It was a dreich morning at Frenchfield as the core bunch of volunteers gathered to set up Penrith parkrun, but the event itself had plenty of stories to enliven it.
226 runners and walkers completed the 5k course with representatives from 22 different clubs. Of this number, 28 were first time visitors to Penrith and four were experiencing their first ever parkrun.
Penrith is a lovely flat course, perfect for the 28 runners who recorded a new Personal Best. Regular parkrunner, 10 year old Dylan Robinson, who has 144 parkruns to his name was one of those who achieved a PB of 26:38, running alongside his uncle, Andrew Hodgson, one of our key volunteers.
A gang of 22 friends and family, from as far afield as Dundee, Manchester, Lincoln and Dunfermline, had taken over Patterdale Youth Hostel to celebrate Gail Beveridge’s 60th birthday and a new parkrun was part of the festivities for most, after which they were all heading off to Cranstons for a bacon butty! They told us that they loved the course and that our marshals were the best they had ever encountered.
Parkrun is often a family outing, and never more so than when someone is celebrating a milestone. Saturday saw 14 year old Zac Tyson complete his 100th Parkrun.
Zac was supported by his grandmother, his cousin, Penny, Uncle James Grinbergs, parents Helen and Ross and little sister, Bobbie. As regulars at Frenchfield there was lots of support from everyone else too.
It was lovely to see another regular, Sarah Brennand completing her first parkrun since giving birth to her second son, Charlie, four months ago. Sarah had continued to run until quite late on in her pregnancy and was very happy to be back at Frenchfield.
We hope to see more of her, probably with Charlie in a buggy! Sarah brought along a friend, Rebecca Dennis who enjoyed her first time at Parkrun accompanied by 18-month-old daughter Maisie in her buggy.
Parkrun cannot happen without the help of the volunteers and today there were 28 making it possible. If you would like to help please contact at www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/. I can guarantee that you would be made very welcome.
A full list of results can be found at www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/results/latestresults/.
