Report writer: Rhona Stainthorp
Photographer: Simon Light
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Saturday was celebration day. Of course, parkrunners know that every Saturday is celebration day. For us at Bracknell we had the added celebration that, despite the rain earlier in the week we had been given the go-ahead to run in Great Hollands this week. It’s so good to return home even though the big mud baths were still very much in evidence. As usual the selfless volunteers had been out with flour and marker cones to ensure the route was clear if not mud free.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we had a group of female pacers and Lisa doing a run-walk. Amazing to even attempt to stick to target times with the route as it was.
And then, a celebration tinged with sadness. Naomi once again graced the climbing frame as run director – but sadly for Bracknell this was to be her last captaining of the ship.
Naomi has run 209 parkruns in 24 different parks and chalked up 120 volunteering events. That means for at least every 2 runs she has acted as a volunteer. As this nostalgic meander through the photo archive shows she was there even before run #1 and has been a major part of the great success that is Bracknell parkrun. We all owe her our grateful thanks but hope to see her running the course before she departs.
Before #1
Run #1
Naomi briefing first timers
Running in a group
And friendly rivalry
As usual the organisation was impeccable and to these 30 volunteers go further thanks: Alice FORBES Barry HILLER Doug BRADY Eve HANCOCK Evie CORNES Evie KING Heather SINCLAIR Jackie HUTCHINGS Jamie LOVELL Jane LIGHT Jessica BLACK John AITKEN John BAKER Joshua MELVIN Judith GUEST Katherine PRIESTLEY Kirstie KING Lisa PLUMMER Mike GRENHAM Naomi AITKEN Niall HUTCHINSON Rhona STAINTHORP Rhonda HARROWER Richard COOPE Robert GUEST Sian MCBRIDE Simon LIGHT Stephanie PARKES Tessa HABBERLEY Wendy CUDMORE.
If you feel moved to volunteer, it’s the easiest thing in the world. Just click on: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/bracknell/futureroster then choose your day and job over the next six weeks – with more chances to come every week. After 25 “volunteerings” you will get your purple shirt. A nice choice of parkrun to match volunteering with the purple of women’s day.
Saturday was relatively mild with not a drop of rain, so a good day to begin a parkrun history and we were pleased to welcome 24 people who made their debut with us. They were joined by a further 17 parkrunners from around the country including Manchester, Pontypridd, Marlborough and many from closer to home.
In total there were 238 people who ran, jogged, walked, and did all three. Twenty-five of these managed a new PB, so clearly the mud slicks suit some people. And we had an important milestone to celebrate. Owing to the foul weather last week Ellie ran her 100th in Sandhurst but was with us to celebrate this week:
Charlie St Aubyn also made his unofficial milestone of 200 events
The first three females to enter the funnel were:
- Ella Davey (JW11-14) in 22:06, 72.25%. This was a new PB for Ella and her first-first in the tunnel
- Bryony North (SW3—34) in 22:19, 66.39%
- Natalie Webb (SW25-29) in 23:36, 62.71%
Well done to them all.
The first three males were:
- Roger Thomas (VM45-49) in 20:12, 70.71%. Roger was our visitor from Manchester, and he came and swept the field on his first visit.
- Tom Knight (SM30-34) from Bracknell Forest Runners in 20:36, 63.67%
- Daniel Wing (VM35-39) in 20:55, 64.30.
Great running.
The top three age grade runners were:
- Judith Guest (VM70-74) with 77.20%
- Martin Wilson (VM70-74) with 76.73%
- Ella Davey (JW11-14) with 72.25%
People of all ages rallied to the call to wear purple for Women’s Day, in all possible shades, and here we salute them:
These are just a tiny selection of the wonderful photographs that Simon took this week. If you haven’t already done so, just go to https://www.parkrun.org.uk/bracknell/photos/ and follow the links to the hundreds of smiling Bracknell parkunners.
Whisper it softly – but my weather app suggests there will be no rain this week and it will be comparatively mild. The daffodils are out on the field so it should be an excellent day to take a turn around the park. Remember – exercise is good for health and we all need that at the moment.
Once again, our thanks go to Naomi for all that she has done for parkrun:
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Official Bracknell Stats are:
Number of events: 258 Number of runners: 10,621 Number of runs: 79,400
Number of first finishers: 169 Number of clubs: 570 Number of PBs: 13,269
Average number of runners per week: 307.8 Average number of runs per runner: 7.5
Biggest Attendance: 469 Average run time: 00:31:59
Total hours run: 4 Years 303 Days 13Hrs 48 Min 56Secs Total distance run: 397,000km
Female record holder: Sophie QUIRK - 17:54 - Event 125 (29/07/17)
Male record holder: Richard ALLEN - 16:46 - Event 91 (10/12/16)
Age graded record holder: Jessica WHITE - 88.45 % - 23:05 - Event 253 (11/01/20)