With Saturday’s Park Run being the seventh event since its post pandemic return it really felt as though we are finally returning to normal.
There seemed a greater air of conviviality abroad, with familiar faces acknowledged, time for a catch-up and a post race discussion of those all important finish times.
Preliminary announcements are still being kept to a minimum and there were no major milestones achieved this week.
However, there was the opportunity for Jo May, of Eden Runners, to remind everyone of the forthcoming Acorn Bank 10k race which is to take place on the 26th September. A good opportunity for regular park runners to test themselves out on a longer course.
With 214 finishers this week there was a marked reduction in turnout largely due to the lower numbers of tourists attending as the school holidays wind down to their end.
Penrith always takes great delight in welcoming our many visitors, particularly during the summer months – great delight to be had, in particular, with the frequently voiced surprise that our course is such a flat one rather than the anticipated Lake District undulations.
This week my attention has been drawn to those all important “midfielders’.
Well done, as always, to those who cruise into the finish at a blistering pace – this week Harry Lancaster leading the men home in a time of 17.06 and Nicola King as first lady with a time of 21.30.
Each week though there are the runners who attend knowing they will always arrive somewhere near the middle of the pack – one week may be slightly better than previous ones or perhaps a whole lot worse!
They are the ones who turn up for the sheer love of parkrun – that small piece of exercise each week, a trial of mind and body, where the satisfaction earned is a test of oneself and the sheer love of running.
So this week, welcome to Leonie Stalker on her first parkrun coming in at a very respectable time of 27.54 and Sarah Ricketts on her second parkrun arriving home in 27.55.
Congratulations also to two midfielders, Claire Spruce and Lucy Fallows who both achieved PB times of 27.58 and 28.18 respectively.
They are all an inspiration for everyone to come along on a Saturday morning and give this a try.
If you would like to be a part of Penrith parkrun, either as a runner or volunteer then do please contact [email protected] or simply come along to Frenchfield playing fields, Penrith on a Saturday to join the run at 9am.
