With the easing of some recent lockdown restrictions, a few Littleport parkrunning buddies like the Parkrun run organisers James Lee and Amanda Murfitt have managed to get out and enjoy a few social distancing runs which included a coming together to celebrate the 2nd anniversary of their popular local parkrun on June 27th writes Cathy Gibb-de Swarte.
And on that day they also came across their running buddies Jo White, Lizzie Hyslop and Cathy Gibb-de Swarte who were running the virtual 5k Manea Gala Day Beat the Tractor race at the Littleport parkrun course down at Littleport Leisure.
The incentive to get out there was very important for these running enthusiasts, not only for their wellbeing, but also for their fitness too. They have continued to organise fun virtual 5k runs attracting many to join them and wear colourful fancy dress costumes which fits the various themed events. And already the trio are planning to hold a virtual 5k run every month to keep the momentum going.
They have also brought a lot of fun and laughter to these running events as they have all dressed up in bee and butterfly costumes for the virtual 5k Lone Bee and Butterfly Effect runs.
Doing it for charity, they pay to enter and receive medals for completion that are biodegradable and contain wildflower seeds – plus 2 trees are planted for every person’s distance that is completed virtually turning miles into trees.
Wendy Georgina Johnson who joined in with the Bee run in July has invited her Littleport running friends to join in with her personal run in memory of her husband John who passed from cancer last year. Not everyone will be able to make the venue at Wendy’s home village in Histon on Saturday 5th September, so there is a planned run being held at Littleport’s Leisure Centre to support Wendy’s special event.
Littleport’s parkrunners may not have been able to participate in the parkruns proper, but some of them get to meet up for the ‘virtual parkrun uk Big Quiz’ live on YouTube every Saturday at 9 am that has been presented during the lockdown that has proved a great way to keep in touch with everyone in the parkrun family – as well as adding a little touch of that competitiveness keeping them on their toes seeing who can get the most correct answers!
Littleport has also been put on the map with the Ely Standard weekly newspaper featuring the activities of some of Littleport’s parkrunners on its sports pages during the summer.