If you go down to the woods today… you’ll find a swarm of Claremont Road Runners. 21 of them in fact, making up over 20% of the 90 finishers at the slightly undulating Chopwell Wood (though a couple of them are missing from the results due to not scanning for various reasons).
We were out in force for our monthly club tourism, with several causes for celebration. Sarah Kerr hit her 100th parkrun milestone, and marked it by running round with daughter Charlotte, resplendent in their newly acquired club tops. Michael Teasdale’s milestone was numerically lower, but as it had taken him 38 years to reach it, we’ll let you decide which took the most commitment, and wish him a very happy birthday!
Harry Mawdsley racked up yet another ‘parkwin’ (not sure if he’s trademarked this yet), and Lena Lou continued to send personal records tumbling, beating her course PB by over 7 and a half minutes, while Sarah Williamson and Tara Hipwood took 1st and 3rd respectively on the ladies podium. Breakfast followed at the charming Beat ‘n’ Track cafe, delightfully soundtracked by a plethora of 80’s hits. Up next month in parkrun tourism, a cross-country preview at The Pastures in Alnwick.
In other local news, Catherine Young also ascended the podium as per, finishing second lady at Fulwell Quarry. Alex Taylor ran an impressive course PB in Saltwell Park, and Olga Smith beat her overall parkrun PB at Town Moor. After his recent injury setback, it was great to see Peter Noble having an easy shake-out at Leazes.
To the tourists that went a bit further than just south of the Tyne. The Smiths dipped all the way down to West Sussex, taking in Ilfield Mill Pond near Crawley. Luke Woodend was closer to home for his fix, checking out Sixfields Upton in a Northamptonshire country park, and Chris Jones became the latest Claremonter to venture west to the bucolic Talkin Tarn.
After earlier talk of milestones, possibly the most impressive should be saved for last. Club legend Joyce Archibold turned 90 years old on Friday, and continued to prove that age is just a number, returning to Great Dunmow parkrun to both earn a course PB, and register an age grade of 101.32%, the third-highest of four runs where she has eclipsed the 100% mark! Keep showing us the way, Joyce.
