The temperature was a relatively balmy six degrees Celsius, the wind was slight and rain seemed unlikely so there was a good turnout of nearly 300 runners and walkers at Saturday’s Penrith parkrun.
Of those, 33 were first timers and 35 achieved a personal best time. One of the first timers, Steve Cairns from Tyne Bridge Harriers, was first to finish in a time of 17 minutes 32.
The first lady home was Daisy Barnes in a PB of 19 minutes 40. Four other PBs were by three boys and one girl in the 10-year-old age category – Elliott Griffiths, Olivia Bowness, Lewis Threlkeld and Harry Fleming.
Derek and Jane Storer in the 75-79 age category also ran PBs thus illustrating that age is no barrier when it comes to parkrun.
Notable landmarks were achieved by James Pass on his 50th parkrun; Roy Bottomley on his 150th and 26 minute pacer, Garry Bower, volunteering for the 100th time.
As always special thanks are due to the 33 volunteers many of whom turn up at the crack of dawn (or even earlier!) to ensure that everything is set up and safe for the parkrun to take place.
Four of the volunteers, Ruth Evans, Sally Spence, Emma Watson and Harry Patrick, were on scanning duties, sitting behind tables just beyond the finish line awaiting finishers.
Their job was to scan everyone’s finish token and personal barcode so that results can be downloaded and later published online.
With finish times ranging from 17 minutes to 59 minutes they were sitting there for quite a while – not too bad on a calm day as it was on Saturday but quite challenging when the rain is coming down in torrents! Whatever the weather they do the job with smiles on their faces.
The full results of today’s event are on the website.
Penrith parkrun happens 9am every Saturday morning at Frenchfield. If you are interested in becoming involved either as a runner or volunteer then please contact our website www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith, our Facebook page or by emailing [email protected].
