This brilliant photo was taken on 28 December 2014- yes, ten years ago- and it’s the young runners on the start line at the first Pontypool Junior Parkrun.
Deb Clarke, the event director, told Cwmbran Life, that the weekly event is still going from “strength to strength.”
Tomorrow- Sunday 29 December- will see runners aged from 4 to 14 (you can take part until one day before your 15th birthday) celebrating its tenth birthday and completing the 2km course.
It’s free to take part and takes place in Pontypool Park. Parents/ carers can register their child on the parkrun website and this means they’ll get an official time, but as Deb said: “It’s not about first or last. It’s about children getting out in the fresh air on a Sunday morning.”
There are some amazing stats from the event. Over the years 1,569 children have taken part and crossed the finish line 11,926 times. The run can’t go ahead without volunteers and since 2014, 461 people have given up their time to help the run go smoothly and safely.
Deb said: “We get wet, we get cold. As long as it’s safe, we go ahead. It cheers me up on a Sunday morning. I see all the kids running and I’m set up for the day. I absolutely love it.”
Although ‘records’ aren’t kept, she told a lovely story about a young man who held the course ‘record’ for three years. He is now studying in America with an athletics scholarship!
Any questions about Pontypool Junior Parkrun?
To ask any questions about the Pontypool Junior Parkrun or if you want to volunteer please email [email protected] or visit their website.
One young person who regularly takes part said: “Pontypool Junior Parkrun is extremely fun, the volunteers are lovely and they don’t care how fast or slow you are! Also, you can make friends like I did. I made a best friend with Harri at Pontypool parkrun!
“We run together every week and sometimes we try to run fast to get a personal best and other times we run around and chat. It also keeps you really fit and now Harri and I do the 5km parkruns together on Saturday mornings and we can only do that because we started doing 2km at Pontypool. So that’s why I love doing it.”
Quotes from Pontypool Junior Parkrun volunteers
Here are some quotes from some of the awesome volunteers:
“I love volunteering because I meet new people and have made some great friends. My stepson also loves the junior park run and also made new friends. I’m not fussed what role I play but tail-walking is great fun, you get to chat to the children and encourage them to do well as do all our amazing volunteers. It’s not rocket science to do what we do, we do it because we love too and give the children the chance to grow and make new friends.”
“I enjoy volunteering as I like to encourage the children with their running. They are all really good. I like seeing the mums and dads joining in too and trying to keep up 
I don’t mind which role I do and am much better scanning now on my phone.”
“I enjoy seeing the youngsters out in the fresh air, come rain or shine! I’m happy doing any role. Volunteering on a Sunday morning takes only a short time out of my day and it’s lovely to chat to the other volunteers.”
“I love volunteering on Sunday mornings, whatever role I do, it’s wonderful seeing the children enjoying themselves, clapping them as they run, and hi-five, so much fun, would recommend anyone to try it, whatever age.”
“I can only second what’s already been said by my fellow volunteers, takes up a little time on a Sunday morning but feels no effort. It is a good experience and seeing the children with smiles on their faces week in, week out is amazing.”
“It’s roughly an hour of my time on a Sunday morning, and it sets me up for the day. I never leave without a smile on my face 
Seeing the youngsters up and out making use of our lovely park is something I’ll never grow tired of and seeing them return every week to join in, whether running or walking, is a real privilege.”