Was that the perfect parkrun tourism trip? OK, so it started off by having to scrape the ice of the car, but, after that, it just got better and better. Blue skies and a touch of frost making the Northumberland countryside look at its beautiful best; a friendly greeting from the local volunteers organising the car parking; a scenic 2 lap course past fields of sheep and through short stretches of woodland, the only short muddy section probably made a bit easier by the early morning frost. Then, at the end of the run, two friendly alpacas to make friends with and an excellent breakfast at the Running Fox. Future trips certainly have a lot to live up to!
As to the run itself, sixteen of us were on the start line, all first timers at Kirkharle Courtyard so none of us really knew what to expect. It was probably a day to enjoy and take in the surroundings rather than racing for fast times, but nothing stops wor Lena at the moment. Her fastest ever parkrun saw her finish as first lady.
Elsewhere, there were good turnouts at Leazes and the Town Moor – Til Weber and Max Ratcliffe collecting Claremont’s only PB’s of the day at the former and latter respectively, and Sarah Kerr finishing as 3rd female at Town Moor.
Sarah Taylor made the trip south to Hamsterley Forest, and Alex Taylor went even further to Thorp Perrow in North Yorkshire. Way on down south, in London town, Lucy Keating took a turn around Fulham Palace.
