As the chill of winter begins to fade and the earth stirs with the promise of new life, March 1st marked the official start of spring and the vibrant celebration of Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus, or Saint David’s Day. The sight of daffodils blooming in fields, gardens, and along roadsides, a bright and cheerful reminder that winter’s grasp is finally loosening and evening begin to get lighter. Hurrah I hear you all shout!!
It was another Super Saturday of Parkrun participation from Ashford Striders, who had a spring in their step, with impressive performances at both the Ashford event and various tourism locations. Whether battling fog, rain, or chasing the sun, the Striders demonstrated their commitment to fitness, fun, and camaraderie. Great job to all those who participated!
On Saturday, 1st March 2025, Ashford Striders turned out in full force for another fantastic weekend of Parkrun. With a total of 48 Striders taking part across various locations, it was a day of impressive performances and some great Parkrun tourism!
Ashford Parkrun Highlights:
At Ashford Parkrun, 32 Striders took to the course, with Simon Pharoah leading the pack, crossing the line in an impressive 18:02. Keith Haynes followed closely behind with a time of 20:10, and Adam Booth claimed third place for the Striders with a time of 21:39.
They were followed by
Konrad Gryniewicz 22:14, Dan Green 23:21, Linda-jean Delport 23:35, Jack Farrant 24:31, Daniel Schwartz 26:25, Jason Sanders 26:51, Kevan Strand 28:29, Amanda Watson 30:04, David Gadsby 30:12, Joe Fowler 30:54, Dave Warner 31:09, Ross McInnes 31:33, Rebecca James 31:43, Catherine Wall 32:03, Nadine Lidbury 32:53, Kevin York 34:28, Mark Niles 34:34, Jason Brice 34:36, Rachel Oliver 37:33, Lin West 37:41, Jennifer Watts 38:32, Lee Standen 38:32, Julie Foster 39:21,Rita Cooke 41:46, Helen Rumsey 43:57.
A huge amount of gratitude to those who volunteer to ensure that Park Run happens. A shout out this week to Jason Caldwell, Don Dewer, Sara Dewer, Robert Harris, Peter Heckel, Sharon McInnes, Mathew Norman, Stephen Rumsey, Terry (Fred) Sellen and Hazel Turner.
It’s fantastic to see so many Striders out enjoying the run and achieving personal milestones!
Parkrun Tourism:
While the Ashford event had a strong showing, many Striders ventured out to explore other Parkrun locations, and here are some of their adventures:
Peter Broom completed the Cyclopark Parkrun in 29:19 and Pauline Tallett tackled the Eastbourne Parkrun in 44:22.
Elle Weekes along with Dora the Explora and Tamsin Ritchie with Sprocket took on the Folkestone Parkrun, with times of 25:11 and 27:40, respectively. Emma Matthews also visited Folkestone, finishing in 38:46.
‘Konnichiwa’ from Lisa Gribbin as she took her Parkrun experience international, completing the Futakotamagawa Parkrun in 41:11 in Japan. ‘Otsukare!’
We also had some Striders enjoy their own brand of mischief while on tour. Nicola Crawley and Justine Wearn were spotted at Peckham Rye Parkrun, completing the course in 31:17 and 33:07, respectively.
This week, the weather was as varied as the locations our Striders visited, with some enjoying sunshine while others faced foggy conditions. Here’s a quick weather recap:
Lionel Hammond and Donna Hammond enjoyed blue skies at Pegwell Bay Parkrun, finishing in 28:15 and 31:54, respectively. Over in sunny Southsea, Justin Burden crossed the line in 26:49, while Laura Clark completed the course in 58:16.
Despite foggy conditions in Shorne Woods, Rachel Tomsett finished in 33:38, and she even bumped into fellow Strider Martin Whittingham, who completed the run in 38:43.
In foggy Minster, Richard Randle completed The Leas Parkrun in 27:27, with Delia Millen following shortly after in 33:40.
It’s great to see how the Striders make the best of the conditions, whether rain, fog, or sunshine!
Many Striders were out in full preparation for their marathon training this weekend enduring their Long Slow Runs! One Strider who has ticked that off their list is Lisa Gribbin. Lisa completed the Tokyo Marathon in 4:52:30. A huge well-done Lisa from all Striders!
Well, what another wonderful weekend for Ashford Striders, with amazing performances at both Ashford Parkrun and a host of other locations. Whether pushing for personal bests or exploring new courses, our Striders continue to show dedication, enthusiasm, and a sense of fun. We can’t wait to see what next week brings!
I will end on this for all us runners whether you are at the start of your running journey or a seasoned runner. ‘The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start’ and ‘Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up!’
Please let me know of any errors or omissions
