The 472nd Penrith parkrun took place yesterday at Frenchfield. Conditions were good, the course was dry, the sky overcast with light winds and the temperature was a moderate 13deg C.
There were 337 runners and walkers and 32 volunteers. 90 were attending Penrith parkrun for the first time and for 13 of these it was their first ever parkrun.
This was an occasion when the Penrith parkrun community remembered Ed Catmur who ran his last Penrith parkrun December 30 2023. He set out on a run over Crossfell the next day and died.
Ed was a well-known, highly accomplished, experienced runner who had won long distance races all over the world. A large number of family and friends of Ed gathered to remember him on what would have been his 41st birthday.
As always there were a number of tourists including a group of four from Fenwick Striders, a running club based in Kilmarnock Scotland. They were fitting in a local parkrun with family holidays at Center Parcs.
First home was Remi Diers in a time of 18 minutes 25 seconds. He was closely followed by Rose Gilldaley of Eden Runners who finished second in a personal best time of 18 minutes 32 seconds.
I caught up with Rose at the finish. She told me she has had the honour of representing England at international athletics events in Spain and Ireland. In Spain she came 19th overall in what she described as a very hilly cross country race. In Ireland she did even better coming home in 4th place in the trial race helping England to a team gold. What next we ask?
Many thanks as always to the team of volunteers who make parkrun possible. Do consider giving parkrun a go either running/walking or as a volunteer.
Penrith parkrun takes place at Frenchfield Sports Centre, Penrith, CA11 8UU at 9am every Saturday. Until next time.
