Profile of a parkrunner: Meet Janie

Meet Janie Buckley who has been taking part in parkrun for more than a decade and has completed more than 150 parkruns.

When did you first complete a parkrun?

My first parkrun was in May 2014.

What is your favourite thing about parkrun?

The inclusivity - it’s for everyone with a focus on participation vs competition which is refreshing. Also its consistency —same time, same place every week without fail.

How does it feel to have reached the significant milestone of more than 150 parkruns?

It’s a nice feeling, especially as it has taken me a while to achieve since starting in 2014 as I never used to do parkrun every week in the initial few years, and I didn’t always worry about taking my barcode. This was because I always preferred to be cycling on Saturdays and only ran when the weather wasn’t good enough for cycling, but parkrun grew on me and I started cycling to and from parkruns to get the best of both.

What is your favourite parkrun memory?

It’s really hard to single out one. However, the ones that stand out are:

- Ones I’ve done while abroad, in Copenhagen and the US, or when travelling while living in the UK and Ireland.

- My old home parkrun at Mount Edgcumbe country park in Cornwall which required a cycle ride followed by a foot passenger ferry journey to get to it that made it a fun adventure each week. It also had amazing views across Plymouth Sound from the top of the steep hill.

- ⁠While running the Kilkenny parkrun, a few years ago, a poem about parkrun popped into my head:

"Loop, lap, out and back.

I’ve done all these at parkrun.

Sometimes I’ve suffered. More times it was fun.

In the wind, rain and baking sun.

Along the sea and in the trees.

Sometimes with achey knees.

Sometimes with PBs!"

- Finally and aside from these, the most consistently memorable thing about any parkrun is the cheerful, dedicated people you meet at each one.

What words best describe Mountlucas parkrun?

Welcoming, friendly, supportive, unique and fun. My home parkrun.

To find out more about Mountlucas parkrun see parkrun.ie/mountlucas