Report By: Sarah Moulding (Fareham Crusaders)
Last week the weather was horrendous. Wind, rain, fog.... the works. So needless to say I was hoping for better this week! My first thoughts on getting in the car and seeing that the temperature was a mild 10 degrees was that I had dressed too warmly. How hard is it as a runner to judge how many layers to wear? Secondly that I hoped the rain would stay away, as I had run out of contact lenses and running in glasses when raining is really not fun!
I picked my Dad up who was volunteer photographer this week and left the kids in the capable hands of Nanny. Arriving at parkrun lots of the volunteers were already there. If we think running in bad weather is hard, I'm pretty sure the marshals/volunteers have it worse, as they are mostly stood still. Thank you guys for all coming today to make parkrun happen
My Dad got his high viz vest on and off he went taking pictures. I stood and chatted to some Run Mummy Run members. I am a member of this group, it is an online running club for women from all over the world. Louise Tanner is a member and each week she offers to buddy up with anyone attending. This way they don't have to run alone, or is there to greet them and welcome them if it is their first parkrun, and possibly nervous.
I then wandered off to chat to my fellow Fareham Crusaders. I love the social side of parkrun, there was lots of talk this morning about the upcoming Stubbington 10km Race next Sunday. Good luck to everyone running, don't forget there are still parkrun Volunteer spaces for the day before, if you fancy trying it!
Before I knew it, we had our new Run Director give their talk and off we went. The wind towards Browndown was against us and I was pleased to get to the turnaround point where a few people commented that the wind was behind us now and it was easier. As I huffed and puffed and did not entirely agree. After this first turn around the runners begin to spread out a bit and people find their pace ready for the longer stretch down towards The Shack. The rain stayed away and it was pretty steady down this way until the next turn around point where, as you turn, you literally get hit in the face with the wind and you then realise it will be like this for the rest of the run. I was running behind a couple from Itchin Spitfires, where there was some great coaching and encouragement going on. I struggled along and made it over the "hill" where I then realised this was even worse, the last 0.5km the wind was so strong! No sprint finish for me, I was just happy with a finish, full stop!
I stood and cheered the other runners in, and saw some great finishes. The kids at parkrun always completely amaze me, also the buggy runners too!! In fact, everyone who turns up for parkrun amazes me, to be honest. Well done all of you for getting up, getting out and taking part in parkrun. See you next week!!!
Statistics: Run Number 29.
Male placings: 1) Ant GRITTON (SM25-29) of Lordshill Road Runners, was first over the line in 18:09 - first appearance. 2) Peter ABRAHAMS (SM25-29) of Fareham Crusaders, was second over the line in 19:14. 3) Iain CROSS (SM30-34) of Southampton AC, was third over the line in 19:21.
Current standing in the Men's annual points competition: 1) Chris WILLIAMS (Unattached) 1923 pts. 2) Simon HEARNDEN (Stubbington Green Runners) 1746 pts. 3) Graham WRIGHT (Unattached) 1601 pts.
Female placings: 1) Nikki MOXHAM (VW40-44) (Unattached) was first (15th overall) over the line in 20:34 - 17th time in 19 appearances. 2) Susie MACGREGOR (VW45-49) of Stubbington Green Runners, was second (16th overall) over the line in 20:45 - has been first to finish on 2 previous occasions. 3) Melissa HUTTON-DUNTON (VW35-39) of Stubbington Green Runners, was third (46th overall) over the line in 23:01.
Current standing in the Women's annual points competition: 1) Nikki MOXHAM (Unattached) 1898 pts. 2) Jenny SHILLING (Gosport Road Runners) 1860 pts. 3) Victoria AYRISS (Unattached) 1709 pts.
The following runners recorded the best Age Grade scores: Jenny SHILLING (VW65-69) was graded 78.71% for the time 26:09 (103rd overall). Susie MACGREGOR (VW45-49) was graded 78.07% for the time 20:45 (16th overall). David ABRAMS (VM65-69) was graded 75.63% for the time 23:03 (49th overall).
This week there were 379 runners, of whom 72 were first timers and 41 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 27 different athletics clubs took part.
Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun started on 4th July 2015, and since then 2,171 different runners, including participants from 141 athletics clubs, have completed 7,470 runs covering a total distance of 37,350 km, and there have been 1,849 new Personal Bests.
The female record is held by Ellen CROMBIE, who ran in a time of 00:19:03 on 2015-08-01 (Event No 5). The male record is held by Max COSTLEY, who ran in a time of 00:16:03 on 2016-01-01 (Event No 27). The Age Grade course record is held by Penny FORSE, who recorded a 92.89% run (22:30) on 3rd October 2015 (Event No 14)..
Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Lee-on-the-Solent parkrun Results Page.