Staff Spotlight Melissa Parry

The Staff Spotlight this month is on December birthday girl and redcoat, Melissa Parry!
Mel is British. Very British. Her favorite food and drink selections include “a morning cuppa tea (not made in a microwave)” and “sticky toffee pudding! With custard.” However, Mel admits that “being in America has peaked [her] fancy in bbq food” and has made her a convert “to American football.” A longtime fan of the “England ladies football [soccer] team,” she now also follows the Washington Commanders. “Spending time exploring the states with my husband and children” has been one of the best parts of living overseas, says Mel. “We love nothing more than being outside and trying to see as much as we can before returning to England.”
During a typical week, you might find Mel keeping busy at home with her three children, in the Embassy working as a “British booze store manager,” or peddling coffee beans “at a farmers market – I’ve taken an interest in learning all about coffee!” she says. To appreciate the flavor, she keeps her coffee order simple—“Drip with a splash of oat milk.”
Melissa is also a trained “physio therapist,” although she is terrible at following doctor’s orders for rest when it comes to her own running injuries. She claims that—when injured—she pauses running in order to devote time to her “new sport of swimming. Maybe it’s time for a triathlon?” But in reality, Mel continues to run as much as her body will allow: “I LOVE running!” she says. “If I can’t run, I’m cranky.” Even while injured, Mel anticipates her next big run and registers for international marathon lotteries and her favorite U.S. event, the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler.
Because of this love for hitting the pavement, Mel was drawn to working for Bishop’s Events in Summer 2022 as “a way to get outside and meet new people who share a passion for running!” Mel quickly became an integral member of staff as the translator for Travis’s awful British accent and now attends 1-2 events each weekend, sometimes more if she needs a SAHM sanity break: “If you see me at 4 races bring me coffee, it’s never a good sign.” What she loves most about the job is that she has “met so many people and made some great friends which has been so lovely! Moving over here during Covid was rather lonely, these friends have become my villages.” 
Mel remembers the learning curve that comes with staffing a race: when she was a new employee, she lost a full water station on a bumpy trail. “It wasn’t funny at the time, but when I just started I was sent into the trails with a wagon and one of the big water jugs. The whole thing tipped over, so I had to make the call to get more water for my non existent water station. I can laugh now, but at the time I was far from laughing and very wet.” As she gained experience, Mel began to move around between timing, registration, the course, and admin work during the week. Still, she says the best part of any event is “seeing the runners finish – especially if they hit a PB or finish their first ever race. The sense of achievement is palpable…It’s so lovely seeing the positive faces of runners every weekend, despite whatever weather is thrown at us.” 
Have a chat with Mel at one of our future events if you’re a fan of horses or ABBA’s music! Before becoming a parent, Mel “used to have horses, every single spare hour would be spent with [them]” or singing songs from the Mamma Mia playlist: “if I had my chance again I’d love nothing more than to be in the musical!” 
Join the Bishop’s Events Dancing Queen at the finish line the next time you run with us!