Latest news with #parkrun
BBC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Gates in Hull's East Park reopen after years
The reopening of the main gates to traffic at Hull's biggest park was only a temporary measure, the city council has gates at East Park were closed to vehicles in 2020 in response to the Covid outbreak. It had been hoped they would reopen this month following a series of improvements, including a new footpath and accessible parking from Hull City Council said the gates were opened over the weekend to meet demand for visitors and a parkrun, but had since been closed asked when they would reopen permanently, a council spokesperson did not give a date, but added: "Further information on the planned improvements at East Park will be issued in due course." In March last year, the council said vehicles would be given access to the park again following the long ban – despite more than 1,500 people signing a petition opposing the move amid concerns about safety and argued the decision would help people with restricted mobility to access the park, while the council said it would "ensure compliance with the Equality Act".In May, the council announced a series of works that would lead to the gates reopening by "mid-July".The decision to open them temporarily at the weekend was taken because the park's overflow car park was "in a poor condition" following heavy rain and additional traffic, the spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Here's Exactly How Many Minutes To Run Per Week For Better Sleep
Good news for walking-shy people like me: it turns out that 7,000 steps a day might be just as good for us as the often-recommended 10,000. Yep – the more 'realistic' figure was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing cancer, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline, mental health issues, physical function problems, falls, and all-cause mortality (phew). That's all well and good. But as someone who both has insomnia and loves to run, I have another question: how many minutes of running a week will get me to nod off better, if that's even one of its benefits to begin with? Here's how the sport affects your kip, as well as how many minutes some experts think it takes to help you 'sleepmaxx'. Why does running help you sleep? Dr Donald Grant, a GP and senior clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, shared that the hotter months might be one of the best times to try running for better sleep. 'During summer, it can be challenging to maintain a regular sleep routine, as the combination of elevated temperatures and extended daylight hours can often harm sleep quality,' he said. But runs, including parkruns (usually 5km long), can help, the doctor added. 'Parkruns are an excellent way to combat [poor sleep], as exercise can improve sleep by regulating the body's circadian rhythm, increasing physical fatigue and reducing cortisol levels, making it easier to fall and stay asleep.' Some research posits that feelings of exhaustion might be more affected by your body clock than the number of hours you've slept – that might be why stepping outside in morning light can be so beneficial to your slumber. Morning runs have been proven to improve sleep and psychological function among healthy adolescents, but exercise in general is fantastic for sleep duration and quality. How much running do I need to do per week for better sleep? A study published in BMJ journals found that people who stuck to a minimum of 600 metabolic equivalent minutes (MET) of physical activity a week – equivalent to 75 minutes of running, or 150 minutes of lower-intensity activity like walking, per Runner's World – were less likely to see 'the deleterious associations of poor sleep with mortality'. The researchers speculated that this may be because being active is key to 'maintaining a stable circadian rhythm and a healthy sleep pattern.' Meanwhile, Johns Hopkins Medicine wrote that those who performed at least 30 minutes a day of moderate aerobic activity, like zone 2 jogging or walking, slept better that same night. For what it's worth, the parkruns Dr Grant mentioned earlier take an average of 32 minutes to complete. Certainly much less punishing than I feared... Related... I Tried 'Jeffing' And My Running Pace Skyrocketed I Took My VO2 Max From 'Fair' To 'Excellent' With This Running Plan Keep Getting Running Injuries? The 'UHBE' Test Could Reveal Why
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Battery Park junior parkrun attracts 25 young runners to 188th event
NINE runners set new personal bests at the latest Battery Park junior parkrun. Twenty-five young runners and 15 volunteers participated in the 188th running of the event. (Image: Supplied) Rory, Maisie, and Freya joined the run for the first time. Drue, Faye, James, Rudi, Ivor, Evan, Noah, Skye, and Harris all achieved new personal bests (PBs). (Image: Supplied) Drue, a visiting runner, was the first to finish with a new PB of 8 minutes 2 seconds. James was the second boy to finish with a PB of 8 minutes 35 seconds, followed by Rudi, who also achieved a PB, completing the course in 9 minutes 13 seconds. (Image: Supplied) Faye was the first girl to finish with a new PB of 8 minutes 33 seconds, followed by Amber and Leah, finishing in 10 minutes 30 seconds and 10 minutes 59 seconds, respectively. The successful event was made possible by 15 volunteers, and more volunteers are needed for the coming weeks. (Image: Supplied) They are grateful to all the volunteers who helped, who include Aidan Canning, Gillian Clark, Kevin Clark, Lesley Clark, Graham Crawford, Lesley Dick, Tracey Howe, Bryan Lamb, Lorna Maclean, Erin Mceleny, Irene Mcintosh, Marjorie Morrison, Judy Ormond, Kirsty Ormond, Susanne Stetz. The organisers are looking for more volunteers, and anyone interested should email batteryparkjuniors@ for more information.
The Independent
18-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Dame Kelly Holmes on why summer is a great time to get fit and healthy, whatever your age
As the weather warms up and you can't hide under baggy jumpers any longer, now's the time to get fitter, healthier and leaner. And no matter what your fitness level, you may take inspiration from Olympic champion runner Dame Kelly Holmes, who still loves the challenge of keeping fit, despite retiring from the track many years ago. At the age of 55, Holmes still runs three times a week, as well as doing weight training, and she's urging others – whatever their age – to try to improve their fitness for the summer too. 'I keep fit for both my body to still do the things I want to do and for my mental health,' she says. 'I don't have an agenda with running as such – if I enter a half marathon, I'm doing it as a challenge to myself to keep moving. 'I don't want to not do it, I can't not do it – I have to do something,' she declares. 'I think it's a really positive thing for people to keep moving.' The former athlete, who won two gold medals in the 800m and 1500m at the 2004 Athens Olympics, is encouraging people of all ages to use any good summer weather as a motivation to up their fitness levels and generally look after themselves. She says: 'With the longer days, people are able to fit a lot more in, and good weather gives you that lifted spirit – you see more people walking, running, and cycling, and a lot of people, maybe like me, use that freedom of time to keep fitter. I think nice weather really helps – it just makes you feel good, doesn't it?' Holmes loves doing parkruns, and is an ambassador for nutritional supplements Solgar's partnership of The Great Run series, which includes last month's Great Manchester Run and the Great North Run in September. She was at the Manchester run, a 10k race and half marathon, which she was hoping to run in herself, but was unable to after straining her calf doing a parkrun. She says: 'I've done a lot of training from a very, very young age, and it's obviously going to have an impact on my body now, but equally with my age and being a woman, there's a lot of talk around the effects of menopause on your ligaments, tendons, etc, and that's what I'm finding at the moment. So it's about managing the body. 'It's important to me to lead by example, so I'll get injuries, but I'll always get them if I'm going to keep training, so I've got to manage them and limit them.' Despite her slight injury, Holmes still helped support some of the 35,000 runners in Manchester, and met Keely Hodgkinson and Ann Packer, who, with her, are the only British women to win 800m Olympic gold. She will also be at the Great North Run, and will share tips on training, race day preparation, and recovery. But she stresses that being fit and healthy isn't just about looking better and feeling physically fitter. 'Keeping moving and feeling good helps your self-esteem as well, and your confidence, general outlook on life and positivity,' she explains. 'And if all that starts going downhill, you don't feel you're healthy from body and mind and internally and externally, so all those things start to dwindle, which will obviously then affect your mental health. 'It's not just about the big win in the big race – it's also about the small everyday wins and those moments of self-care that keep us happy and healthy.' Holmes retired from competitive running 20 years ago, and she points out that her lifestyle these days is a long way from that of an elite athlete. 'I've been retired a long, long time,' she says. 'I'm definitely not in a 'normal' category, but my lifestyle is conducive to going out and enjoying myself and having meals etc. 'The fact is that if I want to keep strong, if I want to show up, if I still want to inspire people – I do – if I want to prove that it doesn't matter what age you are you can still push your body to a certain degree or achieve things, then I've got to start looking after myself.' As well as running and keeping fit generally, Holmes is careful with nutrition, saying: 'I've had a lifestyle where I'm in planes and trains and all over the world, and I grabbed something in the morning and went off for the day and I wasn't eating. And you forget that when you want to keep active, the priority for your body being strong and healthy is a combination of movement and what you put in your body.' She says supplements help get her nutritional balance right, and she also enjoys herbal drinks with ginger, lemon and mint. 'This year in particular I've definitely been more focused on looking at nutrition and trying to stop inflammation, because that's what I tend to get. I do think it's going to be an advantage to me to start thinking more about the health side of things, and holistically as well.' Holmes is keen to stress that no matter what your age, it's never too late to start looking after your body and getting fitter. 'I cannot tell you the amount of people that inspire me to keep going,' she says. 'Social media is a wonderful tool when it's used right, and I see 92-year-olds running fast 100 metres, or 60-year-old women doing 10 chin-ups. 'It's about people prioritising – looking at how they feel – are they energised? Are they lethargic? Are there things that can support that, like regular exercise, adequate sleep (I should listen to myself), doing things and entering something, and seeking support?' She adds: 'Our mind is stronger than we ever think it is, and we should give it credit and switch it to be on the positive side to get us through life. But equally, our body can do wonders – we just have to look after it a little bit more.'
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Travellers pitch up illegal encampment with up to 30 caravans on huge field next to Surrey's million pound homes
Around 30 caravans were set up in an illegal encampment next to Surrey's multi-million pound homes over the weekend. The group gained access to the grounds of Stoke Park, Guildford, after a groundsman reportedly left the access gate open. Their presence sparked fury among local residents after various scheduled events were forced to cancel over the weekend, including the local parkrun. Guildford parkrun organisers said they could 'not safely hold the event' due to the risk of moving vehicles. They told runners: 'We are sorry to say that Guildford parkrun is cancelled this Saturday 14th June due to an unauthorised encampment in the park, as we cannot safely hold the event if there is a risk of vehicle movements. 'We are taking the decision now on the advice of the council, as it is expected that the encampment will not have moved on by the weekend. This is to give you a chance to make other plans.' Another junior run was forced to cancel their event, to the disappointment of local residents. Posted on a community Facebook page, one resident said the travellers had made the park a 'nightmare' and warned visitors to 'be on your guard'. He wrote: 'Some of the travellers in Stoke Park are a nightmare; a few teens from the camp are roaming the grounds robbing people, and older ones are driving around the field at speed. Some are even leaving human faeces under the trees. 'This evening a group of them came into the skatepark, causing grief, then they stole a bike. The police never get involved, and the skaters will only take so much before it gets nasty; And when that happens the older travelers might kick off! 'If [you're] thinking of visiting Stoke Park, be on your guard.' MailOnline has not been able to independently verify the claims. Surrey Police were contacted for comment. Guildford Borough Council said: 'There was a recent unauthorised encampment in Stoke Park, but this has now moved on.' It is believed the group were out of the area by Sunday. Over the past two months, many groups of travellers have been seizing secluded plots of countryside to turn them into vast caravan parks. It has affected villages and towns in Buckinghamshire, West Sussex, Nottinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Gloucester, Devon, Worcestershire, Cheshire and in Hampshire's New Forest, MailOnline has found. And a new map lays bare the scale of the situation. Furious MPs have lambasted the travellers' tactics, which they say makes a 'mockery' of the building development rules millions of law-abiding Britons are forced to abide by. However, those breaching the rules have insisted they are doing it because of the nationwide glut of official sites, and the 'stigma' nomadic residents in the traveller and gypsy communities face staying at the road side. In the space of a few weeks, at least nine 'illegal' sites have appeared across the UK - all seemingly using a 'carbon copy' modus operandi. It's seen those behind the builds carrying out 'military-style' operations to rapidly construct new traveller developments before officials can stop them, transforming rural plots of field and grassland into sprawling, concreted caravan parks.
