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)

Mk XXI

Some of the finest athletes the World has to offer were on display. Showing strength, courage, skill, passion and a devotion to their performance through adversity and sacrifice. Challenging competition from all over the globe, striving to be the best that they could be and in a manner that I could only dream of. Awe inspiring would be one way to describe it.

Enough about the Olympics, let's tell you about last night's Mile. The irony is that most of our runners had sat and watched sport for two weeks and lost some of their fitness. I didn't run last night but I include myself in this! As a result, only one PB delivered which belonged to Nick Rowe.
However, it was great to be back again and was great to catch up with people discussing the main stories from London 2012. Thanks to Heather Martingell for being 'Name Taker', Paul Martingell for taking photos and Dave Wilson for being back up timer and 'Half Way Time Shouter'.
Photos are here.

The gates are still currently shutting at 9pm, hopefully they bring this time forward to the more appropriate 8:30pm next week as it's getting too dark otherwise. We will be looking to start at 8:30pm next week nonetheless.

Before I go, I demand we give Andy 'EPO' Wingate a urine test.

RESULTS

1. Anthony Jackson 4:56 (PB remains 4:37)
2. Stuart Curtis 5:09 (PB remains 5:03)
3. Will Rawling 5:17 (1st timer)
4. Grant Russell 5:25 (PB remains 5:23)
5. Harry Matthews 5:28 (PB remains 5:17)
6. Ciaran Murphy 5:36 (PB remains 5:27)
7. Nick Rowe 5:42 PB
8. Andy Wingate 5:51 (PB remains 5:48)
9. Stuart Rose 6:00 (PB remains 5:48)
10. Hayden Matthews 6:24 (PB remains 5:53)
11. Donna Richards 6:39 (PB remains 6:32)
12. Joe Wilson 7:12 (PB remains 6:45)
13. Kirsty Bangham 7:44 (PB remains 6:55)

Mk XX

It was a corker of a sunny day. The evening was always going to be a great one. I had been running quite well of late and thought to myself "The Mile isn't on for a couple of weeks after tonight, so may as well make the most of this opportunity and run the event". I decided to run the Arethusa Mile for only the second time in it's brief history. I wanted to see where I was at, especially to lay down a marker for the Marathon Talk Magic Mile coming up in early September. In fact, it's the 5th September, see here

So, with another mass swelling of runner numbers thanks to the guys at Thames Turbo Triathlon and thanks especially to Roger Barr for the promotion of this Mile, we had our largest turnout to date.
I roped in the spectating Carl Moran and Ciaran Murphy to do the timing and "funnel management" and on the shout of "Go" from Carl all 31 runners set off in one big wave up Chestnut Avenue toward the Arethusa Fountain.

Thanks to Stewart Rose's wife for taking names down and thanks to the volunteers as always. Apologies to all the runners, there was a slight blip with the timing this week and I certainly need to get some finish tokens. Otherwise it will start to encroach into the realms of logistical difficulty.
As with any blips, they are creases that can be ironed out and learned from. I hope to see many new faces back in the coming weeks after that there large sporting event in Stratford.

* If you know your time is incorrect, the spelling of your name is incorrect or of any other errors below please do email me at danny@parkrun.com and I will rectify straight away.

RESULTS

1. Danny Norman 4:49 PB
2. Andrew Rendall 4:57 (1st timer)
3. Roger Barr 4:58 PB
4. Stewart Curtis 5:03 (1st timer)
5. Harry McCulloch 5:04 (PB remains 4:58)
6. Nick Bagot TBC
7. Michael Gilkes TBC
8. Thomas Smith 5:29 (1st timer)
9. Dave Wilson 5:30 (PB remains 5:16)
10. Rob Marlow 5:38 (1st timer)
11. Rob Jones 5:42 PB
12. Ian Haylock 5:43 (PB remains 5:38)
13. Nick Rowe 5:45 PB
14. Stefan Hopper 5:47 (PB remains 5:47)
15. Cristiano Bonato 5:50 (PB remains 5:37)
16. Jed Leicester 5:51 PB
17. Andy Wingate 5:55 (PB remains 5:48)
18. Zach Johnson 5:57 (1st timer)
19. Stewart Rose 5:57 (PB remains 5:48)
20. Ryan Moran 6:02 (PB remains 5:41)
21. Michael Moran 6:03 (PB remains 5:49)
22. Rohan Cooray 6:04 (1st timer)
23. Janet Livesey 6:09 (1st timer)
24. Mel Avery 6:09 (1st timer)
25. Tim Wood 6:20 PB
26. Rue Turner 6:22 (PB remains 6:08)
27. Merilyn Davies 6:24 PB
28. Matt Brooks 6:30 PB
29. Donna Richards 6:36 (PB remains 6:32)
30. Joe Wilson 7:25 (PB remains 6:45)
31. Dianne Sinclair 7:28 (1st timer)

Mk XIX

Wingate Worsts?! Not the most positive way to intro tonight's run report, but we were all shocked. Very shocked! Next week I'm sure we'll see them get right back on top form. Emma's excuse was she'd been cycling, swimming, probably ironing and Andy, well, no excuse really.
It seemed like most people either had a bit of an off day or ran huge PBs. Kirsty Bangham and Joe Wilson dragged each other round to hit the heady heights of a sub-7 minute mile for the first time.
Meanwhile Jed Leicester set the bar higher for friend and rival Rue Turner with a 10 second PB.
Thanks to Ben Gibbons for name collecting and Carl Moran for halfway time checking.

* A reminder that next week is the last run before the Olympic break, that's the 1st and 8th August, no Arethusa Mile. Back on the 15th.

RESULTS

1. Sathira Don 5:02 (PB remains 4:59)
2. Jack Moran 5:20 (PB remains 5:20)
3. Harry Matthews 5:21 (PB remains 5:17)
4. Rory Spicer 5:30 (PB remains 5:15)
5. Dave Wilson 5:42 (PB remains 5:16)
6. Ian Haylock 5:50 (PB remains 5:38)
7. Cristiano Bonato 5:54 (PB remains 5:37)
8. Hayden Matthews 5:58 (PB remains 5:53)
9. Stewart Rose 5:59 (PB remains 5:48)
10. Jed Leicester 6:02 PB
11. Andy Wingate 6:09 (PB remains 5:48)
12. Rue Turner 6:12 (PB remains 6:08)
13. Merilyn Davies 6:35 (1st timer)
14. Joe Wilson 6:45 PB
15. Donna Richards 6:48 (PB remains 6:32)
16. Kirsty Bangham 6:55 PB
17. Emma Wingate 8:52 (PB remains 8:14)

Mk XVIII

Where are the benches? Where have the benches gone? I was disturbed by my lack of benchage. Anyway, to the run...
No rain, no wind. Perfect conditions. Lot's of PB's and near PB's and a little bit of awful, toneless singing from the runners. Like in 'the parkrun show' podcast I guess. Revenge exacted on my ears.
Thanks to Ciaran for taking names as per usual, thanks to Kirsty for the cakey biscuity hybrids and Donna was lucky to not get ticketed by the cops!

RESULTS

1. Ben Gibbons 4:48 PB
2. Jack Moran 5:20 (1st timer)
3. Harry Matthews 5:22 (PB remains 5:17)
4. James Russell 5:35 (PB remains 5:31)
5. Cristiano Bonato 5:38 (PB remains 5:37)
6. Richard McChesney 5:39 PB
7. Stefan Hopper 5:47 PB
8. Stewart Rose 5:56 (PB remains 5:48)
9. Hayden Matthews 5:58 (PB remains 5:53)
10. David Tyas 5:59 PB
11. Donna Richards 6:45 (PB remains 6:32)
12. Kirsty Bangham 7:04 (PB remains 7:02)
13. Meredith Kendall 7:09 PB

* Reminder that the Mile will be suspended on the 1st and 8th August due to the Olympics.

Mk XVII

A big turnout tonight! A few more than I expected, but all were welcome nonetheless! I think Thames Turbo (and notably Roger Barr) was to blame for bringing a whole set of new faces to try their luck at a swift mile around the Fountain. We also had a friendly face/visitor from the other side of the planet too.
Muggy, warm conditions with plenty of bugs in the air to pester us whilst standing or running, but also PB's a plenty it seems.
We also had two 'Waves' this evening due to Donna Richards getting caught up in the Nonsuch Relays which were also happening tonight.

Thanks to Ciaran Murphy for taking the times down, Jo S-H for supporting and Carl Moran for giving out times at halfway.

You can now follow the Arethusa Mile on Twitter here - where I'll post when the results are up or notify of any start time changes.
Facebook 'Fan' page is here too.

RESULTS

1. Sathira Don 4:59 PB
2. Roger Barr 5:03 (1st timer)
3. Rory Spicer 5:15 PB
4. Harry Matthews 5:17 PB
5. Paul Sinton-Hewitt 5:22 PB
6. Matt Smith 5:27 (PB remains 5:09)
7. Ian Haylock 5:38 PB
8. Cristiano Bonato 5:43 (PB remains 5:37) 
9. Rob Jones 5:44 (1st timer)
10. Richard McChesney 5:46 (1st timer)
11. Andy Wingate 5:48 PB
12. Jin Jhooti 5:57 (PB remains 5:42)
13. Hayden Matthews 6:01 (PB remains 5:53)
14. David Tyas 6:03 PB
15. Michael Holden 6:25 (1st timer)
16. Tim Wood 6:27 (1st timer)
17. Matt Brooks 6:38 (1st timer)
18. Chris Morgan 7:02 (1st timer)
19. Kirsty Bangham 7:11 (PB remains 7:02)
20. Neil Frame 7:19 (1st timer)
21. Meredith Kendall 7:28 (PB remains 7:17) 
22. Emma Wingate 8:16 (PB remains 8:14)

Wave 2

1. Donna Richards 6:41 (PB remains 6:32)