‘Now this is not the end’ - culmination of the Southwark Slam - Burgess junior parkrun #280 - 28/09/25

The sun was shining on Burgess Park the whole weekend.

Pulling on my Southwark Slam t-shirt, I headed out to Burgess junior parkrun for the final instalment of the 2025 Southwark Slam. 

Started back in February 2019, Burgess junior parkrun caters to the 4 to 14-year-olds, nurturing a joy for being in nature, friendships, and achievement in an inclusive, non-judgmental atmosphere. The enthusiasm and excitement from the children was palpable as they did their warm-up before getting ready to take on the 2k distance. The rectangular clockwise course goes along the great lawn and along the filled-in Surrey canal, which used to go through the park. 

This morning, there were a lot of familiar faces amongst the volunteers, many are regulars at Burgess parkrun and had been there yesterday for the awesome 13th birthday event. 764 participants and 42 volunteers had turned out, with a sprinkling of first-timers, returnees who have a warm place in their hearts for Burgess parkrun, and tourists from as far as New Zealand!

Gemma and Kristy returned to Burgess parkrun for the 13th anniversary!

Yesterday had been a wonderful celebration with the events table laden with both bananas and cake 🙂

Burgess parkrun is blessed to have many bakers in its ranks.

Burgess parkrun started back in September 2012. Over the years, attendees have moved and set up new parkruns or taken up Event and/or Run Director roles at other events. This includes Laura, who set up Amsterdam Bos in the Netherlands, Grit, who helped set up Hasenheide in Berlin (where I’ll be running next Saturday!), Sylvie, who set up Kennington junior parkrun and Heather who is now the Event Director at Burgess junior parkrun.  

Heather started her parkrun journey back in June 2023. Her running has flourished with her completing this year's Big London Half and her volunteering credentials now extending to wearing the Blue and White Hi-Viz of Event Director for Burgess junior parkrun. Heather spoke passionately about how junior parkruns provide wonderful opportunities for adults to meet, forge relationships, gain skills and support their community. 

Heather is the Event Director at Burgess junior parkrun and a regular runner at Burgess parkrun.

With the warm-up done, Heather counted us down, and then we were off, adrenaline and excitement and smiles aplenty. I was once again doing the role of tail walker, making sure ‘no one gets left behind’. 

I was very happy to be the last person to cross the line, marking the end of the parkrun for the day and the Southwark Slam for another year. It’s been such a rich and rewarding challenge, visiting different parts of the Borough, meeting Russ Cook (aka the hardest geezer), other tourists and friends at other parkruns.

Carol (a Burgess regular) meets Carol (visiting from Osterley parkrun)!

Doing the close-down of Burgess junior parkrun, I got talking to Saskia, who had been volunteering. Saskia is learning the ropes as a volunteer and, with funding secured and a core team assembled, plans to launch a Southwark junior parkrun soon! Saskia shared with me how parkrun is inviting schools across the UK to become a parkrun primary, which would involve them supporting young people in attending their local junior parkrun on weekends to promote their health and wellbeing. You can read more about the initiative and how to get involved by clicking here. 

I’m so pleased I decided to add the Southwark junior parkruns to this year’s Southwark Slam. Participation in the junior parkruns has been brilliant. Southwark is a very diverse Borough, and this is reflected in the differences between the events. Yet there’s a common thread of inclusivity and camaraderie at all of them, and always a warm welcome. As I walked home, the words of Winston Churchill rang in my ears; 

‘Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

A huge thank you to all the volunteers at every event. The shout-outs at the beginning were always appreciated. And a special shout-out to Charles, who completed the Southwark Slam with a personal best at each event; Well Done Charles!

Stay well and happy running, walking or volunteering. 

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You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book ‘One Small Step’ The Definitive Account of how a run become a Global Movement by clicking here