This week, for a bit of fun I asked the AI program ChatGPT to write this week’s run report. I had to make a few tweaks to correct inaccurate information (the information it has is a bit out of date), and the result is below. What do you think?
Greetings fellow runners and parkrun enthusiasts! Unfortunately, this week’s Ashford parkrun was cancelled due to a Coronation event taking place in the park. However, that didn’t stop our club members from getting their weekly parkrun fix! Instead, many of them visited a variety of other parkruns across the county and beyond.
First up, we have Rachel Tomsett who ran at the stunning Bedgebury Pinetum, clocking in at a time of 32:53. This beautiful park offers a fantastic backdrop for a run, with its sprawling pine forest and lakes making for a peaceful and scenic route.
Next, we have Mark Niles who took on the Canterbury parkrun, finishing in an impressive 22:19. The course takes in a section of the Crab and Winkle Way, a scenic walking and cycling path that follows the route of an old railway line.
Several Ashford Striders took on the seafront course at Folkestone parkrun, with some impressive performances on display. Claire Green finished with a time of 24:29. David Helme crossed the line in 28:23, followed by Tamsin Ritchie in 29:13. Peter Broom also put in a strong effort, completing the course in 30:47. Hazel Forrester wore a fantastic Burger King costume for the Coronation and completed the course in 37:07, while Danielle Moss finished in 40:26.
At the Fountains Abbey parkrun, Nadine Golding put in a great effort, finishing with a time of 33:15. The parkrun is set in the beautiful grounds of the Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The course takes in some stunning scenery, including a run past the magnificent abbey ruins.
Over at the Kingdom parkrun, Amanda Cooper finished with an impressive time of 30:46. The course is set in ancient woodland near Penshurst.
Heading up the coast to Margate, Kevan Strand led the charge with a speedy 22:36 finish time. He was followed by Hazel Turner (24:45), Dermot Carr (26:50), Siobhan Hagan (27:38), Martin Whittingham (28:40), Justin Burden (29:24), Lisa Gribbin (29:27), Mark Archer (31:56), and Lynnette Whittingham who brought up the rear with a still-respectable time of 57:44.
Sonette Schwartz (35:00) and Lisa Fulcher (37:30) both took on the Mote Park route. This parkrun is set in the heart of Maidstone and offers runners a chance to explore the beautiful Mote Park.
Meanwhile, Nicola Crawley (30:41) and Justine Wearn (38:09) tackled the challenging hills of the Queen Elizabeth parkrun. This course is set in the stunning South Downs National Park and offers runners a real test of their fitness.
Meanwhile, Lee Standen took on the Stretford parkrun, finishing with a time of 35:44. This parkrun is located in Longford Park in Manchester, England.
The Great Field parkrun was no match for Brian Marsh who completed the course in a speedy 24:47. This parkrun takes place in Great Field park which is located in Poundbury, a new urban development in Dorchester, Dorset.
At Walmer and Deal Seafront parkrun, three Ashford Striders put in fantastic performances. Jamie Penfold crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 23:40, followed closely by Richard Randle with a time of 25:30. Delia Millen also had a strong showing, finishing in 32:50.
Last but not least, we had Jack Farrant (23:00), Lucie Shrubsole (30:07), Sharon Gardner (32:07) and Victoria Shrubsole (33:39) taking on the Tonbridge parkrun. This picturesque route takes in the beautiful Tonbridge Castle and River Medway, making it a lovely spot for a Saturday morning run.
The Ashford Striders had a successful day at the races on Sunday, with several runners achieving personal bests.
First up was Keith Haynes, who blazed through the challenging and scenic Rye 5 mile race, taking place in the lanes around Peasmarsh, and finished in an impressive time of 0:33:23, securing 5th place. Nigel Hills closely followed Keith and finished in 0:42:20. Karen Edwards also had a strong showing in the Rye 5 mile, completing the course in 0:52:08.
In the Maidstone Riverside 10k, a fast and flat route along the River Medway, Andrew Maund pushed himself to a personal best time of 0:42:08, while Steve Greatorex finished in a respectable 0:47:20.
Rob Wood and Jamie Bartlett put in impressive performances in the Maidstone Riverside 10 mile. Rob set a new personal best time of 1:19:30, and Jamie Bartlett completed the race in 1:29:05, also achieving a personal best time.
Overall, it was a fantastic weekend for the Ashford Striders, with several runners pushing themselves to new heights and achieving their goals in a range of distances and terrains.
Report by Lisa Fulcher and AI!
