Parkrun news 31 August 2024
24 MACS ran or volunteered at 10 different venues across the UK and Italy. In alphabetical order of venue, Lisa Walton made the short trip to Alvaston park for a steady tootle on the almost pancake flat that is her go to venue when she can’t be arsed to go elsewhere. Not much further afield were Andrew Watson and Gavin Elliott at Ashbourne Recreation Ground parkrun where Andrew seems to have recovered his running mojo a bit finishing in 18th position in 23.03 whilst Gavin ran a more leisurely 25.24 for 37th place. Further afield but I assume relatively close by to old MAC member John Birch Blickling parkrun was again John’s choice for his steady 5k run finishing in a respectable 26.45. Much more local at Brierley Forest, Chris Gillott was putting in another fine performance with a 21 minute finish and 10th place and a 73.17% age grading. Simon Fisher was out for a bumble finishing in 21.15 whilst Louise Rowley finished 5th lady and 50th overall in time of 24.51. Jon Tyson running his 5th different parkrun venue at Graves park Sheffield recorded a time of 24.26 on the scenic and undulating course to take 30th place. A bit further North but still in Yorkshire, Jay Bird and Dennis Holmes both completed the hilly Halifax parkrun with Jay just taking the honours between these two regular racers by a 16 second margin. Our other pair of regular parkrun racers, Roy Austin and Chris Rouse stayed local at Markeaton park where Roy ran a steady 24.23 and Chris a steadier 30.36. Spotted late in 402nd place and a time of 37.02 was Simon Flitter, just failing to keep up with son Stanley one place and 14 seconds ahead. At the local Monsal Trail event Ian Watson led the team home with an impressive 18.49 for 8th place and a 75.38% age grading. Jack Cummins, James Briggs and Luke Beresford then followed in 23rd, 24th and 25th places with 5 seconds between Jack & James taking 21.03 to Luke’s 21.08. Marathon man Dan Ashcroft concluded the MAC team placed 50th in a very respectable 22.47. Our penultimate venue this week was Mura Di Lucca parkrun near Pisa in Tuscany, Italy where David Howarth ran a super 24.36 for 18th place out of 73 competitors. This is a very special parkrun venue with the course being a single lap of the walled town in the beautiful setting of Tuscan Hills. Definitely a parkrun venue for everyones bucket list! Finally coming back much closer to home at Poolsbrook Country park near Chesterfield in Derbyshire the Jones boys were both flying the flag for Matlock AC, Jacob finishing in 19.57 for 10th place and younger brother Oliver finishing in 23.46 for 60th place. Last but certainly not least Sally Owen completed the 5k in 25.58 taking 93rd place and an impressive 68.81% age grading. Well run everyone.