A parkrun is becoming an increasingly popular way to start Christmas Day. So it was again this year, with around 25 Claremont runners starting their day this way on the 25th. The diaspora that happens at this time of the year resulted in the parkruns being scattered around the UK. Members ran in Carlisle, Coventry, Gateshead, …

Approaching Christmas there were lots of fancy-dressed parkrunners and marshals on view.  At Leazes, the prize for best dressed went to Gill Milne!  Her magic wand seemed to have been working since Gill, and Paul Hughes, ran PBs there.  Congratulations to those two as well as Luke Woodend, who ran a PB at Jesmond Dene. …

This year’s North East Cross-Country Championships took place in the beautiful setting of the meadows opposite Alnwick Castle. It was a bright, cold afternoon with a strong wind being the main difficulty facing the runners – as there were, surprisingly, only a few short muddy patches. The course was an amended version of the one …

Turn out at local parkuns was comparatively low this week. Perhaps the cool weather, the proximity to Christmas or the North Eastern Cross Country Championships held in Alnwick later in the day affected turnout.  As usual many Claremont members volunteered at Leazes. Claremont runners were found at just three locations: Leazes, Newcastle and Whitley Bay. Congratulations …

There was a good turnout for the 2019 Claremont Christmas Party, held at The Old George and I think that a good time was had by all. The inspirational Joyce Archibold (to quote Paula Radcliffe) presented the Colin Archibold Trophy to Sarah Kerr, this year’s first lady in the Northumberland Coastal Run. Bill Milbourne then …

The weather was kinder and perhaps because of this there were lots of parkruns this week.  Many were running in Leazes park to celebrate Lucy’s 100th parkrun.  Congratulations to Lucy.  Also to Kris Axon for a PB and second place, despite being impeded by some of the slower runners. Blyth Links 21:55 Anthony Liddle Leazes …

Sunday 1 December 2019 Richard sends his report from the hills. A good turnout of Claremonters for this annual winter 10-mile fell race around the moors above Allendale. This year the run was anti-clockwise (it alternates yearly) so the steep ascent up the road was first up before hitting the moor. The route then rises …

The Blyth Sands, brilliantly organized by the very friendly Blyth Running Club, is a five mile race run entirely on Blyth beach and handicapped by gender and age. Sounds idyllic but remember, this is a beach in Northeast England in December, not some tropical island, so the weather is sure to be vile. Runners are …

Luke Woodend and Alice Vialard avoided the parkrun cancellations by going to Darlington to run in the Croft Circuit 5K. I’m sure it was equally cold down there, so well done to both! Position Runner Time 128 Luke Woodend 24:22 143 Alice Vialard 26:33

A cold clear night dropped temperatures in Newcastle to -4 C leading to cancellation of 6 of 9 parkruns in Tyne and Wear. Most Claremont runners or volunteers were at Leazes parkrun.  Leazes only went ahead with a slightly altered route avoiding the worst ice patches and adding 105 m to the course length.  Chris …