give their time. “Approximately ten people a week volunteer their time out on the course as marshals, keeping an eye on people and to man the times and the barcode scanning and the tokens at the finish funnel.
“We’ve got an AED (automated external defibrillator) on site, which we hope we never have to use, but we also have lots of volunteers there to make sure that the event goes off safely.”
The run is always looking for fresh volunteers and Myles says you don’t have to be a professional runner or anything of the sort. “We’ve got jobs where you can stand in a gap as a marshal or use your phone to do timekeeping.”
