Saturday was the second week at the new start area by the car park. Thank you to all the runners for being patient as we bed in the new run arrangements.

We have sent a scanner away to be repaired, so the scanning took a little longer this week. It should be back with us soon.

This week 299 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 57 were first timers and 76 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 21 different clubs took part.

A few notable achievements this week

Handley Stevens now sits atop of his age category (VM75-79) with a brisk 26:11.

Among the junior runners there were 8 PBs , so well done to Fionnuala Knipe, Matilda Heath, Rachel Reizin, Hannah Giles, Caspar Coates, Gordon Turnor, Josh Groves and Wiremu Nicole

Precise runners this week include Yoshimitsu Mizui 22:00, Michael McKessar 25:00, Naomi Hartopp 29:00, Trent England 31:00, Lindi Duong 34:00, and Angela Pollitzer 50:00.

And finally pleasing times of the week go to Alex Edwards with 22:22 and Helene White with 33:33

The event was made possible by 14 volunteers. We do need a few more volunteers each week so please check the volunteer page on the website and choose a role

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Hampstead Heath parkrun Results Page.

Male placings:
Devathas SATIANATHAN (SM25-29) (Unattached) was first over the line in 18:22 - first appearance.
An unknown runner was second.
Fred DAVIDSON (SM30-34) (Unattached) was third over the line in 18:46.

Female placings:
Rowena LEARY (SW30-34) of Norfolk Gazelles AC, was first (20^th overall) over the line in 20:40 - first appearance.
Lavinia SINGER (SW25-29) of Serpentine RC, was second (21^st overall) over the line in 20:52 - was first to finish once before.
Natalia EDDY (SW25-29) of Serpentine RC, was third (29^th overall) over the line in 21:28 - has been first to finish on 3 previous occasions.

The three highest age grades were recorded by:
Nigel HAYWOOD (VM60-64) – 76.66% for the time 21:17 (26^th overall).
Wiremu NICOLE (JM10) – 73.32% for the time 22:18 (52^nd overall).
Patrick KYLE (JM11-14) – 72.92% for the time 19:27 (6^th overall).

Hampstead Heath parkrun started on 14th May 2011. Since then 8,774 participants have completed 48,178 parkruns covering a total distance of 240,890 km, including 8,278 new Personal Bests.

A most impressive 260 runners hit the Heath on Saturday, welcomed by glorious spring sunshine - even the volunteers were bathed in a warming sunshine, for the first time this year.

39 runners were perhaps seduced by the sunshine and ran parkrun for the first time and an amazing 52 people recorded a personal best.  Hoorah!

Hugh Torry, having raced around the London Marathon course in a most impressive sub 2 hours 30 minutes last Sunday, show no ill effects from his exertions and only just failed to post his 4th sub-17 minute effort, hitting the metaphorical tape in 17:09.  Chapeau!

Ryan McCrickerd put in his customary strong run in 18:08 and Isaac Adni a junior runner from Highgate Harriers came in third in 18:29.  There must be something in the tea at Highgate Harriers youth section as Patrick Kyle, a J11-14 runner raced round the course for the first time in 19:15.  Pretty good for a young 'un.

Among the female runners, Nicola Timmins came home in a field leading 20:34, followed by another Highgate Harrier junior, Emma Williets in 21:30 closely pursued by Alice Fulton in 21:35.  Strong stuff from all three athletes.

None of this would have been possible without our wonderful group of volunteers and we thank them all.  In particular, more than one runner mentioned David Levey, who took his by now accustomed place at the corner at the bottom of the hill by the construction work and clapped and encouraged all those who passed him.  #loveparkrun

On the least dreary day of this bank holiday weekend there were 181 runners, of whom 35 were first timers and 26 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 18 different athletics clubs took part. We also had 25 volunteers, which is a great total and an excellent ratio of volunteers:runners. Thanks!

Female placings:
Natasha CENDROWICZ (VW45-49) of Highgate Harriers, was first (28th overall) over the line in 23:42 - 4th time in 61 appearances.
Jessica KAM (SW20-24) (Unattached) was second (39th overall) over the line in 24:49.
Jen PHELPS (SW20-24) (Unattached) was third (44th overall) over the line in 25:24.

Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Jessica KAM (Unattached) 1243 pts.
Dianne AYNSLEY (Unattached) 1082 pts.
Aoife BRADY (Unattached) 1064 pts.

Male placings:
Philip BRAY (VM35-39) (Unattached) was first over the line in 18:06 - 6th time in 21 appearances.
Ryan NEALIS (JM15-17) (Unattached) was second over the line in 18:48.
Alexander VAN OOSTRUM (SM30-34) (Unattached) was third over the line in 19:10.

Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Mohammad TAHA (BBC RC) 1233 pts.
Stefano GALLOTTI (Unattached) 1117 pts.
Damian GOLD (Unattached) 1059 pts.

The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores:
Alfie MORISON (JM10) was graded 77.67% for the time 25:27 (45th overall).
Pamela GOLD (VW65-69) was graded 76.75% for the time 28:32 (89th overall).
Philip BRAY (VM35-39) was graded 73.76% for the time 18:06 (first overall).

Hampstead Heath parkrun started on 14th May 2011, and since then 5,841 different runners, including participants from 394 athletics clubs, have completed 30,065 runs covering a total distance of 150,325 km, and there have been 5,604 new Personal Bests.

The female record is held by Sophia PARVIZI-WAYNE who ran in a time of 00:18:49 on 2013-06-08 (event number 109).
The male record is held by Richard GOODMAN who ran in a time of 00:15:32 on 2014-11-22 (event number 187).
The Age Grade course record is held by Val NAYLOR who recorded a 88.53% run (25:34) on 18th October 2014 (event number 182).

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Hampstead Heath parkrun Results Page.

This week there were 213 runners, of whom 38 were first timers and 19 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 20 different athletics clubs took part.

Male placings:
An unknown runner was first.
Philip BRAY (VM35-39) (Unattached) was second over the line in 18:50 - has been first to finish on 5 previous occasions.
Emmanuel ROUX (SM30-34) (Unattached) was third over the line in 19:03 - was first to finish once before.

Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Mohammad TAHA (BBC RC) 1173 pts.
Stefano GALLOTTI (Unattached) 1117 pts.
Damian GOLD (Unattached) 1059 pts.

Female placings:
Jasmine KERRY (SW25-29) of Wakefield District Harriers & AC, was first (21st overall) over the line in 21:06 - first appearance.
Dianne AYNSLEY (SW30-34) (Unattached) was second (25th overall) over the line in 21:30 - has been first to finish on 7 previous occasions.
Aoife BRADY (SW30-34) (Unattached) on an early visit back from Nottingham was third (42nd overall) over the line in a new PB of 23:07.

Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Jessica KAM (Unattached) 1144 pts.
Dianne AYNSLEY (Unattached) 1082 pts.
Aoife BRADY (Unattached) 1064 pts.

The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores:
Jonathan WOOD (VM50-54) was graded 71.87% for the time 21:02 (19th overall).
Philip BRAY (VM35-39) was graded 70.88% for the time 18:50 (second overall).
Jasmine KERRY (SW25-29) was graded 70.14% for the time 21:06 (21st overall).

Hampstead Heath parkrun started on 14th May 2011, and since then 5,806 different runners, including participants from 391 athletics clubs, have completed 29,884 runs covering a total distance of 149,420 km, and there have been 5,578 new Personal Bests.

The female record is held by Sophia PARVIZI-WAYNE who ran in a time of 00:18:49 on 2013-06-08 (event number 109).
The male record is held by Richard GOODMAN who ran in a time of 00:15:32 on 2014-11-22 (event number 187).
The Age Grade course record is held by Val NAYLOR who recorded a 88.53% run (25:34) on 18th October 2014 (event number 182).

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Hampstead Heath parkrun Results Page.

On a beautiful, sunny but cooler and less humid morning than in previous weeks, last Saturday there were 227 runners, of whom 40 were first timers and 41 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 15 different athletics clubs took part.

The more comfortable weather may account for the PBs and some spectacular Age Graded Scores! The best of the latter were recorded by the following runners:
Julian FERRARO (VM50-54) was graded 78.11% for the time 18:53 (third overall).
Pamela GOLD (VW65-69) was graded 76.57% for the time 28:36 (140th overall).
Emma BURGESS (SW25-29) was graded 75.38% for the time 19:38 (8th overall).

Female placings:
Emma BURGESS (SW25-29) of Highgate Harriers, was first (8th overall) over the line in 19:38 - 11th time in 16 appearances.
Claire JACOBS (SW30-34) (Unattached) was second (11th overall) over the line in 20:07.
Dianne AYNSLEY (SW30-34) (Unattached) was third (26th overall) over the line in 21:29 - has been first to finish on 7 previous occasions.

Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Dianne AYNSLEY (Unattached) 884 pts.
Aoife BRADY (Unattached) 869 pts.
Jessica KAM (Unattached) 760 pts.

Male placings:
Andy BARNES (SM30-34) of London Heathside Runners AC, was first over the line in 18:36 - second time in 5 appearances.
An unknown runner was second.
Julian FERRARO (VM50-54) of London Heathside Runners AC, was third over the line in 18:53.

Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Damien LANE (Highgate Harriers) 927 pts.
Stefano GALLOTTI (Unattached) 888 pts.
Mohammad TAHA (BBC RC) 873 pts.

Hampstead Heath parkrun started on 14th May 2011, and since then 5,660 different runners, including participants from 378 athletics clubs, have completed 29,020 runs covering a total distance of 145,100 km, and there have been 5,435 new Personal Bests.

The female record is held by Sophia PARVIZI-WAYNE who ran in a time of 00:18:49 on 2013-06-08 (event number 109).
The male record is held by Richard GOODMAN who ran in a time of 00:15:32 on 2014-11-22 (event number 187).
The Age Grade course record is held by Val NAYLOR who recorded a 88.53% run (25:34) on 18th October 2014 (event number 182).

Saturday's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Hampstead Heath parkrun Results Page.

Another splendiferous morning greeted 217 runners for event number 215 on Hampstead Heath, including 46 first timers. A healthy 22 Personal Bests were recorded, and a sea of smiling faces after the run hopefully indicated that a good time was had by most.

A frisson of excitement among the happy band of volunteers as a group of Kenyan professional athletes from the Run Fast group loped past while we waited for the return of the first parkrunners. That excitement waned somewhat when we repaired to the Euphorium Bakery for our customary post parkrun pastry, only to find that said athletes had pinched our results processing table ;-).

We tried to persuade them to return to break our course record, but their indifference was startling!

Run Fast. Drink Slow.

There's a message in there for all of us.

Now for official bit:

Male placings:
Fergal SMITHWICK (SM25-29) of Highgate Harriers, was first over the line in 17:36 - second time in 4 appearances.
Ryan MCCRICKERD (SM25-29) of London Heathside Runners AC, was second over the line in 18:14 - was first to finish once before.
Emmanuel ROUX (SM30-34) (Unattached) was third over the line in 18:16 - was first to finish once before.

Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Phil BARWOOD (Unattached) 429 pts.
Stefano GALLOTTI (Unattached) 401 pts.
Mohammad TAHA (BBC RC) 395 pts.

Female placings:
Jackie SKINNER (VW35-39) (Unattached) was first (24th overall) over the line in 21:14 - first appearance.
Rosie PITT (SW30-34) of Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC, was second (31st overall) over the line in 21:57 - has been first to finish on 32 previous occasions.
Lucia GOBBI (SW20-24) of Warwick University AC, was third (34th overall) over the line in 22:15.

Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Rosie PITT (Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC) 397 pts.
Aoife BRADY (Unattached) 390 pts.
Jessica KAM (Unattached) 384 pts.

The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores:
John DRISCOLL (VM40-44) was graded 74.56% for the time 18:52 (6th overall).
Fergal SMITHWICK (SM25-29) was graded 73.30% for the time 17:36 (first overall).
Daniel BERRY (VM50-54) was graded 73.15% for the time 20:29 (17th overall).

The female record is held by Sophia PARVIZI-WAYNE who ran in a time of 00:18:49 on 2013-06-08 (event number 109).
The male record is held by Richard GOODMAN who ran in a time of 00:15:32 on 2014-11-22 (event number 187).
The Age Grade course record is held by Val NAYLOR who recorded a 88.53% run (25:34) on 18th October 2014 (event number 182).

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Hampstead Heath parkrun Results Page.

It was whilst reading 'Running with the Kenyans' recently that I learned that elite Kenyan runners do not like to enter 'slow' races. They realise that if a course is hilly, this will have a negative effect on their finish time. Imagine if parkrunners used the same principle.. no-one would turn up to Hampstead Heath parkrun!

I am a keen parkrun tourist, and I immensely enjoy trying out new courses. London has so many to offer - it would be rude not to sample them. And Hampstead Heath is a wonderful inclusion on my travels.

The Heath is a calm oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of London life, and the course is a testing one indeed. It is amazing how slow you can feel if you don't have the requisite power in your legs to climb hills in an expeditious manner.

Course B was in place on the 23rd, due to the fun fair on the Bank Holiday weekend, meaning a start on Lime Avenue, a nice shady place to start. After a short uphill start, we meandered downhill for a long way until we reached the ponds, following it back around to gain the altitude we'd just lost. It really was an uphill struggle, the hill seemed to climb and climb and climb forever. I'm pretty sure Mulder and Scully might need to be called in, because it really did feel like time slows down on that hill.

As ever, thanks to the volunteers. A recent parkrun at the Heath had to be called off due to lack of volunteers, so it just goes to show how important their efforts are.

I hope to return and improve upon my time soon; back to hill training first though..

Darren Till

Male placings:
Mark POLLARD (SM30-34) of Inverclyde AC, was first over the line in 16:30 - first appearance.
Ryan MCCRICKERD (SM25-29) of London Heathside Runners AC, was second over the line in 18:12 - was first to finish once before.
Emmanuel ROUX (SM30-34) (Unattached) was third over the line in 18:20 - was first to finish once before.

Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Emmanuel ROUX (Unattached) 197 pts.
William DAWBER (Unattached) 193 pts.
Damian GOLD (Unattached) 188 pts.

Female placings:
Rosie PITT (SW30-34) of Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC, was first (23^rd overall) over the line in 21:24 - 32^nd time in 61 appearances.
Melissa PAWSON (SW20-24) (Unattached) was second (38^th overall) over the line in 22:50.
Lavinia SINGER (SW25-29) (Unattached) was third (47^th overall) over the line in 23:19.

Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Lorraine NEVILLE (Unattached) 200 pts.
Aoife BRADY (Unattached) 197 pts.
Libby MAKINSON (Unattached) 181 pts.

The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores:
Mark POLLARD (SM30-34) was graded 79.09% for the time 16:30 (first overall).
Pamela GOLD (VW65-69) was graded 76.26% for the time 28:43 (143^rd overall).
Oliver LIGHT (JM15-17) was graded 75.29% for the time 18:29 (4^th overall).

This week there were 219 runners, of whom 31 were first timers and 33 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 16 different athletics clubs took part.

Hampstead Heath parkrun
Event number 172
9th August 2014

Men's placings:
Martin HOLM (SM30-34) (Unattached) was first over the line in 18:57 - first appearance.
Oliver MENDELSOHN (VM35-39) of Trent Park Running Club, was second over the line in 19:26.
William DAWBER (VM35-39) (Unattached) was third over the line in 19:49.

Current standing in the Men's annual points competition:
Mohammad TAHA (BBC RC) 1112 pts.
Stefano GALLOTTI (Unattached) 974 pts.
Thomas MACKENZIE (Unattached) 967 pts.

Women's placings:
Vicky COOPER (VW40-44) of Barking Road Runners, was first (35th overall) over the line in 22:59 - first time in 4 appearances.
Anne Marie DONOVAN (SW30-34) (Unattached) was second (42nd overall) over the line in 23:54.
Debbie FORSTER (SW25-29) (Unattached) was third (52nd overall) over the line in 24:29.

Current standing in the Women's annual points competition:
Libby MAKINSON (Unattached) 1089 pts.
Emma BROOKS (Unattached) 1058 pts.
Rosie PITT (Victoria Park Harriers & Tower Hamlets AC) 897 pts.

The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores:
Daniel BERRY (VM50-54) was graded 74.61% for the time 20:05 (5th overall).
Pam MITCHELL (VW60-64) was graded 70.80% for the time 27:24 (80th overall).
Angela POLLITZER (VW60-64) was graded 69.84% for the time 29:01 (101st overall).

This week there were 172 runners, of whom 35 were first timers and 20 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 9 different athletics clubs took part.

Hampstead Heath parkrun started on 14th May 2011, and since then 4,088 different runners, including participants from 279 athletics clubs, have completed 19,584 runs covering a total distance of 97,920 km, and there have been 3,850 new Personal Bests.

The women's record is held by Sophia PARVIZI-WAYNE who ran in a time of 00:18:49 on 2013-06-08 (event number 109).
The men's record is held by Ben MOREAU who ran in a time of 00:15:44 on 2012-01-21 (event number 37).
The Age Grade course record is held by Liam HINEBAUCH who recorded a 87.72% run (22:32) on 12th May 2012 (event number 52).

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Hampstead Heath parkrun Results Page.

Report by Andrea Sanders-Reece

The decision was made on Friday evening to run HH parkrun whatever the weather and I’m delighted to say I was not alone - 126 runners enjoyed (I was going to say ‘braved’ but the smiles indicated otherwise) the blustery damp conditions. A huge thank you to the volunteers as I know it is less fun standing around than running when the weather is so changeable.

Many congratulations to the 22 people who achieved personal best (pb) times today – for nine of you it was just your second run on the Heath so no doubt there are plenty more to come! 13 people are new to Hampstead Heath today and nine to parkrun – we look forward to running with you again soon.

50 parkruns
Anne Caspi, Gervase Campbell and Nina Wessels all ran their 50th parkrun today and can look forward to receiving their coveted ‘T’ shirts in the next few weeks. One of our sponsors, Addidas, kindly provides these comfortable, tech fabric, red tops.

Today’s fastest

Men (close finish, wish I’d seen it!):
1. James Gillanders 18:26
2. Jonathan Muscrop 18:28
3. John Driscoll 18:49

Women
1. Rosie Pitt 20:42 (16th win on the Heath and now tops the winners table)
2. Andrea Sanders-Reece 22:21 (also top age-grade 82.1%)
3. Emilia Ewertowska 23:02

Summer on the Heath
The huge plus side, of this typical British summer, is how deliciously green the Heath looks and at least it isn’t cold. The ducks happily dance around in the ponds and the swan parents are proud to show off their six fluffy cygnets that are growing so very quickly. We are so incredibly lucky to have our parkrun on the Heath and to share it with the many other people who use it. The mix of trails and paths coupled with the spectacular views make it such a very special, unique run.