One of the main joys of Watermeadows parkrun is how much it varies from run to run. It is a flat course, and can, when the sun shines and the ground is firm be a fast, easy course. Today it was a little squelchier and offered some new obstacles. Several water hazards appeared, including the slalom around the newly formed ponds. It was muddy, rainy and a little cold, but everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the new challenges it offered.

Congratulations go to Helen Betts and Ian Gardiner, who were the only runners able to squeeze out a PB today. Stephen Ratcliffe was the first home with a time of 20:10, and Helen Heley was the first female finisher with a time of 21:26. Also well done to the 5 first timers today, and all of the other of the 40 runners who took part today.

There were visitors from Sheffield and Grantham, and a special thanks should be given to the 15 volunteers, especially as most probably felt the damp and cold more than the rest of us!

Next week is another first for Watermeadows as we welcome Brass players from the Towcester Saturday Morning Music Centre who will get everyone in the festive mood by playing Christmas tunes during the run. Other parents, students and staff will be dotted about running and volunteering, taking advantage of a rare Saturday morning off!

 

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The event was made possible by 15 volunteers:

Rachel GARDNER • Katie NOBLE • Fi NOBLE • Stephen NOBLE • Richard LEWIS • Ben PETTIFER • Danny GARDNER • Caroline JARDINE • Andrew CLANCY • Leila COUSINS • Celia PICKIN • Annemarie MCELHATTON • Peter BROWN • Isla MACLEOD • Sarah THOMPSON

Watermeadows parkrun started on 16th February 2019. Since then 1,817 participants have completed 4,155 parkruns covering a total distance of 20,775 km, including 828 new Personal Bests. A total of 242 individuals have volunteered 817 times.

Watermeadows parkrun 12th October - by Jo Keites

Despite being a grey morning 68 fabulous runners and walkers arrived at the scenic Watermeadows ready to get the weekend off to a great start (and get a little muddy).  On the Run, Towcester’s running group, turned out in force to volunteer for the event, ready to cheer on fellow runners and excited at the opportunity wear high vis!

 

It was a fantastic morning with most even managing to find a smile for the camera on the finish line. The best finish has to go the gentleman who had the energy to literally take off into a star jump as he finished!

The first male over the line was Sam Upton who finished in a rapid 20:10.  The first female over the line was an amazing junior, Jessica Reynolds, completing it in a phenomenal 22:59 and as 10^th overall. There was one dog entrant – Pippa who ran brilliantly with her owner competing the route easily! Three and a half laps wasn’t enough for one runner who enjoyed the views so much he completed another 4 laps of the Watermeadows after completing his parkrun– working hard to earn the sausage roll from the bakery!

As always there was a great atmosphere with entrants of all ages and paces running together with a common interest in enjoying the outdoors and getting fit. Well done everyone!

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This week 68 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 18 were first timers and 7 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 9 different clubs took part.

The event was made possible by 26 volunteers:

Christopher ST LEGER-HARRIS • Elaine EVANS • Carys ROBERTS • Hannah ST LEGER-HARRIS • Cheryl GOLDMAN • Jo KEITES • Alison BRIDGE • Natalie READ • Susan YOUNG • Isaac ST LEGER-HARRIS • Alasdair YOUNG • Michelle TRESS • Mark SAMPSON • Kristina MORRIS • Felicity ST LEGER-HARRIS • Leila COUSINS • Peter MCALLISTER • Dee NEWMAN • Caroline HUNT • Elizabeth VARA • Jo MICHEL • Allison PINCHIN • Lindsay BOLTON • Mary WARINGTON • William YOUNG • Isla MACLEOD

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

The female record is held by Melanie WOOD who recorded a time of 20:04 on 16th February 2019 (event number 1).
The male record is held by Jonny REEP who recorded a time of 17:13 on 6th July 2019 (event number 21).
The Age Grade course record is held by Andy GREEN who recorded 83.44% (18:25) on 24th August 2019 (event number 28).

Watermeadows parkrun started on 16th February 2019. Since then 1,735 participants have completed 3,817 parkruns covering a total distance of 19,085 km, including 803 new Personal Bests. A total of 225 individuals have volunteered 695 times.

A Bank Holiday weekend and the sun was out but better still it was Watermeadow parkrun’s 28^th event and my first visit here.

Although Watermeadows is just 6 months old I have been personally following the twists and turns of what would have been “Towcester parkrun” for a couple of years from nearby Daventry and I am so glad that the event is up running.   I can already see that the hard work and dedication from the core team, both now and throughout all the difficult times, has really paid off and in my humble opinion is a lovely addition to the parkrun family!

 

Luckily we arrived early enough to have a walk around the course and see the impressive views across the countryside.   The ground was firm but a little wet from the morning dew.  The course is 4 laps and all on grass which isn’t to everyone’s taste but it is the variety across the parkrun world that is part of its charm, especially for those that like to indulge in a spot of parkrun tourism.  Today a fraction under half who took part were such tourists, 45 out of 97, including shout outs for Derby and Jersey as Run Director Hannah ST LEGER-HARRIS’s welcomed us.  In addition there were 6 people starting their parkrun journey at Watermeadows.   Hopefully many of you will be back again!

 

The event would not however have been possible though without 18 wonderful volunteers:  Christelle BARNES, Damian BAKER, Rosie BINLEY, Jeremy BINLEY, Andrew CLANCY, Rhianne CONNOR, Mark CONWAY, Ciaragh HUBERT, Rhea LAIGHT, Hamish MCALLISTER, Peter MCALLISTER, Lena MOORE, Mark PETERKIN, Liz SHEFFIELD, Christopher ST LEGER-HARRIS, Isaac ST LEGER-HARRIS, Hannah ST LEGER-HARRIS and Felicity ST LEGER-HARRIS.

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/watermeadows/futureroster/.  There are lots of different roles to choose from.

 

Today’s first finisher was tourist Nathan VURGEST in a time of 18:21 and first female finisher was regular attendee, and almost as regular first finisher, Helen HELEY in at time of 21:36.  Two age category records were also set today - Andy GREEN in the VM55-59 category and Craig JACKSON in VM45-49.  They were also 2^nd and 3^rd finisher respectively.  First junior finisher was Stirling GREEN.

A total of 19 people set personal bests today including Steve BROOKS who was kind enough to drive me across, taking off exactly 1 minute from his previous best.  Congratulations to all of the above but also to everyone who came along today and completed the course.

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

 

There were no milestones parkruns today, that’s 10 runs for a junior and then 50/100/250/500 runs after that for all parkrunners.   This, along with a chance to celebrate, earns a different coloured parkrun T-shirt.  Volunteering 25 times will also achieve this.   There were though a number on show from visitors and volunteers including a relatively rare blue 500 T-shirt worn by Danny NORMAN, now having completed an incredible 658 parkruns!!

 

So I end by wishing Watermeadows  parkrun good luck for the months and years ahead and would definitely recommend a trip to Warrens Bakery after your parkrun too with some amazing cakes and pastries to undo all your good work :0)

Damian BAKER signing off but look out for my purple T-shirted running club who will be helping out with the volunteering next week and might just give a little mention our 10k race on September 22^nd whilst they are there.