After what I can only describe as a challenging week: an injury to my foot, a cold, a hectic week at work, and perhaps a glass of wine too much the night before, it was a struggle to get myself out of bed on Saturday morning.
I knew it was my turn to write this week’s report so l turfed myself out of my cosy nest and made my way to Frenchfield……and oh how glad I am that I did so!
All those familiar faces with their smiles and encouragement gave way to a fulfilling morning and it was those same faces with their stories of ambition, achievement and trepidation that captured my interest and focus of today’s report.
Stuart Hodgson (of Stu-Di-Doo fame), and fellow Eden Runner, was back in the UK following his completion of the 129th Boston Marathon (the oldest marathon in the world) that took place on Easter Monday.
With a more than respectable time of 3:25:41, Stuart was still buzzing from his experience and described it as “amazing with the whole city providing an amazing atmosphere…. I loved every minute of it despite the hills.”
He was grateful to fellow Eden Runner Stuart Lowthian for devising a training plan that allowed him to complete the distance with only “a very slight niggle in my left hip at 25 miles”.
While in Boston, Stuart also completed his 50th parkrun at Jamaica Pond. Congratulation Stu, we are all proud of you and know you will succeed in your next marathon adventure.
We also used parkrun to wish two further Eden Runners well on their way to run the London Marathon; Andrew Hodgson and Lisa Askins.
Both runners won their place through the club’s ballot. It’s fair to say that Andrew was feeling nervous, especially having sustained an injury to his foot.
However, despite his nerves, Andrew was keen to get going and complete this fantastic challenge.
A further mention for Andrew is also richly deserved as he completes his 300th volunteer at Penrith parkrun. Well done, Andrew, you are a local legend and it’s in part to your hard work and commitment that allows Penrith parkrun to be the continued success that it is.
Lisa is running the London Marathon in aid of a very worthy local charity, Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust that delivers community music therapy to disabled children and adults across Cumbria.
To support Lisa in her quest to raise money you can find it here at https://2025tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/lisa-askins
We also had local boy and fellow Eden Runner James Grinbergs completing his 400th parkrun, completing it in a super speedy time of 19:32. This is no small achievement James, congratulations.
In among our regular runners, we had tourists joining us from Nottingham, Northampton and as far away as Nigeria and Australia.
However, while hopping around the two-lap course I was intrigued by a small group of ladies and children wearing pointy party hats and emitting feel-good vibes. On further scrutiny I discovered this to be an early outing for local girl Harley Russel’s 10th birthday. Hats off to you Harley! Although not literally.
You are an inspiration getting up extra early on the morning of your special birthday to do a parkrun. Harley and her friends were brought along by her mum and regular parkrunner, Emma. After having a chat with Harley, it emerged that she was planning on a birthday sleep over with her friends. Have a blast Harley!
On completing today’s parkrun and feeling pretty pleased with myself what with making it there in the first place and getting several different stories to add to this report, I was made aware of another success story.
Yet another Eden Runner, Julia King, had just smashed out a new PB of 22:46 after being encouraged around the course by 23-minute pacer ‘speedy’ Suzanne Smith.
At the tender age of 72, this has given Julia an age graded score of 101.1%. In short, this means that Julia’s time over 5k (and for her gender) is faster than world record level. Absolutely phenomenal Julia, you really are an inspiration to us all!
Today’s parkrun saw 324 participants, with 49 first timers and 49 Personal Best results. Ben Grayson was first home in 17:21. For a full list of participants, results, and volunteers, visit https://www.parkrun.org.uk/penrith/results/488/
