Keep on running! Youngsters and their families celebrate ten years of parkruns in Wednesfield
Youngsters and their families put their best foot forward as usual on a Sunday morning in Wednesfield - but this weekend's event was a bit special.
The Wednesfield junior parkrun officially celebrated 10 years of weekly events for four to 14-year-olds being held over a 2km circuit at the King George V Playing Fields.
And come rain or shine, one of the founders and co-event director Martha Cummings is up early every Sunday to check the course is safe and welcome runners, joggers and walkers to the park and help send them on there way.
It is a course Martha knows very well, having established it in 2015 with friend Liz Lister when both were members of Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club.
Martha is one of a team of volunteers who set up, manage and marshal the route, supporting the participants around the course until everyone has finished.
And with it being aimed at younger people, very often their parents or grandparents and siblings take part - around 40 registered runners took part on Sunday supported by family members.
Martha, who sent over 40 years working for Wolverhampton City Council said: "Every week come rain or shine the event goes ahead if it is safe to do so and it has gone from strength to strength and continues to be popular every weekend.
"The actual 10th anniversary was last weekend but with a number of people away in the holiday period it was decided the celebration would be held this weekend.
"It has gone by in a flash since I started it along with the lovely Liz who was so instrumental in it as well - there is so much energy ten years on in park runs, they are as popular as ever.
"I love helping to organise it every week but wouldn't be able to do it without my colleague Rob Carrington and the team of volunteers who turn out to make sure the course is safe and things run smoothly so to speak.
"They include people who work full time, those who work part time, students, all walks of life but who give up their time on a Sunday morning and we couldn't do it without them
"There is the Saturday morning park run in East Park and another one but that is more for adults - the intention with this one has always been to let the youngsters take part, whether that be running or walking or both, and most of all to have fun whilst being active. They seem to love it by the numbers who keep coming back
All the volunteers are mentioned each week on the website, along with the names of runners and their times. There is also full information for anyone who wants to join in the park run.
