It was a Claremont Road Runners volunteer takeover at Leazes Park today as the club helped celebrate the latest batch of Couch to 5K on their “graduation”. Unfortunately not all of the “trainees” could be there, but the 5 who were all made it safely to the end! This has been a tough Couch to 5K course as, on top of the usual dark, cold and windy winter nights, the group has been beset by injuries and illness. It is a great credit to them that they have stuck it out and reached this stage – let’s hope it is onwards and upwards now in their future running and fitness. The support received from all the volunteers was excellent and much appreciated. Thanks also to all members who have supported the group over the past 9 weeks. Special thanks go to Mungai Wairia for his great photos, both in the park and at the celebratory coffee and presentation in Central Beam afterwards. I think the next stage in their parkrun initiation will be a Mungai selfie!
Leazes wasn’t just about the C25K runners though – Dave Roberts continued his recent good form by recording a course PB. Well done.
There were good performances too across the Central Motorway on the Town Moor, where Sarah Kerr was 1st lady and Mark Anderson must have had his new, go-faster shoes on as he clocked up an impressive time and course PB. Heather Steel was also first female at Gateshead and there was a PB for the fast-improving Aoife Monaghan at Rising Sun.
There was a fair bit of tourism too, with Claremont Road Runners parkrunning from Edinburgh in the north to London and Swindon in the south, via North, West and South Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Shilpa Iyanna and Joyce Zhao ran in the very scenic Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. Despite Shilpa forgetting her barcode, they both enjoyed their trip and highly recommend it, with Joyce saying there was a beautiful view after the “looong hill”! Also in Scotland, and also continuing his fine form, was Laurie Johnson who came 1st at Lochend Woods in Dunbar.
Back south of the wall, there was more success for the Claremont ladies. Izzy Neatrour was 2nd female at another scenic and highly recommended venue – Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire; Niki Szlovak was also 2nd at a very muddy Oakwell Hall near Leeds and Holly Porter, who is also improving at a rate of knots, was 3rd whilst clocking up a PB at Market Bosworth Country Park in Lecicestershire.
