AS 2016 draws to a close Barry Island parkrun has grown from its steady start back in May of last year.

The year started with a bang as a record attendance of 236 runners took to the course on New Year’s Day, the course record was broken in September and the average number of runners has increased throughout the year.

In 2016 more than 670 people have registered with parkrun and chosen Barry Island as their home event, more than 200 people have given up their time on a Saturday morning to volunteer and ensure the run goes ahead safely and almost 2,000 different runners have crossed the finish line at Barry Island.

Among those finishers this week was an unknown runner crossing the line first, parkrunners are issued with a barcode when registering and if this is not presented at the finish then the time is not recorded and the runner is listed as ‘unknown’

Second to complete the course this week was Jeff Cox of Les Croupiers RC in a time of 19:39 ahead of third place Robert Newman in 20:22.

Fourth to finish this week was the first of the ladies, Elin Carys Morgan of Cardiff University AC completing the 5km course in a new personal best time of 21:14, second of the ladies was Lauren Blake in 25:03, her first time at Barry Island and third Nia Hopkin in 27:07.

With other local events taking place on Saturday morning it was a relatively quiet event this week with only 59 runners taking part. This coming Saturday will have a completely different feel. As Christmas Eve falls on a Saturday this year it’s normal parkrun service with the usual 9am start.

A Christmas themed event this week with fancy dress for the runners and volunteers (optional). It will give everyone the chance to dig out that Santa hat or Santa suit. It could even be an opportunity for Father Christmas himself to enjoy a parkrun without looking out of place.

The final parkrun of 2016 takes place on New Year’s Eve at 9am with a bonus event taking place the following day.

New Year’s Day is the only time that runners can take part in up to two runs on the same day and have them count towards their total as events can vary their start times.

Barry Island parkrun will be starting at 10.30am on New Year’s Day so if runners feel up to the challenge they can run at Cardiff (Blackwier) at 9am and have plenty of time to get to Barry Island for the 10.30am start.

A coffee break to follow and then finish off the exercise packed morning with the annual New Year’s Day Swim at noon.

With all those extra people running and visiting Barry Island on New Year’s Day there will be a need for extra volunteers. There is a minimum of 17 volunteers needed each week to ensure all safety requirements are met.

This week Claire Connolly volunteered and became the 200th different helper of 2016. If you would like to help out and get involved with Barry Island parkrun you can get in touch via email at barryislandhelpers@parkrun.com.

You don’t have to be a runner to volunteer and you don’t have to have any experience. Barry Island parkrun is organised and run entirely by volunteers who give up their time each week to provide a free event for anyone to take part in regardless of ability.

All you have to do is register at parkrun.org.uk/register, print your barcode, turn up and run.