For the second year running the Summer Series will include the parkrun competition. The competition started on the 4th February and runs to the last weekend of the final summer series race, currently Saturday 21st October. (Final Summer Series race : 22nd October – Wirksworth Undulator).
The qualification rules are the same as last year however the points system will be different.
To qualify for one entry on the main summer series table that will count towards your 8 races (Mug) or 13 races (T-Shirt), you will need to run 4 different courses INCLUDING Lyme Park. The other courses available will be Bramhall, Wilmslow, Congleton, Burnage, Wythenshawe, Stretford and South Manchester.
Once you have completed 4 courses (including Lyme Park) the scoring system will be based on the number of courses you have finished and then, using your fastest times, the total running time of the courses you have completed. For example, those completing all 8 courses will score higher points than those with only 7 or 6 courses.
I will produce a report at the end of each month as I did last year so that everyone can keep a check on their own (and each other’s!) progress.
Last year’s competition proved very popular and many members really enjoyed visiting the different local venues. The courses available offer a great variety – faster flatter courses at Stretford, South Mcr and Congleton – mixtures of grass and trail at Wythenshawe – steps at Burnage – hills at Bramhall and Wilmslow and the pièce de résistance Lyme Park – simply the best Saturday morning workout you can get, hence its inclusion as the compulsory course for qualification.
So, unless the final summer series race date is changed, we have 38 Saturdays available to park run. If you are planning to take part in the parkrun competition this year, please also remember that we can only participate due to the volunteers that support each of these events. There are plenty of dates available to run so please have a go at marshalling too, thus ensuring the continued success of all the courses we all enjoy.
parkrun 2017 here we go!!
Elspeth
