The rain held off on Saturday as 33 club runners ran at 12 parkrun events.
Our Travelling Tourists – the Johnstone’s; both went – not to Wales as I originally thought but – first timed at Skem! Another new one for Oliver! Sharon, leading lady, motored round fast to be second person to finish! Oliver took it easy and added another one to his growing list of parkruns – This made it number 45 I think.
Another first timer – RichardHa was at Wythenshawe and put in a really quick time. No doubt the XC run last Saturday helped prepare the legs for the soft fields. Huma, as usual was at Stretford, after her XC run last week ran her fastest time since June.
At Congleton, PeterW ran his third ever parkrun, finishing almost halfway up amongst nearly 260 runners. With his fastest parkrun time of 27:49 and an AG of 79.63%!! Which put him 4th on the AG table. Brilliant. The form he is in at the moment.
TimB joined the usual club locals at Bramhall. BarryA romped home third finisher, Tim a little behind. PaulN back from his Italian racing exploits had another quick time and a bigger than normal gap ahead of PaulG. Janine our only Lady runner there not too far behind.
Young Dunkley continues his fine form at the Palace finishing 11th out of some three hundred runners. At Macclesfield, Malcolm put in his usual fast, strong run to be second finisher. I noticed ex-club member Sarah, perhaps inspired by her run with the Lakeland Ladies last week, first timed, with a time quicker than last weeks by over a minute.
Returning after an absence of 13 months – Di McVey shot round Burnage and was 6th, first lady home with an impressive 20:18! Great to see her back. Returning to Cheltenham after a similar absence RichardHi PB’d. That was run 99 for him. I wonder where his 100th will be.
A host of runners turned out at Sale Water! The Ladies showed the men how to do it. Both Laura and Jan PB’d by 5 and 27 seconds respectively. Team ANYOSB (Any Old Shirt preferably Black) faired differently: AlanT, chasing Jan all the way, knocked 40 seconds off his 2019 time; JohnP 8 seconds – but IanS and Roy failed to improve on theirs. I think the pacing laser line in front of them wasn’t working this week! ChrisC – though running one of his fastest times in ages – still can’t improve on his New Years Day time. He needs 6 more parkruns for his 250th. RobJ, being a gentleman, paced Frankie round.
At Wilmslow, a similar number of club runners ran. SamB, second home, led the WRC Peda-ton home: Jim [3], Andrew [4], TrevorM [7] and MikeH [9th] followed. Andrew’s time continually improves – this being his fastest since February. Trevor with his fastest time since August and an AG of 81.48% led the AG table; Mike, Jim and Andrew were 4th, 5th and 6th; DiB 9th. Speaking of which, Di enjoyed her fastest time for nearly two and a half years and her best AG of 74.11%. Gareth running on one of the few occasions he gets to run a parkrun, ran his fastest time this year by 15 seconds. TrevorF, returning to running after his long layoff ran nearly 5 minutes faster than his last parkrun(August). GrahamD a little behind – though he may have been pacing!
At Woodbank I attempted to tackle hills! Turning up, 10 years to the date I first parkran here, I found the car park I used to use was full of puddles and a lot of people in yellow jackets. My concern that it was cancelled was alleviated after enquiring; the course had changed and this here was now the finish. This would be the 3rd different route at this event since I first ran. I had planned on the original start – with toilets and leaving my jacket! That no longer was an option! I made my way to the start and was beginning to doubt whether a sub30 dream time was achievable. Bit with Music and pacing to guide me I’d give it a go. Would 2 weeks rest be benefit or a hindrance? I Tuned watch to pair my headset and ping! Battery Low message. Well that puts paid to any music or pacing. Headset now dangling round neck as I have no time to return it the car I abandon the dream time. Stockport Run Director had an Interesting approach to race direction. A few whistles to be heard and then shouts of ‘Anyone doing anything special?’ ‘Any one from afar? ok we’ll be off then’. Whereas I was hoping he’d describe how the course would pan out. No. We are getting ready and a lot of runners suddenly turn and face me! Oh! We are going in the opposite direction to what I’d thought! So work my way back a bit. We set off and the first thing I discover is that two weeks of no exercise, plus meals out and drinkies, seem to affect my breathing. Very little VO2Max. More like PepsiMax. Disheartened seeing runners running in what can only be described as jackets and trousers in front of me., chatting away! After a few hundred metres I get past them and put those negative thoughts away. Legs seem different today. Better – in a strange way. Or different aches? Breathing very heavily.
Down the hill we go and I have to take it easy so I don’t jar knee or hip. A gap starts to appear, runners start going past me. Thinking 3 laps means doing hills 3 times. That’s going to be very hard to get a ‘good’ time. On the uphill I seem to close the gap and decide on my jelly bean strategy. Take them where we pass by runners on their second lap. I just managed beat the leader to the crossing point and am reasonably confident he can’t lap me. Sucking my jelly bean begin reeling in runners. It dawns on me now that we finish just before the hills – therefore I won’t do them 3 times. Smiles. Hills again and a couple overtake me down hill. I do catch some on the uphill and finish the lap (two) 15-3 up (people I overtake versus ones who go past me). A glance at my watch and sub30 is impossible as it says 24 something! Pushing on a little I make little headway. I catch one lady, then very slowly catch another runner on the long straight to the finishing bend. He doesn’t seem to want to be overtaken and I have to push a couple of times as I hear his footsteps approaching. He won’t give up! Damn! A couple of seconds I think I have as I hit the muddy path to the finish. Suddenly the crowd at the finish begin to roar – not for me – but someone is coming up very fast! Oh! no! Time for actioning the DRS – Dirty Running Shoe – approach. I attempt a kick and plough and splash on through the muddy puddle hitting the funnel just before a man and lady pile in behind me. Need all my breath back now before I can hand in my token in and pick up a biscuit [someone’s 40th Apparently]. A change of top and hobble to Vernon Café. Great to get change out of a fiver for the first time in ages. Big Barms. Not quite covering the bacon. Perhaps a white barm and sausages next time. Drinking the Latte I review the watch. It says over 31 minutes – so can’t complain. The hills were hard. But relaxed and feeling good walk back to my car. Another car is leaving and pulling past me. It stops the window lowers “Patrick! Is that a new injury you’ve got. Your limping badly!” Shouts Tony! That brings my happy buzz back to earth! Badly?!!
“I’ve got knackered hip now” I reply, “I can run only if I manage the pain – or I have to give it up and have a new hip”. Smiles and farewells. Change of shoes and home. Wonder how Lyme Park will go. Next week or perhaps a two week rest?
Looking at the runners individual performances this week , I can see that Nick’s training is reaping benefits for some/all of you. in addition to the one’s noted below – I see DiM, PaulN, AndrewW, MikeH, JimP and BarryA all had AGs above 76%. Fantastic.
Summary:
Busiest: Stretford [538]; Quietest Tawd Valley [101]
Tourist: Richard Hirans (Cheltenham)
Fastest Male: Barry Archibold [18:23]; Fastest Female Di McVey [20:18]
Performances of Note: TrevorM [AG: 81.48%]; MalocomF [AG: 79.83%]; PeterW [79.63%]
Full results below:
Bramhall parkrun
A total of 394 runners took part.
Position  |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Unknown ATHLETE | Unattached | 00:17:26 |
| 3 | 3 | Barry ARCHBOLD | Wilmslow RC | 00:18:23 |
| 15 | 1 | Anna MACKENZIE | Eryri Harriers | 00:19:40 |
| 27 | 24 | Tim BILLINGTON | Wilmslow RC | 00:20:50 |
| 34 | 30 | Paul NORRIS | Wilmslow RC | 00:21:14 |
| 46 | 42 | Paul GARNETT | Wilmslow RC | 00:22:01 |
| 72 | 7 | Janine ELLIS | Wilmslow RC | 00:22:52 |
Woodbank parkrun
A total of 186 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Oliver BERNSTEIN | Chorlton Runners | 00:19:23 |
| 3 | 1 | Faye BIRKBY | Pudsey Pacers RC | 00:19:56 |
| 93 | 68 | Patrick GRANNAN | Wilmslow RC | 00:31:01 |
Congleton parkrun
A total of 257 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Matt ROWLINSON | Vale Royal AC | 00:16:39 |
| 24 | 1 | Heather CARTER | Sandbach Striders | 00:21:24 |
| 133 | 97 | Peter WATSON | Wilmslow RC | 00:27:49 |
Ally Pally parkrun
A total of 289 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Ed BODEN | Unattached | 00:19:02 |
| 11 | 11 | Jonathan DUNKLEY | Wilmslow RC | 00:21:14 |
| 40 | 1 | Rosalie KERSEY | Unattached | 00:23:43 |
Wythenshawe parkrun
A total of 250 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Harry SINCLAIR | Altrincham and District AC | 00:17:26 |
| 6 | 6 | Richard HARRISON | Wilmslow RC | 00:19:42 |
| 15 | 1 | Zoe GMEREK | Sale Harriers Manchester | 00:21:22 |
Burnage parkrun
A total of 136 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Lord DIDSBURY | Unattached | 00:19:15 |
| 6 | 1 | Diane Elizabeth MCVEY | Wilmslow RC | 00:20:18 |
Cheltenham parkrun
A total of 433 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Rob GREEN | Cheltenham Tri Club | 00:17:49 |
| 12 | 1 | Amber WATSON | Cheltenham & County Harriers | 00:19:37 |
| 179 | 137 | Richard HIRONS | Wilmslow RC | 00:27:19 |
Wilmslow parkrun
A total of 207 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Luke MENDHAM | Unattached | 00:18:09 |
| 2 | 2 | Samuel BAILEY | Wilmslow RC | 00:18:48 |
| 3 | 3 | Jim PENDRILL | Wilmslow RC | 00:18:56 |
| 4 | 4 | Andrew WHITTINGHAM | Wilmslow RC | 00:19:06 |
| 7 | 7 | Trevor H MORRIS | Wilmslow RC | 00:19:21 |
| 9 | 9 | Mike HILL | Wilmslow RC | 00:19:30 |
| 12 | 1 | Poppy SCHNEIDER | Unattached | 00:20:58 |
| 20 | 2 | Diane BYGRAVE | Wilmslow RC | 00:21:26 |
| 43 | 38 | Gareth Fenton TRIMBLE | Wilmslow RC | 00:23:50 |
| 74 | 62 | Graham DUCE | Wilmslow RC | 00:25:08 |
| 201 | 123 | Trevor FAULKNER | Wilmslow RC | 00:38:44 |
Stretford parkrun
A total of 538 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Chris OVENDEN | Unattached | 00:16:39 |
| 25 | 1 | Emma TOLLEFSON | Chorlton Runners | 00:19:41 |
| 155 | 29 | Huma RAHMAN | Wilmslow RC | 00:24:41 |
Sale Water parkrun
A total of 213 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Tom GOUGH | Unattached | 00:17:48 |
| 20 | 1 | Rebecca JACKSON | Ealing Eagles Running Club | 00:20:41 |
| 31 | 3 | Laura FAIRHURST | Wilmslow RC | 00:22:23 |
| 51 | 8 | Frances JACKSON | 00:23:44 | |
| 52 | 44 | Rob JACKSON | Wilmslow RC | 00:23:45 |
| 57 | 11 | Jan WYLES | Wilmslow RC | 00:24:09 |
| 58 | 47 | Alan Charles TURNER | Wilmslow RC | 00:24:10 |
| 71 | 59 | Chris CANNON | Wilmslow RC | 00:24:59 |
| 80 | 63 | John PORTEOUS | Wilmslow RC | 00:25:36 |
| 91 | 71 | Ian ASHCROFT | Wilmslow RC | 00:26:34 |
| 114 | 87 | Roy POWNALL | Wilmslow RC | 00:28:36 |
Macclesfield parkrun
A total of 233 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Rob WOOD | Macclesfield Harriers & AC | 00:17:50 |
| 2 | 2 | Malcolm FOWLER | Wilmslow RC | 00:19:25 |
| 15 | 1 | Siobhan WRIGHT | Unattached | 00:21:36 |
| 143 | 37 | Sarah MILES | 00:30:17 |
Tawd Valley parkrun
A total of 101 runners took part.
| Position |
Gender Position |
parkrunner |
Club |
Run Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | David STODDERN | Unattached | 00:20:30 |
| 2 | 1 | Sharon JOHNSTONE | Wilmslow RC | 00:21:17 |
| 28 | 21 | Oliver Thomas JOHNSTONE | Wilmslow RC | 00:26:49 |