Storm Darragh most certainly dampened this weekend’s running. Offering us a taster of its strength on Thursday, with some truly miserable conditions for Thursdays’ club run and then gathering in strength for the weekend.
Parkrun roundup
Darragh stormed through and left most Parkruns in tatters this weekend! By Friday evening many Parkrun were already announcing cancellations . Many of us were kept amused by the creative posts by the race directors, from the lame “Storm Darragh has got the better of us I’m afraid” to the more dramatic
- Rogiet parkrun : Parkrunners risk being “Mary poppins”-ed away
- Blackpool parkrun : risk of being blown into the Irish Sea
- Chippenham parkrun : Darragh is taking part & throwing our cones around
- Chipping Sudbury : we have neither enough life vests of anchors
- Southampton common : Risk of flying children with the super strong wind
And with these two announcements, as a few pointed out on WhatsApp groups ….. At least we now know the difference between Amber & Red weather warnings 😂
- Aberfields parkrun: Amber wind warning. Flying rabbits on fields
- Aberystwyth parkrun: Red wind warning: high chance of flying under 11s.
With Rickmansworth, Leavesden and Cassiobury parkruns cancelled it was good to see Gadebridge wasn’t fazed, but maybe our runners should have been…. The 5 brave souls who took on Gadebridge parkrun this week weren’t just running and sliding through the mud —they were battling conditions more suited to an ITV Wipeout course or the Cyclone challenge on I’m a Celebrity! The rain bucketed down, the wind blew them sideways and a quagmire developed underfoot. A proper wet squidfest according to Jono. A huge well done to Simon, Anthony, Kirstie, Lewis and Neil – you were braver than most!
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Lovely to see some grateful thanks to the marshals too on the Gadebridge home page.
Perhaps looking to avoid hills and mud Russell Jones and Vince Ellerby skipped Gadebridge and tried their luck Houghton Hall parkrun. “Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain” I suspect was an understatement on Saturday.
Also looking for new parkruns Roland and Kim Morgan tried out WyCombe Rye. Well done Kim for a 1st in her age category finish
Dominic Hook travelled to Manchester – perhaps to trying to outrun Darragh, or maybe just seeking paved surfaces at the Heaton parkrun, testing the course for the first time. And finally Helen Heathcoat went to Warwick racecourse parkrun for the first time.
With a stormy Wipeout-style challenge hopefully behind us, there are some impressive parkrun milestones just around the corner. Fingers crossed for calmer conditions in the coming weeks to help these dedicated runners hit their big numbers:
- Gareth Tucker is on the brink of his 200th parkrun, with 199 runs so far!
- Kim is gearing up for a milestone 100, sitting at 97 runs!
- Vince is closing in on an incredible 600 with 598 parkruns to date!
- Helen and Andy Cook are just one run away from 250, both at 249!
- And Simon Morris is eyeing his 50th parkrun, currently at 49!
Please comment if we have missed anyone also approaching a milestone parkrun
MK Winter Half
The Winter in MK Winter Half was certainly an accurate description for this half marathon on Sunday Morning. Surprisingly, given the weather, we had 14 runners take their place on the start line. Conditions were reported by all as …..Wet, windy, cold, hideously cold, muddy, brutal, grim, horrible, horrendous and treacherous in places too. I think we get the picture 😉 Hence a fantastic well done to you all for just turning up!!
There are very few photos of the event – I am told its as most stayed in their cars till the very last moment and were too cold to stand for photo’s at the finish. Despite this there were some outstanding runs from everyone!
Nick Crowther was our first male home, Russell Jones scored a half Marathon PB. For our ladies, Kim Morgan was first home – nice to see you back from injury Kim! Huge congratulations to Claire McDonnell, who took the GVH woman’s V55 Half Marathon record and Megan who also scored a half Marathon PB. Many of the team also ran faster than last year – maybe the wind was behind them 😂
Jack Boughton ran a strong race despite his hangover and did I am told, a great job running in front go Kim to protect her from the wind. Best wishes to James B, struggling with a shoulder injury.
Full results as follows
Other notable runs
Whilst some were battling through 5ks at park run on Saturday – Stuart Gallager took on a 20 Mile LSR! Hard Core in these conditions and the longest run I spotted this weekend.
Gareth Tucker did his own half marathon and took to running up and down all the hills to Potten End. Little heath, then Bullbegger and then Ivy house lane.
Perhaps the only one of us who has any sense is Prescilla Pathak who has been posting runs from Spain these last few weeks.
Lets hope the rain stops soon!!