The imminent coronation of King Charles III saw parkruns across the country tinged with displays of patriotism today, none more striking than Cath Robson, tailwalking at Leazes bedecked in Union flags.
We had a few parkrunners ‘touring’ on home turf. Alex Harding was back in Sheffield, running his fastest time in over a year at Concord. Mark Anderson tried out East Park in Wolverhampton, notching both another speedy time and 2nd place, and David Lydall was down in Poole at a muddy Upton House.
Elsewhere, Rose Hawkswood revisited Warwick Racecourse, bettering her previous time for a course PB. Cate Walker continued her enthusiastic pursuit of the alphabet challenge, choosing University Parks in Oxford.
Closer to home, Luke Woodend enjoyed Darlington South Park, saying “highly recommended. Three laps of a beautiful landscaped park”, while Clare McKitterick tailwalked at the appropriately regal ‘Jubilee’. Nikki Szlovák put in a reliably fast effort for 3rd lady at Riverside.
Back in Newcastle, Izzy Neatrour brought her mum along to Town Moor to help celebrate her 100th parkrun in style, walking away with 2nd lady and a course PB! I planned to try and stay with the 20 minute pacer and see what happened, but realised by about halfway that I wasn’t going to be able to keep up. Happy enough with a big course PB of my own. Mungai Wairia also informed us beforehand that he was only 3 runs away from 300 parkruns just at Town Moor, a monumental achievement.
Over at a ‘steamy’ Jesmond Dene, the age-defying Ken McCormick proclaimed himself “still king of the over-70’s at Jesmond parkrun!” Royalty we can definitely get behind, long may his reign continue.
