Vale Park, a Beautiful Run in the Heart of the Community

(picture copyright BrucieBaby)

339 people descended today on the  4th running of Vale Park parkrun, located at Port Vale Football Club with free parking next door at Synetic Solutions and bacon and sausage butties sold by the football club after the run

This is truly a parkrun in the heart of the community  Spronson Park is beautiful area with all weather football and padel pitches and multi purpose areas for kids with Special Needs.

As ever when visiting parkruns, it is a shared space and it is particularly satisfying in the summer months to see these spaces packed, not only from the parkrunners and walkers but others enjoying the facilities this lovely area has to offer.

I heard about the soft launch of this event but wanted to wait a few weeks for it to bed in and also not to overwhelm the volunteers.  

If you didn't realise that this was only the 4th event, you would have no idea as the Run Director Mark Taylor and his team were silky smooth in the way they ran it.  The briefing was funny, welcoming with a huge focus on the first time runners, Ayodeji Olayiwole,  Eve Loach, Jean Ncugi and Chloe Bailey.  Looking at the times, all the first timers did so well on a warm day on a tough course.  Welcome everyone and see you all next week hopefully to smash your result today.

When you set off from Port Vale you head into Spronson Park for three laps that is best described by  David Tennant's Dr Who as 

...up, n down n left n right and wibbly wobbly, BMX course type  brilliance.  

This time of year, its nice and dry, a tough hill at the start of the lap but also down fast downs to get your pacing back.  Three laps but so varied it never gets boring.  (May need those trail shoes in the winter)

First home today was Stockport Harrier's Andrew Davies in 17.54 followed by Mathew Morris (18.06)  and Anton Kaledinskas (18.18).  First two ladies were the Dixons, Lindsay (21.44) with her first run here and Melissa (22.36) followed in third by Hannah Hancock (22.53)

Its is likely that as the events goes on, the tourists will go decrease too, but this event is more than capable of hosting 300 plus runners.

Keep a look out in the Stoke Sentinel as there was a journalist here today chatting about local runners.  Hopefully you can get a great write up that this fantastic event deserved

Thank you to all the volunteers, the free parking, the really nice food and absolutely lovely bit of touring to a parkrun that is going to be a massive success

Summer Running, In the Hyde of the Beholder

 The Marple Runners race series continued this morning with a visit to the beautiful Hyde Park in Tameside.  27 Marplees descended on the park out of a field of 238 on another beautiful day in what is turning out to be a lovely Summer.  

The park itself is very easy to get to with a big car park opposite (shuts around 10.45) and plenty of spaces on the road.

We all gathered at the start for the customary club photo before the Run Director for the day, Gareth Hurfurt, gave the announcements.

Mike Woodall, Leag Garvey, Baz Mccabe, Abigail Tobin, Muhammed Rahman, Kerry Martin, John Armitage, Joshua Charlesworth, Ava and Michael Booth, Phillip Picken, Byrony Dale and Lousie Spragg all were welcomed into the madness of parkrun Day. (formally known as Saturday) They all set incredible times for their  first run....Only problem you all have now is beating it next week.  One problem..it is very very addictive.

I've not ran here for a few years, and I don't know why because it is such a lovely course, for a three lapper, it surprisingly varied, all very runnable, mixture of paths and trail, some steep ups and a nice long descent makes this a very enjoyable run whatever time of the year you take part.

First home was Thomas Lambert, followed 2, 3 and 5 seconds behind by Robert Shelton, Kieron Brown and Howard Oldham in (18.21, 18,23,18.24, 18.26)  Just glad I wasn't on the timings there.  What a brilliant finish (definitely not a race : ) ) 

First lady home was Marple's Eleanor Connelly in 22.57, Sapphire Cheng in second in 23.21 and Kate Haughton in third with 24.40

Going back to our club run,  Richard Williams was first Marplee home, 9th overall, in 20.21, James Nuttall setting a 23 second course PB in second in 21.38 and Paul Smith, also with a PB of 25 seconds in third with 23 minutes

Eleanor Connelly (1st time here) who flew away from me at the start and dropped me after the first 250 metres.  was 1st lady  home and 30th overall in 22.57, Anna Ashton  with a stonking 45 second course PB in 24.48 and Sarah Sutcliffe just behind her in 25.16.   

It was Anna's 499th parkrun today, huge congratulations to her and hope as many people can join her next Saturday for her 500th, which I guess it at Marple ?

I tried to keep up with Rob Sutchfield for the first two laps, but I think he was toying with me as he disappeared into the distance on lap 3...I'll get you next time Gadget (To you..To me)

Final mention to James Pratt who, after a few injury ravaged years is making his way back to fitness very quickly.  Won't be long before he's flying past me again.  

Thank you to all the Volunteers for putting on such a brilliant run.  Today is what parkrun is about.  Beautiful morning, so many people in a park enjoying themselves. To all those 1st timers who may have been a bit nervous, please remember, it doesn't matter whether you run, jog, walk the course, or a mixture of all three, this event is for you.  I can guarantee you, come back next week and become a full time member of this amazing event.

The Centre of Beauty

Whilst slowing cooking in the heatwave last night, I had a look on the parkrun app at the nearest parkruns I haven't yet done to see where I wanted to go. 

When it is cold and dark and raining on a Saturday morning in January, the last thing you feel like doing is getting in your car and travelling about an hour to go parkrun touring, but on a beautiful July's day like today, you've really got no excuse, and it came to where can I run that's the most beautiful ?

It came down two locations, Centre Vale or Huddersfield, both around an hour away, both looked equally pretty.  Hudds attracts between 5-600 whereas the Vale is normally a couple of hundred so I chose that as the better option.

It's an easy drive, mostly on the motorway with the last 10 miles or so on beautiful A roads in Todmorden. Parking is easy enough, I parked on the main road outside, but you can park at the Hare and Hounds Pub (according to the app)

When you get into the park, you can immediately see why they chose this as a course.  It's lovely.  I got there around 8.20 but there were folk already there setting up who were immediately friendly and very chatty.

They've got a great relationship with the bowls club who open up their hut where you can store your bags.  More excitingly though they sell homemade cakes, (£1.50) tea and coffee after run.  Apart from how nice (and big) the cakes are, the money they make from the parkrunners pays for their annual fee to play bowls there.  How cool is that ?

Course itself is a 3 lapper, mixture of 3 up and down trails, and tarmac and each lap.  Very runnable in road shoes in the summer, but in the winter, I'd imagine you may need trail shoes.  (For NW runners, its a mixture of the woody bit of Marple and the hills in Bramhall) 

It's certainly not a fast one but the down hill and flatter parts give you time to recover before taking on the second and last lap.

I really like these smaller events,  seem a lot more personal than the bigger ones.  I'm surprised this one, in particular does not attract a lot more but looking at the lay out of the course, it may get congested if it was bigger.  Smaller field is perfect for a great course like this

123 people took part today, Joseph Hornsby was the first runner home with a new PB of 19.39, Tom Barclay, also with a PB 46 seconds behind, with Ambi Swindells only 19 seconds behind Tom for first lady home in 20.59 with Ann-Marie Bullock in 2nd place with 23.33.  (Huge mention too to Charlie Moffatt in 6th with 21.12 in the 11-14 category !)   

The only thing stopping me becoming a regular visitor is it being an hour away,  if I was closer, this would be a regular event for me.

Well worth the journey and a beautiful hidden gem, one, I hope remains a bit of a secret

Marple Runners Takeover Marple parkrun

I did my first parkrun on the 27 September 2008 and today was my 598th run, and I have to say, without a doubt that today was  my favourite parkrun I've ever ran.

I've being without a club for years, having got out of the habit during COVID.  I was scrolling through running podcasts and  came across this Marple Runners Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts.  Now when you run local races you get to know people you meet at them. Sometimes you run at similar paces, sometimes you share lifts as you live nearby, sometimes you race each other to the finish, others you know by sight.  

I listened to the first episode and was immediately taken in by the self depreciating humour, the brilliantly scripted openings,  the singing introduction to the new of the local runs and, perhaps more importantly, the all encompassing, all welcoming, 'whatever your pace is '  nature of Marple Runners.  There are some running podcasts which are elitists, this isn't its so listenable and entirely relatable to everyday runners

I joined in April and only wished I'd done so many years ago.  I'd recommend anyone, in the area especially  those who are  a bit nervous about running, who may think 'it's not for me, I'm not a runner, I'm too slow' to come down and meet the team on a Monday or Wednesday to see that it's for everyone.  Whatever your speed you'll be made extremely welcome and by the very fact of running with  people, you'll get quicker

Today was all about Marple taking over parkrun and volunteering every role.  From Run Directors to pacing, to marshals on the course, to timers, token hander-outers to of course, Dennis and Minnie, our mascots.

Day started off with a tribute to one of the people that was instrumental in setting up Marple parkrun back in 2012 with Catherine Toombs and has ran 663 parkruns at 171 locations with 451 volunteer credits.  James Kemp  has ran parkruns in places such as the US, Canada, Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, and South Africa and until his recent retirement was the Global Head of Event Delivery.  Incredible achievement and absolutely lovely man.  Always a pleasure to see him

We also had the honour of being joined by absolute legend of Marple Runners and parkrun on his 90th birthday, Brian Platt.  I don't know Brian very well myself, but he is one of the faces you instantly recognise.  He is, to many people, what parkrun is about.  He is the side of parkrun that is 'just more than a run in the park' he shows what parkrun is, that it is truly a community.  People know Brian, Brian is Mr Marple and it was an honour to be there today where we all gave him a cheer and sang him Happy Birthday.  In true Brian style he stayed, watched and cheered everyone on during their run.  

Brian ran 504 times in Marple, and 159 at Bramhall (where he started), he also ran at Woodbank, Lyme Park, Bedfont Lakes, Basingstoke, the one off event at Bramhall midweek (when Adidas were the sponsor and they opened their new base nearby) and many more.

I've heard many stories (thank you Catherine Toombs) including  after his century of runs at Bramhall, he was keen to help at Marple in any way, doing the pre race set up (with his distinctive purple hat.)  Such is the love for him, local runners planted an English oak in his honour.  Hyacnithe Loyson's 1866 sermon fits him perfectly

 'A society grows geat when old men plant trees who shade they know they shall never sit in'  

Only difference being, Brian planted that seed, has helped to nuture it and enjoyed and will enjoy its shade for many years to come. Hope Brian and his family read this and realise how much he's loved

214 people ran, jogged and walked the course this morning on a slightly chilly June morning,  made possible by 47 Marple volunteers.  Pacers helped 37 people to get PBs and 4 people brand new to parkrun got to see what a brilliant community event parkrun is.

Pacing is one of the best roles you can do in a run.  Being able to help other people to their goal opens up a completely different side to running that you don't experience when your focussed on your goal.  You can encourage, cheers on, berate (if you know them well enough) other people to hit the time they did not think they could get, taking the stress out of them having to look at their watch.  I really enjoyed today and can't wait for the next Marple takeover

I am grateful to this wonderful club that has  already helped me achieve my running goal.

Haigh there Woodland parkrun

 Agggh  

Another new parkrun and another absolute favourite.

Every single thing about this parkrun ticks the box, another parkrun up there with the best.  This was my 597th parkrun and my 54th different location but it is rare to find a location that has got everything absolutely spot on.  Some runs have the location right, or the cafe right, of the marshals right or the first timers briefing right.  Haigh Woodland has everything.  It was their  464th event and you can tell as this has the feel of a very polished event

I'm a bit of a lazy tourist and having done all the Greater Manchester runs, my  NENDYs are now around 45 mins to an hour away minimum.  With it being such a beautiful late Spring morning, I had a look at the list and this one jumped out at me.

I got to the park nice and early, you get given a ticket from the barrier and pay on the way out (£1.75 for 2 hours hours, £3 all day).  First thing you notice is what a stunning location this park is.  Beautiful location, nicely hidden away.  

Cafes and toilets are plentiful and the extremely enthusiastic and welcoming marshals were gathered around with music playing.

The first timers briefing was carried out by a young lad and, it is has to be said, one of the funniest, most confident and laid back briefing I've seen.  I assume he's done it many many times before.  If not, he's an absolute natural.

The RD then took over to give the safety briefing and (I'm really glad to see this is becoming more popular) made sure everyone was listening whilst she made it (making it very clear she'd stop if people were talking) 

276 people set off on the course which is a rare one lapper and a run of two halves.  It is mainly on woodland paths, with still some muddy bits, it has the look of needing trail shoes in the winter, but today was perfectly runnable in road shoes.

There were marshals all over the course who cheered you on as you ran steadily down hill for the first half, perhaps knowing what was coming in the second as what goes down must come up.

The good news is though even though the second half is up hill, it is still very runnable which makes this just a perfect course.  Obviously not a PB but certainly something you can go hard in the first half and keep going.

My overall PB is 20.31 and I finished here in 24.25, so that may give you some sort of indication.  It also makes you appreciate the Superhuman effort of 'JP Goudge' who was the first finisher in an incredible time of 17.51 (think he's a very capable ultra runner ?)  with Harley Making flying in second in 20.00.  Brilliant effort too for Lauren Blake,. 1st female in 21.55 for her first run here.

After I got scanned, I went straight to the cafe where you can get a 'parkrunner's breakfast' of three items on your butty and coffee for £7.50.  It's freshly made, so I didn't mind the wait.

Really, really loved this run.  They asked for feedback for improvements.....I've got nothing.  Absolutely perfect, ran with a big smile all the way round.

If you're anywhere near this location, just do it.

See you all again soon.  I've got a time to beat

Start of Project Sub 20

 

On the 5^th April 2025 I ran an overall parkrun PB of 21.05. This was after years of my PB being 21.15. In fact 2025 was a bit of a breakthrough year, before this I was hovering around the late 21s, low 22s for a flat 5k. 

I got a bit more serious last year and tried to train more specifically towards the 5 k to half marathon distances and bought a Noricktrak treadmill towards the end of the year to help me in that.  It’s a brilliant piece of kit, similar to a Peloton bike, in that you have  a big screen at the end.  Big difference though is that all the runs are outside and the gradient and speed changes with the coach, including negative inclines.  As it is a commercial machine the speed changes very quickly, letting you do your intervals runs more easily.

I tweaked my hamstring on NYD which put me out for 2 weeks but, encouragingly  my progression has continued this year getting a massive PB on the 28 February of 20.31 with 8 out of my 10 fastest parkruns have come this year. 

Main problem is that the times are not consistent.  Since I ran 20.31, the times have been 20.43,20.51(x2) 21.04 and today’s effort of 20.56. 

I clearly need something to a) get me consistent and b) get me faster with a structured training regime, with interval training.  With that in mind, I’ve joined Marple Runners.  A very friendly welcoming club.  One of the every present coaches there, Jeremey Woodham has already given me tips and some training sessions.  Intervals, pyramids etc.

I’ve also entered quite a few races this year, from a 10 miler fell run tomorrow in Rivington, Chester Half and what could be a PB aim, the Sale Sizzlers in the summer.

 

 

 

 

Lostock 6 miles. Proper racing (Spring hasn't Sprung)

Bugger me with a fishfork, that was cold !

Having been Sidney Smug yesterday, prancing around like Sir Rodney Effing (with 2 F's) and turning up at Fletcher Moss parkrun with my shorts and t-shirt, proclaiming 'ooh Matron, it's Spring, look at me , the horrible weather has gone', it was only fitting that Poseidon, wouldn't take too kindly to that and piddle over my racing chips.

I entered this race realising that I had ran it many years ago, it stood out as it was an unusual distance, 6 miles not 10k, but I could not, for the life of me, remember the course or anything about the race.  (It was only when I was writing this paragraph and I looked on my Power of 10 did I realise that the reason I could not remember the course was because I hadn't actually done it before, goodness knows what race 'stood out' then, as sure as beans, it wasn't this one)

A couple of days before the race, the excellent organisers sent out an email (and put the same on facebook) with everything you need to know about the race, including, really importantly, a 'what3words' link to the race car parks.  I'm a bit of a luddite and haven't used that before, but with one quick question on facebook they gave me the postcode too.  Just the first example of what a fantastically organised race this is.  (I did use the what3words app and it took me right to the carpark which was opposite the race registration.) 

I got to the registration about 40 minutes or so before the start and picked up my number and timing chip ( a tie on your shoe jobby).  As I was so early I was able to use to toilet without any queue but there were also urinals around the back which will have helped with any delays later (they did build up, so a few more next year may help, though I understand all this adds to the expenses).  

Most race marshals are, by the very fact that they are volunteers are good people, but one of them today went out of their way to help me.  Won't go into what she did, but one of the ladies at registration who was giving out the hats at the end...thank you.

Today's weather as alluded to at the start was not the best.  It was a bit blowy and every so slightly moist, to the extent that when the, very nice Mayor of Bolton gave his speech at the start saying 'just think, you could be at home doing the ironing'  I, and perhaps a few others, thought 'that sounds a good idea : )

Warm up lady gave a very enthusiastic performance trying to help everyone stay warm.  She did a great job, especially when her music stopped playing through the loudspeakers, though as you can see below, I was a wuss and hid under the tent.

Thankfully after a short stint of British tutting, we made our way to the start and bang on 10am we were off.

My plan before the race was to try to slip under 45 minutes but after running hard at parkrun yesterday and the weather today, I wasn't sure if that was on, but as it always my tactic in things like this I'd worry about that if I and when I blew.

Now I need to be honest, if your idea of racing is fluffy bunnies, stunning scenery and 'go go Gadget' pom pom waving supporters, this may not be your kettle of fish, but if you want to do a proper road race, with some naughty hills, lovely downhills and opportunities to race people who have the audacity to try to get past you, then this will be very much up your street.  

It is the perfect race for someone who does parkrun, has done the Couch to 5k, but may feel that a 10k is a bit too far or may be a bit intimidated by a big City Centre 10k.  Those races are crazily expensive, thousands of people take part and it may feel a bit overwhelming.  This race (and a lot of the local ones) are so friendly, have a great local feel about them, they are run for and by runners, they've been doing it for a long time and they know what runners want.  (plus it is slightly less than 10k)

It's not pretty but it is road racing at it's finest.  Roads aren't closed, sometimes you may get stuck behind other runners, and have to jump off the pavement to get past them (only to see them drop you 50 metres later) when the weather is bad like today, you're exposed to the elements, but despite all of that, I loved it.

Just after the start you turn left and almost immediately are on the the first the first hill which takes you over a bridge.  At this point, the rain was coming down hard and you were still cold from the weather.  There's a 30 metre climb in the first mile which has a double benefit of warming you up and stringing out the field a bit.  (also has a descent of 21 metres)

By the time you see the first mile marker, you start to get into a rhythm, there is still 10 metres of climb in the second mile and 12 metres downhill so you are always either going up or down.  Despite the unpleasant weather, the marshals were very happy (far more than they should have been) and pointed you around the extremely well signposted course.

By the time I got to mile 5 (27 metre climb) I knew I needed around a 7 minute mile to get under 45.  Good thing is the last mile has a nice down hill so gave me a chance to see if I could sneak under.  I did manage to put in a 7.07 last mile but crossed the line in 45.32.  Not great but not bad 

Men's course record stood at 29.04 by Harry Wakefield.  Unsurprisingly, given the conditions that was never going to be challenged but the top three men were : - 

Daniel Bird -Swinton Running Club - 33.06

Ryan Snee -Horwich RMI Running Club -33.25

Chris Benjamin - Leigh Harriers - 34.01

Meanwhile on the Female side

Course Record remains at Sophie Wood - Sale Harriers 33.17

and top three were

Dee Allen (16th overall) - Leigh Harriers - 36.46

Carolyn Capsey (32nd) - Swinton Running Club - 39.05

Heather Tomlinson (34th) - Bolton United Harriers - 39.14

I've ran so many races over the years that my t-shirts end up in the drawer (friend of mine made a load of them into a blanket) so it was good to see, something different in this one.  A race memento baseball cap.  I've not the the head (or more truthfully the ears) for baseball caps, but for non-Dumbo heads, they work well.

At the end of the race, I got nice and warm with some a lovely sausage and egg butty and a cup of coffee from the glorious local business, The Pendle Grill.  Exactly what was needed

Thank you for a great race and another training race down for Wilmslow Half end the end of March.