This week 375 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 57 were first timers and 68 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 40 different clubs took part.
Last week’s full results and a complete event history can be found on the Albert parkrun, Melbourne Results Page.
The female record is held by Sinead DIVER who recorded a time of 16:14 on 11th February 2017 (event number 273).
The male record is held by Luke MATHEWS who recorded a time of 14:39 on 25th December 2018 (event number 370).
The Age Grade course record is held by Lavinia PETRIE who recorded 102.80% (22:01) on 7th February 2015 (event number 167).
Albert parkrun, Melbourne started on 19th November 2011. Since then 25,944 participants have completed 122,040 parkruns covering a total distance of 610,200 km, including 18,521 new Personal Bests. A total of 1,625 individuals have volunteered 7,770 times.
Volunteers:
The event was made possible by 32 volunteers:
Scott WATKINS • Joanne WATKINS • Alexandra MERRETT • Chris LONG • Ramana THIRUMOORTHY • Kellie HARMER • Catherine BEARSLEY • Monica WONG • Felix HARVEY • Scott VANCE • Erica AULD • Fiona YOUNG • Allan CHITTY • Daniel ISCHIA • Ruth BYRNE • Sarah MIKOLAS • Megan MANDER • Sophie ELSWORTH • Jennifer O'KANE • Lily AJAIMI • Joshua SEE • Jacqueline SHIEL • Ismail QESHTA • Shenelle PIMM • Sergio QUINTERO • Elsie HOWE • Tim RYAN • Amanda ALIZZI • Taylar REGISTRO • Carly SMITH • Madeleine BUCHNER • Daniel CLOHESY
Volunteering Opportunities in Coming Weeks
To make parkrun happen at Albert Melbourne, around 25 volunteers are required each week in a variety of essential roles.
Please consider placing your name on the Volunteer Roster for the coming week or one of the weeks ahead. No qualifications are required - we provide simple, clear instructions on how to perform your role. Volunteering is fun and a great way to meet new people.
There are two ways to add your name to the Volunteer Roster:
• Place your name on the volunteers’ clipboard at parkrun; or
• E-mail the date you can help and any preference for a volunteer role to albertmelbourne@parkrun.com
At Albert Melbourne, volunteers are always welcome whether they are regulars to the venue or visitors from overseas or interstate.
To remove your name from the volunteer roster, e-mail your non-attendance to albertmelbourne@parkrun.com or message the Run Director for that event
News
Jonny Earl’s finishing time of 16.13 was the fastest time at our event this year. Well done.
Milestones
A reminder that if you have a story to share, please let us know.
Amazingly there were no official milestones this week so we’ll note some arbitrary 200s. Both Gabriele Suder and John Andrew reached their 200th run while Scott Watkins notched up his 200th Saturday of volunteering at Albert Melbourne parkrun. Congratulations.
Staying COVID-19 Safe
For contact tracing purposes every Victorian parkrun will display a unique QR code each Saturday morning, at various locations at the event. The QR code will also be available on each event’s social media channels and website so you can check in before leaving home, in your car, at or after the event. We ask that all volunteers and participants check in each week. The Department knows that parkrun operates about 8-9 am on Saturday, so it is OK for you to check-in before or after the event. You do not need to bring a phone to parkrun.
As the COVID-19 Framework guidelines apply to all events in Victoria, it is important that the parkrun community are aware of the implications.
We'd also ask all participants to review the codes below for runners, walkers and volunteers. The most important part of these codes is that if you are unwell, please stay at home, do not attend parkrun.
If you are new to parkrun, welcome. We are a free, community wellbeing event. We are not a race. We welcome everyone. After a year when we had to stay in our homes and avoid connections we hope that parkrun offers a safe way for our community so start coming together again.
Our implementation of the code at Albert Melbourne parkrun will include the following:
* We will conduct a first-timer briefing at the usual meeting place (Coot Picnic area) at 7.45am.
* We will not be providing a key bucket or bringing our selfie frame. Albert, the stuffed swan, will stay home for a while. We have committed to sanitising and cleaning all shared equipment, so we need to keep things to a minimum.
* We will conduct a short, main briefing at the normal start line (Palms Lawn). This will contain safety information only and we urge all participants to be present and attentive.
* The main briefing will be delivered by a number of people in parallel to help people spread out.
* We will not be celebrating milestones, visitors or making any other announcements during the briefing. This is to minimise the time that people are in close contact. We know these are important parts of our community and will do our best to acknowledge these on social media and in our run report.
* We will be expanding the start area and encouraging people to spread out. We will also be actively suggesting that people position themselves by starting time. This may mean that you take a few extra seconds to cross the start line.
* During the event it is understood that people may come in close proximity to others for short periods of time. This is OK. Please respect others, be kind and please, no spitting or high-fiving.
* At the finish line we will be significantly expanding our finish funnels to provide space for participants to stay apart.
* We will be using our double funnel. For those who don't remember, your time is recorded when you pass between the flags. After that, you need to stay in order and move along the funnel to collect your finish token. It is really important that people move steadily along that line to enable a steady flow of people.
* Most importantly, we still want parkrun to be a fun, happy environment.
* Finally, all of these additional measures will require extra volunteers. Volunteering is a great way to meet people and feel part of the event. All roles are easy and come with fun training. Please let us know if you are interested.
The parkrun COVID framework is here:
https://volunteer.parkrun.com/.../open-with-covid-19...
All of this information, including the QR code, is on the news section of our website:
https://www.parkrun.com.au/.../01/11/restarting-parkrun/
Illness and Injury
There are always some parkrunners who cannot participate due to illness or injury to themselves or a loved one. Best wishes to you. We look forward to seeing you participating in parkrun again when you are able. As you recover from illness or injury, please be cautious in selecting when and how fast you attempt to participate. Be guided by your medical advisers. No-one wants re-injury or the need for medical assistance at a parkrun.
Photos
Check out all the photos of the Albert Melbourne parkrun Facebook page.
Registration, Barcodes and Finishing Tokens
You obtain a personal barcode upon registration for parkrun. If you are not registered for parkrun, we strongly recommend that you do register and print off your barcode. The link to registration can be found on our Home page.
Volunteer timekeepers record your time when you finish between the two tall parkrun flags. After you finish, stay in order through the finish funnel and will be given a finish token. You then take that and your personal barcode to the volunteer scanners on the other side of the BBQ shed.
After the barcode and finish token are scanned, always hand in the plastic finishing token. If you forget your barcode or are not registered and don't have a barcode, you MUST still hand in the finish token !!
Volunteers have no authority to record a time from a mobile phone or computer screen. And they have no authority to record a time without a valid barcode.
For a more detailed guide on how parkrun works check out "How parkrun works"
Barcodes can be validly scanned from one of:
* paper copies printed from your parkrun registration;
* laminated barcode;
* durable plastic key tag or elastomeric wristband - order from Bentlogic (Bentlogic weblink)
Safety is a primary concern for everybody
For your safety and the safety of others:
• Self-seed at the start of the event, faster runners towards the front.
• KEEP TO THE LEFT on the path around the lake;
• GIVE WAY AND BE COURTEOUS TO ONCOMING PEDESTRIANS, RUNNERS, ROWERS AND OTHER PARK USERS;
• Take particular care around Albert Park lake's famous swans, their young chicks and all birdlife.
• If running with ONE dog on a SHORT lead, make sure that your dog or the dog's lead do not touch or tangle other other runners, walkers, cyclists, park users and swans. Parks Victoria regulations stipulate that near the lake, dogs MUST be on a lead at all times.
• If running or walking with a baby pusher, you are solely responsible for making sure that the pusher does not touch other parkrunners. A child in a pusher cannot have their time recorded.
• Running or walking with both a dog AND a pusher is NOT allowed.
Post-run coffee / breakfast:
After parkrun you'll generally find some people at all of these venues:
Ginger and White (342 Clarendon St, South Melbourne)
James (323 Clarendon St, South Melbourne)
Carousel Cafe (beside the lake, close to the 1km mark)
Boatshed (beside the lake, close to the 4km mark)
Jack the Geezer (99 Canterbury Rd, Middle Park)
Please come and join us!
Parking
• Free parking in Canterbury Road, Albert Road, Clarendon St and Moray St (but read parking signs carefully).
• Car park adjacent to lake: flat fee of $5.40, payable by credit card.
Albert Melbourne parkrun on Social Media
* Facebook page: Albert Melbourne parkrun
* Twitter: @albertparkrunau
* Instagram: @albertmelbourneparkrun
Written by Scott Watkins
Published by Scott Watkins