The 361st Penrith parkrun took place on Saturday at Frenchfield.
Local running club Eden Runners organise a parkrun championship once a month so as is usual on these occasions there was a significant proportion of green vests among the runners.
The race was won by Jonny Cox, of Eden Runners, in a time of 16:44, the fastest woman was Kathryn Metcalfe who achieved a time of 21:41
There were 229 runners and 23 volunteers with 49 running Penrith for the first time and for eight of these it was their first ever parkrun.
Sarah Newby, an ambassador for the charity 5k Your Way, was in attendance. 5k Your Way is a community-based initiative to encourage those living with and beyond cancer.
They encourage people and their families, friends, and those working in cancer services to walk, jog, run, cheer or volunteer at a local 5k Your Way parkrun event on the last Saturday of every month.
The initiative is supported by growing evidence that a healthy lifestyle during and after cancer is associated with improved physical and psychological well-being.
I caught up with Sarah who was with Ian Teasdale and Catherine Wetherfield after the run. Ian, a regular volunteer/ runner at Keswick parkrun ran the Penrith course for the first time while Catherine and Sarah walked and had a chat.
Sarah will next be at Penrith parkrun on Saturday August 26 to welcome anyone effected by cancer wishing to do the 5K Your Way.
This week saw David Hatch, a visitor from Manchester complete his 200th parkrun he came eighth in a personal best time of 19:05.
This was especially impressive as he was pushing a buggy. David reckons pushing the buggy costs him about 30 seconds on his time.
Also among this week’s visitors were ex-Eden Runners Karen and Matt Taylor who now live in Blackpool and run for Thornton Cleveleys Running Club.
They were visiting the area to support three friends running in the Lakeland 100, a 105-mile ultra endurance event including 6,300m of climbing. I think I will stick to parkrun. Big thanks to this week’s volunteers. Do consider giving parkrun a go either running or as a volunteer. Penrith parkrun takes place at Frenchfield Sports Centre, Frenchfield, Penrith, CA11 8UU at 9am every Saturday. Until next time.
