parkrun is back!
When Andrew Darton and Phil Lucker were second and third finishers at the Thornbury Parkrun on October 5th 2019, no one expected the next running to be a full 658 days later.
The autumn and winter of 2019 was one of the wettest in memory, ensuring the Mundys was never dry enough, and then when we did finally see some sun…well you know what has kept Parkrun cancelled since then!
Fortunately there was no plague of frogs in the allotments, nor four sinister-looking horsemen guarding the entrance, so the event finally went ahead.
Club captain Kevin Wood encouraged members to turn up in their club vest, and it was a joyful sight to see so many shirts and smiling faces on display as we gathered for a group photo before the start. (If you spot Ashleigh Ferris sporting a snazzy set of shades, that was hangover-related, not due to the sunshine!) The long summer grass and the heavy overnight rain meant it was a bit slippy underfoot, and not PB conditions, but quite frankly, who cared? It was just a chance to celebrate, to cheer, to say ‘thank you marshal’, and after 18 months of solo training runs, to remind ourselves that we are born to run…together!
Clare Watt was the top TRC runner, recording a wonderful age-graded score of 78.5%, and a finishing time of 24.01. She was narrowly ahead in the age-graded score (which is proof of what a good system it is to show who really is running well) of 14-yr old Thomas Darton. Thomas set off from start like an excited spaniel being let out for their first walk of the day, and held his pace well to go ‘sub 20’ and record his course PB of 19.52. His father, Andrew, has long since seen his talented son stride out into the distance, but still finished well inside 21 minutes himself.
Hannah Hamilton was the first female finisher in the race, and an amazing 9th place overall. Hannah’s time was just outside her course PB in 21:37. Ben Bohane led from the first corner to the tape, with a beautifully paced run, and the only man to go under 19 minutes. His form on the hills augurs well for the cross-country season to come.
Finally, special mention to Sarah Dix (26.09), for running her course PB.
Over at Chipping Sodbury (a faster course, but tricky for those at the front who have to take a wide path to overtake other runners) Phil Blackburn continued to show how rapidly he is improving as a runner. He was 4th overall, in a wonderful time of 18.01. It won’t be long before he joins the 17 minute club. Mitch Ford took on the hilly Ashton Court parkrun and finished in 21:21, while Adam Frontczak ran on the pebbles at Seaton sea-front, in a very impressive 20:54. Nick Landridge missed an 80% age-graded score at Stonehouse by a fraction; does he ever have a bad run?! Mark West ran 20:31 at the idyllic-sounding Dinton Pastures, while Ian Hoffman ran 22:10 at Eastville, which is, erm, opposite Ikea.
Full TRC parkrun results for 24/7/21:
https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2378&eventdate=2021-07-24
Ed: Several of the TRC members who ran on Saturdays are not shown in this report. Please go to parkrun ‘manage my profile’ -> Groups -> Add ‘Thornbury RC’
26/07/21