The first November parkrun 2019 has seen 234 people running and walking the course, of whom 25 were first timers and 31 recorded new Personal Bests.

It was sunny and colourful with all the autumnal leaves and the bright t-shirts around the estate.

We called it a Pacers Week. Here is a Pacers Team: Anne McNally - 30min, Daniel, Ryden - 27min, Paul Conway - 25min, Colin O'Prey - 23min, John Stevenson - 21min. They did their best and that's all we asked for. Few PBs and few this year PBs were recorded today thanks to these 5 super stars.

This is volunteering role, the one where credit is given for both, running and volunteering, so it may suit those chasing the parkrun milestones. Everyone is welcome to do it. Maybe next time it will be you?

A big group of runners from Monkstown Spartans ran at Stormont. Between them, 2 VI Guides and VI runners, we hope you enjoyed the course.

We have a VI Guide vest as part of our parkrun kit, so give as a shout when you do it and it's yours (VI Guide is a volunteer role at parkrun).

Benjamin Challis (junior!) and Deborah Wells celebrated their 50th parkrun. Thanks for the cake! Mary Cairns joined 50 parkruns too. Congratulations!

Stormont selfie frame was popular with parkrunners:

The event was made possible by 21 volunteers:
Mags MATHIESON • Samuel MISKELLY • Anne MCNALLY • Max MCROBERTS • Stephen HAMILTON • Una MCNEILL • Magda BERNATEK • Jock MEWHA • Alison CANNING • Paul CONWAY • Colin O'PREY • Trevor MOUTRAY • Caroline STEELE • Patricia ADAMS • Daniel RYDEN • John STEVENSON • Jimmy MCNEILL • Chris HUGHES • Vicky JEFFERSON • Bradley O'PREY-MORTON • Marianne O' KANE

And last but not the least, since it's November, we can talk Christmas already, can't we? Yes, we can! So here is the news: Stormont parkrun will be hosting a special Christmas Day parkrun.

MB x

Well done to all 273 of you who took part in a spooktacular parkrun at Stormont on a beautiful Autumn morning. Thanks to everyone who made a big effort with costumes and well done to our prize winners. From scary surgeons, to witches, skeletons and dinosaurs, we had it all.

Welcome to our visitors from Rugby and Dublin - thanks for visiting Stormont.

Well done to Marty McConnell, our tail walker this week, who also completed his 100^th parkrun and to junior participant Lucas Carswell on completing his 50^th parkrun. Thanks Lucas for the cake!

Congratulations to everyone from St Joseph’s Primary School in Ballyhackamore, who after completing a couch to 5k progamme in school, graduated at Stormont parkrun. Well done everyone – you’re all champions!

Thanks a million to this week’s 17 terrorific volunteers:

Menacing Marianne HOOD, Mischievous Max MCROBERTS, Devilish David MARK, Alarming Angela MAWHINNEY, Afflicted Alison CANNING, Ghoulish Gillian SADLIER, Lurking Lara CANNING, Terrible Trevor MOUTRAY, Spooky Steven GILLILAND, Mysterious Miranda JEMPHREY, Nightmarish Nicholas THOMPSON, Monstrous Marty MCCONNELL, Jumpy Jonathan CAMPBELL, Eerie Elaine WESTON, Dastardly David MALEY, Cackling Chris HUGHES, Magical Marianne O' KANE

We’re always on the look out for new faces to join the volunteer team – If you’re able to help out over the next few weeks, please get in touch with stormont@parkrun.com. It’s great fun, and full training will be provided for all roles!

See you all next week!

Very well done everyone for another great parkrun today...

194 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 22 were first timers and 39 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 20 different clubs took part and lots of our favourite furry friends. We also welcomed visitors from Cockermouth in Cumbria and coincidentally we also had our regular cockers-in-residence Alfie and Eva!

Many congratulations to Stephen Thompson who completed his 50th parkrun this morning - your t-shirt is on its way! Congrats also to regular Stormont Stormers David Rainey on his 150th run and to Trevor Moutray who completed his 150th at Stormont.

Finally, the very gorgeous Kerry Harkin is on track for her 250th run with only 6 more to go until she secures the loveliest of green t-shirts!

Stormont parkrun - Event number 216 - 12th October 2019

This week 270 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 31 were first timers and 60 recorded new Personal Bests (obvs inspired by the great Eliud Kipchoge this morning). #nohumanislimited

Representatives of 18 different clubs took part and it was great to see a strong contingent from Lagan Valley AC taking part in their challenge.

Huge congrats to Logan Andrews (JM 11-14) for completing his 10th parkrun and Claire Bonner for completing her 50th and Milton Stewart for his 100th - t-shirts on their way to you Logan, Claire & Milton! Very well done - you kept those milestones quiet during the briefing! Although not a recognised milestone, it would be rude not to mention the extreme talents of Angela Mawhinney, who not only ran her 150th run but also timed it in such a way that she bagged the 150th token! Honestly, you couldn't have planned it any better Angie! We are always on the lookout for new volunteers so please do get in touch if you would like to do this, we have great craic! This weeks event was made possible by 16 marvellous, talented, enthusiastic and happy volunteers: Marianne HOOD • Anne MCNALLY • Max MCROBERTS • Una MCNEILL • Lara CANNING • Adam CANNING • Trevor MOUTRAY • William HOPKINS • Mark LEATHEM • Alasdair MACINNES • Jonathan CAMPBELL • Patricia ADAMS • Jimmy MCNEILL • Simpson VERONICA • Carol NOBLE • Gary CRAIG Today's full results and a complete event history can be found on the Stormont parkrun Results Page.

Fifteen years ago the first parkrun took place and today at Stormont we had a first of our own.

With many of our regulars away, it was the perfect time to hold a first-time volunteers takeover.

Ten of our 24 volunteers (what a great turn-out) were first-timers. Jonny was first-time run director and greatly appreciated the support shown by everyone on the roster, old and new. Parkrun only happens because of volunteers so if you would like to get involved, please drop us a line at stormont@parkrun.com.

In total 208 people took part.

Thirty-six achieved new PBs. Well done to all.

Cathy Hopkins, who was one of the first to run at Stormont and was herself responsible for a first by establishing Nidda parkrun in Frankfurt (one of Germany's first parkruns), returned to complete her 50th run.

Congratulations also to Marty McConnell who reached his 25th volunteering milestone and rewarded himself by being the first customer of the burger van set up for a later event in the estate.

It was a nice surprise to wake up and to see a blue sky after yesterday downpours. There were at least 2 options to choose from:  1. watch Rugby World Cup or 2. do parkrun. Those who chose parkrun had no regrets. The blue sky stayed with us to the end and the sunshine was an added bonus. However it was not dry enough for the puddles to dissapear and the run was a bit muddy. Some washing to do today! All in all it was another great morning with great people. #loveparkrun

Next week it's a First Time Volunteers take over and Jonny who will be a RD for the first time had few words to say pre-run. Everyone can support him next week volunteering or running! Good luck all First Timers!

We welcomed parkrun toursists from Eastbourne, London, Leeds and Aberdeen.

Congratulations to parkrunners who reached their milestones: 50 - Helen Connolly and Amy McConkey, 100 - Kathryn Francis.

The exceptional performance of DubRunners can't go unnoticed. Claire, Catherine and Ronan were high up the results table today. Well done!

This week 211 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 19 were first timers and 42 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 21 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 14 volunteers - thank you all:
Davy LAMBE • Samuel MISKELLY • Graham JEWHURST • Anne MCNALLY • Magda BERNATEK • Paul CONWAY • Trevor MOUTRAY • Sara THOMPSON • Caroline STEELE • Jonathan CAMPBELL • Bradley O'PREY-MORTON • Carol NOBLE • Maura MCMATH • Alun KANE

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

There is always a good buzz on Belfast half marathon weekend. While plenty of regular runners were resting ahead of tomorrow's big race, others took the opportunity to do a few easy miles, while inching closer towards their next milestone.

We always welcome several tourists the day before the half - and today we had visitors from Glasgow, Edinburgh, London and Manchester.

And it was one of those Manchester runners - Sophie Wood from Sale Harriers (above) - who broke our female course record, and broke it by quite a margin. Despite setting off with her friends on their journey to Belfast at 4.30am, Sophie ran 18:18 to finish 4th overall. She beat the previous mark of 18:38, set 10 months ago, by 20 seconds.

After last week's PB-fest, when 52 runners ran their fastest Stormont time, we witnessed 42 PBs today. Conditions were perfect, although some runners did come unstuck in the trails after encountering angry wasps.

We had our usual high number of doggos taking part, and you can read more about them here https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stormont/news/2019/08/22/stormont-barkrun/
One of the stars of our website, Stanley, somehow managed to chew through his lead, while running, meaning his run - and that of his owner, were cut short. Thanks to both of them for jumping in and volunteering afterwards.

Thank you to the handful of first time volunteers who have said they will take part in our takeover event on Oct 5. Remember our core team is away and we are hoping new volunteers will fill every role. We could do with a few more coming forward. More information can be found here https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stormont/news/2019/09/09/first-time-volunteer-takeover/

We had 245 people running and walking today, of whom 39 joined us for the first time. Representatives of 23 different clubs took part. Well done to John Davidson who reached his 50th run milestone, and brought cake.

Finally, good luck to our core team members, regular volunteers and runners taking part in the half tomorrow.

Hey, I can be the answer

I'm ready to dance when the vamp up

And when I hit that dip, get your camera...

It was event 212 today at Stormont.

There are some days when everything feels right, conditions are perfect and we end up running a new PB. Today was one of those days for 52 people. We recorded 52 PBs today, about one in every five runners.

It may have had something to do with us moving the start line. Some of you may have realised the course had been slightly long due to us having to reroute when the playpark work was continuing.

Running that little bit extra for the last few weeks has clearly helped. There were plenty of broad grins at the finish line today.

We had 19 volunteers helping make parkrun happen this morning. Many thanks to those who have already responded to our 'first time volunteer takeover' appeal. This is taking place on October 5. If you have never volunteered before, please consider making this day your first time. The earlier you put your name forward, the better the choice of tasks, but they are all straightforward.

This week 249 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 29 were first timers. Representatives of 19 different clubs took part.

Today's full results and a complete event history can be found elsewhere on this website.

To volunteer for October 5 (first time volunteers week) or any other date, please contact us on stormont@parkrun.com

291 people chose to visit Stormont Estate and complete parkrun on a warm and sunny Saturday morning. It's an impressive attendance. You all started Bank Holiday weekend with a blast! Well done!

Join us at the main gate for a prerun briefing, including the important health and safety announcements. It's also an opportunity to welcome visitors, first timers, and celebrate milestones together.

We had 43 first timers, few visitors (Ramsbottom Running Club, Carickfergus parkrun and few more locations) and few doing first ever parkrun. They were briefed by Sara, who stepped into the role last minute, so big thank you to her.

One of the 1st timers in a barkrun category was Bailey.

We love to see barkrunners at Stormont, a water bowls and some treats are waiting for them at the finish line. You can see some of the dogs on our website, check Dogs of Stormont feature.

If running with a dog, please keep him/her on a short lead, and be careful especially passing other parkrunners and park users.

Full results are available here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/stormont/results/weeklyresults/?runSeqNumber=209

The event was made possible by 18 volunteers: Simon DOYLE • Max MCROBERTS • Stephen HAMILTON • Maxine STEELE • Una MCNEILL • Sophie LAW • Magda BERNATEK • Joe MILES • Alison CANNING • William HOPKINS • Jennifer MILLS • Brian DODDS • Ciaran CROSSEY • Sara THOMPSON • Jonathan CAMPBELL • Jimmy MCNEILL • Gary CRAIG • Graeme TAGGART