Mk XXVIII

Back on the 23rd May we kicked off the 11th Arethusa Mile and the first of 2012. Here we are after the 28th Arethusa Mile and we call it a day for the year.

It's quite strange to think this season is already over and we start to wrap ourselves up and go head first into another winter. In review, we saw a record turnout on the Magic Mile weekend, a 2 week break during arguably the greatest Olympics in history and male and female course records were set. We also had a plethora of m'ehs, boos and PBs.

Thanks as always to the helpers tonight, Kirsty Bangham who took runners names down, Sharon Rowe who was light holder and David Rowe who... did something.
Huge thanks to Kirsty too for bringing 'End of Season Ginger Cake' which is good for colds and your immune system apparently.

It's been fun hosting the Mile, it's been something I've looked forward to each Wednesday evening and patiently wait for its return next year.

In the meanwhile, I'd like to give my own little personal awards to the participants from this season of miling. This is for high consistency in turnout, enthusiasm and the help they've given.

• Top Man: Hayden Matthews

• Top Young Adult: Harry Matthews

• Top Female: Kirsty Bangham

There's also people to note through the summer as little standout stories; junior runner Joe Wilson with Dad Dave, Anthony Jackson finishing first most often, Rue Turner and Jed Leicester's mini bar raising battle, The Moran family, ever improving juniors Ben Gibbons and Sathira Don, consistently consistent Donna Richards and Sean Renfer and Katherine Wilson for setting records. Of course it's been great having you all.

See you next year.

RESULTS

1. Anthony Jackson 4:48 (PB remains 4:37)
2. Connor Kissane-Wood 4:57 (1st timer)
3. Neil Reissland 5:04 (1st timer)
4. Sathira Don 5:09 (PB remains 4:58)
5. Harry Matthews 5:35 (PB remains 5:17)
6. Ciaran Murphy 5:39 (PB remains 5:27)
7. John Woods 5:45 (PB remains 5:41)
8. Hayden Matthews 6:06 (PB remains 5:51)
9. Rue Turner 6:19 (PB remains 6:08)
10. Cat Gaskell 6:36 PB
11. Jonathan Pegg 6:58  (PB remains 6:31)
12. Donna Richards 7:32 (PB remains 6:32)
13. Douglas Josham 7:34 PB

Mk XXVII

The penultimate Aretha Franklin (joke courtesy of Chris Walmsley) Mile of 2012. Crazily enough as we go toward deeper Autumn the weather for this Mile was perfect. Cool and no wind. It was such perfect conditions that Ciaran Murphy regretted not running in the end, rueing the chance to have such a lovely evening pass him by.

Thanks to Roy Reeder for taking names and Ciaran for giving half way splits.

Next week, our last run round the Fountain taking two licks of the lollipop (metaphor courtesy of Lirsty Bingham) and I need to remember to bring the box of Cadburys Roses I have to share. Lirsty Bingham I believe is bringing cake.

6:45pm meet for 7pm start. See you there!

RESULTS

1. Harry Matthews 5:21 (PB remains 5:17)
2. John Woods 5:44 (PB remains 5:41)
3. Cristiano Bonato 5:50 (PB remains 5:37)
4. Richard Barman 6:01 (PB remains 6:01)
5. Hayden Matthews 6:06 (PB remains 5:51) 
6. Rue Turner 6:18 (PB remains 6:08)
7. Donna Richards 6:39 (PB remains 6:32)
8. Kirsty Bangham 7:05 (PB remains 6:55)
9. Meredith Kendall 7:15 (PB remains 7:09)
10. Dario Paddano 7:29 PB

Mk XXVI

I'll keep this short and sweet just like the run last night. No wind, dusk light. Thanks to John Woods for taking names and well done to Tracey Wilson for doing her first mile (with daughter Libby as support). Great to have Clan Wilson out enjoying themselves.

No PB's tonight. BOOOO!

Next week - meet at 7pm for a 7:15pm start. It will be the penultimate in this years Mile series, so get your miling in before it stops.

RESULTS

1. Duncan Mallison 5:12 (PB remains 5:01)
2. Harry Matthews 5:22 (PB remains 5:17)
3. Roy Reeder 5:22 (PB remains 5:07)
4. Steve Taylor 5:33 (PB remains 5:26)
5. Dave Wilson 5:47 (PB remains 5:16)
6. Hayden Matthews 6:11 (PB remains 5:51)
7. Donna Richards 6:37 (PB remains 6:32)
8. Joe Wilson 6:48 (PB remains 6:45)
9. Kirsty Bangham 7:20 (PB remains 6:55)
10. Tracey Wilson 9:16 (1st timer)

Mk XXV

Well, I had to contribute my time to the Marathon Talk Magic Mile so as the window of opportunity was closing, I wanted to lay a time down just to contribute to Team UK. Not expecting anything better than last time, not feeling any pressure to do so, just clock an entry. That's why I ran tonight.

I was expecting a much smaller field than the previous week, which it looked like being at around 7:40pm. I popped off to powder my nose and came back to find 26.2 Road Runners Club had decided to pop on down and double the numbers! A pleasant surprise. Thanks to their Club President Joe Chang for persuading a bunch to come and try their hand at a speedy mile!

There's not many weeks left now until we will need to wrap the Arethusa Mile up for the winter and put it in a cardbox box with some hay and some lettuce and let it hibernate. I have ambitions in my head to carry on a winter style speed event in the vicinity of Bushy Park, but it won't be a mile due to sheer logistics and lack of empty well-lit mile strips in the area. Watch this space for ideas.

Huge thanks must go to Hayden Matthews for being the timer and doing a sterling role and thanks to 9 year old Libby Wilson for doing the token giving. It was unsurprisingly a scary task for such a youngster being surrounded by exhausted and eager runners to get their position!

If I'm not mistaken we also had the fastest ever Arethusa Mile time by a woman set by Katherine Wilson and was also the first ever lady under 6 minutes! In fact tonight, there were two! Some speedy ladies they have there at 26.2.

Next week the start is brought forward once again due to sundown getting earlier and will be at 7:30pm. See you then.

RESULTS

1. Danny Norman 4:51 (PB remains 4:49)
2. Jack Holland 4:58 (1st timer)
3. Daniel Harris 5:00 (1st timer)
4. Duncan Mallison 5:01 PB
5. Jack Moran 5:08 (PB remains 5:06)
6. Don Vizer 5:13 (1st timer)
7. Roy Reeder 5:22 (PB remains 5:07)
8. Steve Watkins 5:22 (1st timer)
9. Harry Matthews 5:29 (PB remains 5:17)
10. Joseph Chang 5:29 (1st timer)
11. Ciaran Murphy 5:31 (PB remains 5:27)
12. Carl Moran 5:34 (PB remains 5:26)
13. Dan Hookey 5:37 (1st timer)
14. Kevin Parker 5:40 (1st timer)
15. Katherine Wilson 5:42 (1st timer) *LADIES RECORD*
16. Dave Wilson 5:45 (PB remains 5:16)
17. Jed Leicester 5:47 (PB remains 5:45)
18. John Woods 5:47 (PB remains 5:41)
19. David Pimm 5:49 (1st timer)
20. Vanessa Blackburn 5:53 (1st timer)
21. Ryan Moran 5:59 (PB remains 5:41)
22. Michael Moran 6:00 (PB remains 5:49)
23. Richard Barman 6:01 PB
24. Alice Tozer 6:12 (1st timer)
25. John Sweeney 6:26 (1st timer)
26. Jonathan Pegg 6:31 PB
27. Cat Gaskell 6:43 (1st timer)
28. Joe Wilson 7:25 (PB remains 6:45)
29. Douglas Josham 7:35 (1st timer)

Mk XXIV

Phew! Well, that was as hectic and as busy as I expected and a bit more! My mind is a buzz.

Being an official event for the Marathon Talk Magic Mile we had quite a few new faces, from near and far! I think Philip Morris Jones came from Wycombe way, David Blackman came from the Southampton area and welcome to any of you who travelled some distance, many thanks for coming all this way.
Having to split the run into two waves meant that we didn't have much sunlight as we are beholden to the traffic being closed off when the gates shut, and tonight this was 8:15pm, pretty much as it got dark and there is obviously no street lighting in the park! The second wave of runners were therefore pretty much night running, but I think they all enjoyed it. Especially the youngsters amongst us, being allowed up way past their bedtime on a school night! I wish I had something like this when I was 9 years old. Hurrumph... oh well.

Huge thanks to the volunteers tonight for all their help, the turn out was the largest yet and with the territory comes a need for better logistics. Doesn't help having barely any light but we got there in the end with the times and names.
We even had one runner who wasn't part of the event go past the finish line, that's a first. Little bit of results tweaking needed to remove that additional time. It's funny to have these small inevitable things happen here that many of us have seen before hundreds of times at parkruns up and down the country.
The volunteers in question were Kirsty Bangham who gave out tokens, PSH who assisted in tokens, the 'funnel' and getting names taken down as well as Helen Mallison and bump who recorded audio and helped hold and carry paraphernalia that my hands couldn't deal with. Thank you to PSH for providing the tokens and the stopwatch as well. Huge thank you to you.
Then to the runners who doubled up in running and volunteering; Sarah "Radio 2" Dixon who took Wave 1 names down, Ciaran Murphy who took Wave 2 names, Donna Richards for halfway time calling in Wave 1, Nick Rowe for this role in Wave 2, Rue Turner who provided back up timing for Wave 1 and any other of the ensemble who provided help on the night. Thank you all. If I've forgotten anyone, I apologise and do let me know!

Huge well done to all who ran and happy-happy joy-joy to those with a PB tonight too (or equal/close to), it was PB-tastic I think the phrase goes. Weather conditions couldn't have been much more perfect. No wind, cool/warm temperatures, people being dragged to quick times by each other, just the way we like it.

Next week we are back as always, looking to start at 7:45pm now but as always it depends on the traffic and the gates being closed. It's far safer I feel to run on empty, dark, flat tarmac than well lit roads with cars on.

I think that's everything. Don't forget to log your Marathon Talk times here if you so wish!
See you next week.

* Any errors or corrections, please email me at danny@parkrun.com

RESULTS

Wave 1

1. Ben Gibbons 4:46 PB
2. Roger Barr 4:48 PB
3. David Blackman 4:51 (1st timer)
4. Harry McCulloch 4:56 PB
5. Sathira Don 4:58 PB
6. Stewart Curtis 5:00 PB
7. Jack Moran 5:06 PB
8. Duncan Mallison 5:07 PB
9. Will Rawling 5:15 PB
10. Grant Russell 5:16 PB
11. Harry Matthews 5:19 (PB remains 5:17)
12. Philip Morris Jones 5:26 (1st timer)
13. Steve Taylor 5:26 (1st timer)
14. Ciaran Murphy 5:27 (PB remains 5:27)
15. Colin Haylock 5:30 PB
16. Martin Connor 5:32 (1st timer)
17. Ian Haylock 5:34 PB
18. Nick Rowe 5:36 PB
19. Rob Jones 5:41 (PB remains 5:41)
20. Mike Rayner 5:45 (1st timer)
21. Michael MacNeil 5:57 (1st timer)
22. Peter Wright 5:58 (1st timer)
23. Neil Mitchell 6:05 (1st timer)
24. Tim Wood 6:29 (PB remains 6:20)

Wave 2

1. Carl Moran 5:37 (PB remains 5:26)
2. John Woods 5:48 (PB remains 5:41)
3. Hayden Matthews 5:51 PB
4. Richard Lupo 5:53 (1st timer)
5. Andy Wingate 5:56 (PB remains 5:48)
6. Rue Turner 6:19 (PB remains 6:08)
7. Richard Barman 6:27 (1st timer)
8. Donna Richards 6:36 (PB remains 6:32)
9. Fiona McNeil 6:43 (1st timer)
10. Emily Schmidt 6:49 (1st timer)
11. Jonathan Pegg 7:04 (1st timer)
12. Neil Frame 7:15 PB
13. Sarah Dixon 7:26 PB
14. Daniel Rowe 7:27 (PB remains 7:16)
15. Niamh McNeil 7:37 (1st timer)
16. Jessica Rowe 7:44 PB
17. Stephen Ferguson 7:48 (1st timer)

Mk XXIII

Bit more bracing tonight than usual, bit blustery and getting a bit darker each week. A few people seemingly unsure of start times so just a reminder that we always have to play it by ear and it can sensibly only ever start after the park gates close to traffic. Currently it's 8:15pm, but next week due to reduction in sunlight, if we can aim to be ready to run at 8pm, certainly be there before then, then we should encapsulate everyone.
Thanks once again to the volunteering Ciaran Murphy for taking names and penning times in just a t-shirt (he did have jeans on the lower half of his body). I think he regretted having no coat or jacket quite a bit. Thanks to John Woods for turning up to offer his services too.
Also, we had a PB sandwich with first and final finisher setting PB's! With a waffer theen PB filling in the middle.
Great to see another bunch of new faces, especially the JM's and JW's aged 9, 9 and 11 and even a very, very tanned, holiday making lady who finally no longer feared coming on down.

Oh and Cristiano Bonato was late bringing his friend Dario Paddano with him! 8pm next week Cristiano!

REMINDER: Next week is the Marathon Talk Magic Mile - we expect a larger turnout than usual, there may well be two waves of runners. If you've not signed up so far to take part, it's free and easy to do. Quick, go sign up! Now!

RESULTS

1. Stewart Curtis 5:02 PB
2. Matt Smith 5:10 (PB remains 5:09)
3. Jack Moran 5:17 (PB remains 5:17)
4. Grant Russell 5:23 (PB remains 5:23)
5. Harry Matthews 5:30 (PB remains 5:17)
6. Roy Reeder 5:35 (PB remains 5:07)
7. Colin Haylock 5:40 (PB remains 5:36)
8. Nick Rowe 5:43 (PB remains 5:39)
9. Jed Leicester 5:45 PB
10. Hayden Matthews 6:01 (PB remains 5:53)
11. Kevin Wood 6:24 (1st timer)
12. Donna Richards 6:43 (PB remains 6:32)
13. Daniel Rowe 7:16 (1st timer) 
14. Kirsty Bangham 7:18 (PB remains 6:55)
15. Meredith Kendall 7:33 (PB remains 7:09)
16. Sarah Dixon 7:53 (1st timer)
17. Jessica Rowe 8:04 (1st timer)
18. Hannah Rowe 8:05 (1st timer)
19. Emma Wingate 8:12 PB

Wave 2

1. Cristiano Bonato 5:48 (PB remains 5:37)
2. Dario Paddano 8:09 (1st timer)

Mk XXII

It is still light for a short while after 8pm. Even though the nights are drawing in we can still make the most of some decent length days. Soon enough it will be cold and dark at 4pm so make hay while the sunshines as this is the way the position of our nation, in a global respect, goes. Summer to winter ad infinitum (not literally as our planet won't be around for all eternity) - rinse, repeat, wash. The only way to avoid it is move to another country.

So what's my point? Simply that as the days get shorter we have to bring the start time forward to match and keep things visible for all concerned. Additionally, the park gates shut earlier so we have a clear route without cars. This week we started at 8:30pm. I mentioned this in a few places, even on the post last week. I even told Rue Turner via Twitter a few hours before of this new time. So, how and why did he manage to miss the start? Well, I don't think Rue will ever know. Or let on. Either one.
That was my point. A cheap jibe at Rue's timekeeping.

As for the run, a new course record by first timer Sean Renfer and great to see more ladies taking part. Evens up the gender balance.

Next week it's an 8:15pm start. See you then.

RESULTS

1. Sean Renfer 4:34 *COURSE RECORD*
2. Stewart Curtis 5:10 (PB remains 5:03)
3. Jack Moran 5:17 PB
4. Harry Matthews 5:28 (PB remains 5:17)
5. Carl Moran 5:29 (PB remains 5:26)
6. Colin Haylock 5:36 (1st timer)
7. Cristiano Bonato 5:38 (PB remains 5:37)
8. Nick Rowe 5:39 PB
9. Rob Jones 5:41 PB
10. Stefan Hopper 5:44 PB
11. Ian Haylock 5:45 (PB remains 5:38)
12. Jin Jhooti 5:45 (PB remains 5:42)
13. Jed Leicester 5:47 PB
14. John Woods 5:48 (PB remains 5:41)
15. Andy Wingate 5:53 (PB remains 5:48)
16. Hayden Matthews 6:05 (PB remains 5:53)
17. Chris 'Crispy' Wright 6:13 PB
18. Merilyn Davis 6:20 PB
19. Donna Richards 6:53 (PB remains 6:32)
20. Heather Martingell 7:06 (PB remains 6:53)
21. Kirsty Bangham 7:30 (PB remains 6:55)
22. Mary 'Crispy' Hickson 7:36 (1st timer)
23. Shauna Moran 7:38 (1st timer)