PLEASE BRING YOUR BARCODE!

Due to the difficulties our esteemed Director of Number Crunching has processing the results when there are missing barcodes, we are now reluctantly having to impose a strict "no barcode, no time" rule.

I understand that having an image on your mobile phone is also problematic as our scanning device struggles with the glare and reflection from the screen and that causes misreadings and further delays. Please bring a paper / cardboard barcode with you, laminated if you wish.

So that's now THREE important things to remember on Saturday:

1. Course diversions in place;

2. Bring your barcode and;

3. Wear red! ;-)

There's going to be lots of knotted hankies tonight, methinks. :-)

Thanks in anticipation of your support and understanding.

The Braunstone parkrun team

Hi all,

We have just been advised by the Council's Parks Officer responsible for Braunstone Park that the fencing will still be up around the fishing lake foot path this weekend as contractors are still working. This section forms part of the usual parkrun course.

The Council representative will let us know when this section of path will re-open.

Therefore, unless you hear from us to the contrary, diversions will be in place at Braunstone parkrun on Saturday, 18 February.

The start and finish will still be in the usual place so please come along as normal at the usual time - don't forget your barcode! - and await instructions from the Race Director / course marshals.

Thank you.

The Braunstone parkrun team

Runners and volunteers taking part in the weekend's Braunstone parkrun are being asked to wear red to promote a series of fundraising sporting activities taking place the following week for the British Heart Foundation.

The 69th weekly, timed, 5k race at Braunstone Park takes place on Saturday morning (18 February), one week before a number of led 'Wear it Red' Day runs, bike rides and walks are being organised around the city for the charity that helps tackle heart disease.

Braunstone parkrunners have agreed to lend their support by wearing red for their regular Saturday morning run to promote the day of activities. A provisional photocall for all those sporting red is expected to take place before the start of the race at approximately 8.55am.

The weekend's 'Wear it Red' run is the latest fancy dress parkrun that organisers have planned and follows very successful and well supported recent races that marked Christmas and Halloween as well as a hugely popular "orange" themed day last summer that smashed Braunstone parkrun's attendance record, a record that still stands to this day.

All parkruns and associated events are organised by a local team of volunteers.

All parkruns, including Saturday's themed day, are free to enter but runners must register in advance of their first race online at www.parkrun.org.uk/braunstone. All races start at 9am in front of the old stable block on the park.

Meanwhile the two bike rides, four walks and run that take place for 'Wear it Red' Day on 25 February from 1.30pm are being organised by Leicester City Council. It is the second year running the event has been held. Last year participants raised £2,200 for the British Heart Foundation. Five of Leicester's leisure centres will be acting as starting points for the activities, while Humberstone Gate in the city will be the finishing destination.

Places for the Wear it Red event are limited, so to book a place, contact April Alcott, exercise referral officer at Leicester City Council, on (0116) 299 5585 or by email at april.alcott@leicester.gov.uk.

Anne Newbery, Braunstone parkrun volunteer

Not even sub-zero temperatures and a heavy overnight frost deterred the runners taking part in the latest Braunstone parkrun at the weekend (4 February) which even saw one of the quickest finishes in the event’s 68 week history.

Newcomer Jake Harrison made an immediate impact in his parkrun debut, crossing the line in 15:31 – 1:24 ahead of his closest rival - to seal the victory. The Leicester Tri Club athlete shot straight into fourth place in the event’s overall leaderboard for fastest times.

Ian Mansell, a winner on two previous occasions, ran home in second to record his ninth top three finish from ten appearances. The Centurion runner, who crossed the line in 16:55, also has victories from Brueton, Conkers and Leamington parkruns under his belt.

Leicester Coritanian’s David Pearce, himself a Braunstone winner last June, completed his seventh appearance in 17:08 to take third place and secure his fifth top three finish.

In the ladies’ race, Estelle Damant of Ranelagh Harriers, completed her second race at Braunstone in a PB time of 17:27, improving on the runner-up spot in her debut and shaving 18 seconds from her previous time.

Cardiff AAC’s Paris Williams took second place in her parkrun debut, crossing the line in 18:51.

Braunstone parkrun regular Jolanta Gibes ran home in 20:58 to record her third consecutive third place finish and 19^th top three finish overall.

Five-time runner, Ben Lord, was the first home in the under 15s category, crossing the line in 26:31.

The 119-strong field included parkun veteran James Kemp who was completing his 117^th parkrun at his ninth different venue. The member of parkrun’s exclusive 100 Club - a national group of runners that have completed 100 or more parkruns – was taking part in his second race at Braunstone with his son Felix, himself a parkrun regular.

The Braunstone parkrun men's course record, set in week 58 by Blackheath & Bromley Harriers athlete James Poole, still stands at 15:08. The ladies' course best of 16:15 set in week 19 by GB Olympian, Lisa Dobriskey, also remains unbeaten.

The 69th race of the series takes place next Saturday (11 February), starting at 9am in front of the old stable block at Braunstone Park. The race is free to enter but first-time runners must register beforehand online at www.parkrun.org.uk/braunstone.

Leading finishers

Anne Newbery, Braunstone parkrun volunteer