There was good support for Tara Hipwood from her clubmates, both running and volunteering, at Leazes Park as she marked her 100th parkrun. Even the sun came out to help her celebrate! Also celebrating at Leazes was Shilpa Iyanna, as Tara’s guard of honour managed to carry her through to a course PB. I am guessing that Shilpa was one of the few runners to appreciate the very warm conditions!
There were some high turnouts at other parkruns too. The Town Moor recorded its highest number of runners post-pandemic (713), though there were only two Claremonters amongst them. Double that number helped to swell the field at Whitley Bay to over 500 runners, where the good conditions helped both Mark Anderson and Chris Jones to PBs.
As usual, there was a sprinkling of Sky Blues around the region. Catherine Young was pushing the baby and buggy around the North East’s newest parkrun – Fulwell Quarry in Sunderland. It got her seal of approval as a “great new trail route”.
Laurie Johnson was on the tourist trail in Chepstow, South Wales for the Severn Bridge parkrun. As the name implies, this is an out and back course over the Seven Bridge. It looks like a lovely route and a great experience – surely the only parkrun to take place on either side of the England-Wales border.
Cath Robson was the only other tourist this week. Usually more likely to volunteer than run, Cath tackled Pymme’s parkrun in North London, and had this to say of her experience: “Nearly three laps of an urban park with large trees, lake and litter. Sounds familiar? I took the opportunity for some ‘me time’ while down that there London on family visiting with a rare actual parkrun on this nice level course with a friendly team of volunteers. Probably not one of the classic events and I guess there’s plenty of ‘P’ parkruns but in the unlikely event that you’re visiting White Hart Lane or the North Middlesex Hospital, I recommend a visit. PS There was no actual Pimm’s available at the end which was disappointing.”
