Squirrels fan out to Parkruns far and near

Chloe Lucas

North Herts Road Runners completed Parkruns in almost every corner of Great Britain as members of the Letchworth-based club combined Christmas visits to family and friends with participation in the popular 5k events.

Parkrun has become an international phenomenon over the past 14 years, with 577 venues in the UK – plus many more in a further 19 countries - hosting the free weekly events at 9.00am every Saturday. These include local events in Letchworth Garden City and Stevenage.

This weekend 23 Squirrels turned out at 10 Parkruns in England, Scotland and Wales with Lucy Hurley in South Wales for Aberbeeg Parkrun, where she completed the course in 23.43.

Steve Williamson travelled north of the border to take part in Falkirk Parkrun and finished in 22.26, while Brian Judkins took on what he described as ‘one of the tougher Parkrun courses’ at Wakefield Thornes, finishing in 33.06

After plenty of rain over the previous few days, Clare Hooley reported an ‘absolute mudfest the whole way – not a day for a fast one’ at Cambridge Parkrun, where she finished in 38.56 and James Keogh recorded 20.24.

Lee Hayes attributed his impressive second place in similar ‘Glastonbury-style’ conditions at Letchworth Parkrun to the ‘correct footwear – a few people were running in plimsolls, I reckon!’ Hayes recorded 20.23, with Emily Hutchinson next and first female finisher in 20.38. Chloe Lucas continued her return to regular training after time overseas with a finish time of 24.35 on what she described as a ‘very muddy’ course and Andrew Underhill completed the run with daughter Gracie in 33.58. ‘Not bad for an 8-year-old, he said. ‘She smashed it!’.

Other NHRR Parkrun ‘tourists’ over the weekend included Nick Malpeli at Markeaton , Derby, Chris Poole at Houghton Hall and Naomi Parkinson at Great Denham (both Bedfordshire), Jodie Brumhead at Mole Valley and six Squirrels at Stevenage Parkrun.

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