Our guest blogger Mammy Red Head talks Junior Parkrun Ballina, Mayo North
Parkrun is a country wide event that has taken off “running” at speed . . .
The event takes place every Saturday but the one I go to with Little Red Head and Mini Miss is Junior Parkrun, taking place on a Sunday morning at 9.30am. Junior Parkrun Ballina is a 2km run for 4-14 year olds, which takes place at the Athletic Track in Belleek every Sunday morning, ran, hail or snow, (within reason).
What I enjoy about this event is that if you are visiting an area you can join the Parkrun event nearest you. Just bring along your bar code and off you run. The organisers of Junior Parkrun Ballina are always well organised and run the event every week bang on time and without difficulty.
Little Red Head enjoys his morning run but Mini Miss drags her heals a little but as long as Mammy struggles on along side her she’s happy out to run/walk the 2km. The course takes in the running track, then you head out along the banks of the River Moy and then into Belleek woods, finishing up back at the athletic track. Parkrun promotes many things health, wellbeing, friendship, exercise, but for Little Red Head and Mini Miss it’s all about the time it took them to run the course. By the afternoon they are hounding me to check my emails where I get information on where Mini Miss and Little Red Head placed and if they beat their personal best. Personally I find Parkrun is self-motivating while we can see the entire table of participants my 5 & 7 year old are only concerned about their own time.
Ballina Junior Parkrun is definitely a go to when visiting Ballina, if you do visit and come to Junior Parkrun with your children come say hi to myself and my brood, you’ll spot us easily I’ll be the one struggling and panting behind my speedy Red Head and stealthy Mini Miss.
