A scattering of blustery rain from a blue but cloudy sky greeted runners at Saturday’s Penrith parkrun.
Runners set off into a strong chill breeze on the 336th event and 208 runners, walkers and pushchair pushers of all ages streamed towards the rising sun as they headed out on the first circuit of the two-lap course, leaving behind a suddenly empty and silent pavilion area populated only by a few volunteers and supporters waiting patiently for the runners’ return.
It felt like waiting for a cancelled train in British Railways days.
Not running due to an ankle injury, I wandered over to Syd Burns’ station near the finish line, watching him busily rearranging the wind-upended wheelbarrows and traffic cones holding the tape in place, and simultaneously cheering runners completing their first lap.
He told me the wind had been causing problems before the run and, judging by the faces of the runners, it still was. The rain had stopped and the sky continued to brighten but the wind remained strong enough to foil any speed records although three runners did achieve personal bests.
I moved to the bridge and watched more runners coming towards me alongside the ditch, fighting the headwind and grateful to be across the bridge, with their backs to the wind for a while before tackling the loop and the amenity field before the race to the finish line.
It looked like hard work! At least the running was keeping the cold at bay. Silver linings.
The first runners had already finished before I returned to the finish line to watch a group of tired but happy runners collect their barcodes as the sun broke through the clouds, bathing Frenchfields in glorious colour. It was interesting to see people crossing the finish line: some raced companions to the finish, some raced themselves and others seemed content to just reach it. One “that was rough” comment seemed to sum up the general feeling of the morning, accompanied by smiles and relief.
