[Our thanks to Graham Lee from Bexley for this weeks run report]

The Leas parkrun has been on the radar for some time and what a beautiful morning we picked. The Lees were joined by fellow parkrunners from Bexley and Tilgate and a number representing Vegan Runners.

After an informative First Time Briefing, the runners gathered and set off on a bracing two lap out and back along Minster promenade with a view across the estuary of Southend.

Photographs taken, we made our way back along the promenade for a nice breakfast at the Beach, which catered for vegans and was dog friendly. Taking advantage of the lovely weather, we headed to Leysdown for a walk along the beach and ice-cream.
Thanks to Wendy and her volunteer team for a friendly welcome and well marshalled course; a mention for Ben, a tourist volunteer.

Unfortunately one of the marshals took a tumble from his bike before the event. I understand he went home and is ok, but I’m sure all the participants send him best wishes for a quick return to marshalling duties.

Following a series of relatively mild Saturday mornings through October and early November it was the arrival of Storm Arwen that brought that series to a dramatic end resulting in many parkrun cancellations across the UK either due to dangerous winds or snowfall. However although cold and very windy it was assessed safe enough for The Leas 43^rd parkrun to go ahead making it possible for my first visit here.

I arrived to a nearby hotel late on Friday afternoon, the calm before the literal storm, and even witnessed a stunning full rainbow over the water as the weather started to turn but not before I had chance to buy an icecream (when in Rome and all that) and have a walk up and down the promenade.

Overnight the temperature dropped but thankfully stayed above freezing and the rain also stopped so braving the walk to the start in my shorts arrived early to introduce myself to the core team.   The warm welcome was just what I need to take my mind off the weather before having a quick jog with one of the other parkunners. It was soon clear we were going to be light in numbers but a hardy 31 of us made it to the start line.

The Leas is still a relatively new parkrun in event number although when the “great pause” is considered is actually over 2 years old and so in calmer conditions would probably see a steady stream of tourists visiting. Today though there were just 4 including myself, the others being Gary HOLFORD, Adam SHEPHARD and Mark PAYTON. There was also one person who was brand new to parkrun, what a day to arrive, so a special mention to Abigayle SHIPLEY. I don’t know if The Leas will become your home parkrun but do hope you enjoyed today and will come back to parkrun again, wherever it happens to be!

The event would not however have been possible though without 15 amazing volunteers: Marie BERRY, Damian BAKER, Paul BERRY, Fiorina COCCIA, John COCCIA, Deborah HODGSON, Tracy HOLT, Gabrielle KAY, Paul MURRAY, Katie PAINTER, Tony POTTER, Michael PYM, Craig ROUSELL, Adam SHEPHARD and Kerry SWEET.

A special mention to Fiorina COCCIA who volunteered for the 25^th time, like many previous weeks as barcode scanner, hopefully in a good pair of gloves this week!

Thank-you to you all and if you are reading this and want to get involved in future weeks then all details can be found at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/theleas/futureroster/. There many different roles to choose from.

On paper The Leas parkrun looks to be a flat fast course, an “out and mostly back, then out again and finally all the way back” kind of course!   In today’s conditions though it was definitely a game of two halves, or is that a game of four quarters!?   Heading away from the start was quite normal but turning around at the end cone was a very different situation altogether. It was then a case of trying your best to run or walk into the wind – anything to avoid going backwards! That said there were actually 3 new personal bests set – Neil FRANCIS, Ian TOWNSEND-BLAZIER and this morning’s youngest parkrunner Maddison TOWNSEND-BLAZIER.

First place finisher was Craig ROUSELL in a solid time of 21:28 with myself just behind in second place and Jamie PITTS in third. Today’s first female finisher was Julie HATT in a strong performance of 26:29 followed by Sally-Ann GALBRAITH in second and Wendy LANNING in third. First junior finisher was Cassius SEALE.

Congratulations to all of the above but absolutely to everyone who came along today and completed the course.

Full results can be found at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/theleas/results/latestresults/.

No attendance milestones today amongst our small number with our two juniors being the closest to theirs, in this case 10 parkruns, which hopefully will not be too far away.   At the top of the attendance table this week was aforementioned tourist Gary HOLFORD with 390 parkruns followed by regular visitor Paula FRANCIS on 377 (30 of them at The Leas).

Today’s parkrun finished with coffee at The Playa, across the road from the finish funnel, giving a chance to defrost and unwind (actually un-wind is more apt!).  Many thanks to The Leas parkrunners and especially the volunteers for a memorable morning and good luck for the weeks and months ahead!

Damian BAKER, a tourist from Daventry, signing off.