Festival Atmosphere

Squirrels Brave the Wind at Milton Keynes Running Festival 
A small band of Squirrels took on the challenge of the Milton Keynes Running Festival on Sunday, with club runners competing across several of the day’s distances.

The popular event offered runners a choice of races including 5k, 10k, half marathon and 20 miles, attracting participants from across the region to the city of Milton Keynes. Despite bright sunshine greeting runners at the start, a brisk wind ensured conditions were cooler and more testing than they first appeared. For many, Milton Keynes is best known as a shopping destination, leading to the assumption that the race might be pancake-flat. However, those expectations were soon challenged once runners left the town centre streets.

Taking on the 10k distance, one Squirrel reported that the opening half of the course offered a welcome downhill stretch, allowing runners to settle into a strong pace early on. The second half, however, brought a gradual rise before a tougher hill in the final kilometre, ensuring a challenging finish to the race.

The event was widely praised for its organisation, with plenty of parking, enthusiastic marshals, strong spectator support, and a route that made good use of mainly closed roads and pavements. For Mike Phillips and his running companion, the race formed part of a longer training session ahead of a future event. Mike finished the 10k in an impressive 43:49, while Natalie Phillips crossed the line in 50:00. Also representing the club in the 10k was Andrew Wallis.

In the half marathon, Squirrel runners Niccolo Bassani, Ian Harvey, and Ellie Frid all completed the distance, battling the blustery conditions along the course.

All runners deserve congratulations for taking on the challenge, with the windy conditions making the day that little bit tougher in places. Nevertheless, the festival proved to be a thoroughly enjoyable event and one well worth considering for future races.

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Parkrun roundup
Closer to home, Coach Dave Braybrook was celebrating his 100th Parkrun. He planned to celebrate this milestone at his local course, but a very last minute cancellation due to a tree down meant a mass exodus to the busy Stevenage for this special event! Congratulations Dave! ​

Beckton: David Brewer (22:05)

Cassiobury: Siobhan Walsh (52:22)

Dean castle country park: Georgina Quayle (24:13)

Franksfarm: Joseph Barker-sherry (22:51), Scott Reed (27:21)

Great Denham: Simon Hawes (26:14)

Holywell King George V Playing Fields : Bev Rimmer (38:31)

Irchester Country: Vicky Haskell (46:08)

Jubilee bedford: Thomas Buzzard (20:28)

Letchworth: James Dalton (23:21), Laura Fairbanks (26:23), Steve Brenton (30:02), Andrew Robson (32:27), Aimee Flack (33:41)

Linfordwood: Richard Harbon (27:17)

Luton Wardown: Ian Harvey (24:07), Helen Giffin (33:26)

Peel: Ian Datlen (26:42)

Pocket: James Godfrey (21:57), Frances Stanton (33:00)

Rockingham: Oliver Babik (21:43)

Severn Bridge: Kris Whitmore (19:10)

Stevenage: Steve Tracey (22:17), Daniel Wrigley (23:41), Craig Snowden (24:10), Ben Snowden (24:11), Richard Barker (24:55), Dave Braybrook (25:19), Paula Holm (25:20), Jon Hunt (25:21), Mark Larwood (25:23), Ellie Scott (25:47), Andrew Coates (25:50), Lucy O'connor (26:43), Sarah Millhouse (26:44), James Poulton (28:44), Barbara Sayers (31:03), Carina Quayle (35:03), Brian Judkins (38:32), Vanessa Rolfe (39:29), Emily Yossarian (52:07)