About me
Hi, I’m Cally, creator of Pedal to parkrun.
I aim to get the most out of life and can confidently say I have embraced the “Say Yes More” ethos!
I love outdoor adventure – particularly cycling, running, and hiking. I’m partial to a bit of type 2 fun! I also love to travel, both within the UK and further afield.
I’m a volunteer regional YesTribe leader for the East Midlands and I have a full-time job working in charity governance.
Originally from South Yorkshire, I now live in Nottingham with my husband, my teenage stepdaughter, and our dog.
My lifestyle and commitments mean that my activities often fall into the “micro-adventure” category. It’s amazing how much you can squeeze into a couple of days!
About Pedal to parkrun
The idea for Pedal to parkrun came to me when I was planning a cycling trip in Europe to bag the final couple of letters in my parkrun Alphabeteer challenge.
I’d driven to a few far-flung locations in England to tick off some of the more uncommon letters and to be honest, the experience wasn’t that great. I’d drive down on the Friday night after work, stay in an AirBnB, run the next morning, and then drive home straight after the run. Discovering the new parkrun courses was really enjoyable but it didn’t feel like a very sustainable thing to do, and the hours spent alone in the car weren’t much fun either.
After a bit of reflection and a realisation that I’m at my happiest when I have a sense of focus and a goal to work towards, Pedal to parkrun was born.
The idea is simple: cycle to parkruns. I started with a two-week tour around The Netherlands and Germany in 2022, and then since then my trips have been a bit smaller in scale but no less exciting. I love experiencing new places to ride and stay, meeting new people, and running at some fantastic parkrun courses along the way!
I soon started to realise that there were other people doing this too and I set up a Facebook Group called Pedal to Parkrun Community where people share their experiences and tips. I’ve also got a Community page here on the site now, which features guest blogs from fellow peddlers.
Read more about how it all started in Pedal to parkrun: origins