By Steve Cartwright
A fantastic turnout this weekend saw 53 Striders participating in Park runs across the country.
34 Striders took part at the home course in Ashford, while 19 went on tour to various other parkrun locations.
Leading the Striders home at Ashford was Keith Haynes, crossing the line in an impressive time of 20:49.
He was closely followed by Adam Booth with a time of 21:01, and Mark Niles rounded out the top three Striders with 23:10.
Following them were:
Stephen Rumsey 23:46, Terry (fred) Sellen 24:25, Jamie Penfold 25:52, Daniel Stott 26:09, George Phillips 26:13, Michael Ruck 26:22, Chloe Stott 26:49, Scott Hawkins 28:20, Jamie Bartlett 28:39, Amanda James 28:45, David Gadsby 28:52, Jason Brice 29:31, Rebecca James 30:32, Mathew Norman 30:42, Ross McInnes 30:46, Daniel Schwartz 32:07, Victoria Shrubsole 32:59, Andrew Cornwell 32:59, Elle Weekes 33:40, Michelle Brice 33:42, Amanda Watson 33:49, Sharon McInnes 33:55, Jennifer Watts 34:55, Russ Berliner 35:02, Pauline Tallett 37:47, Helen Rumsey with a PB of 38:39 (Well done!), Nige Terry 39:39, Cara Linin 39:41, Rita Cooke 40:18.
Yet again, a huge thanks goes to those who volunteered this weekend, because without you, parkrun simply would not happen.
Special thanks to:
Jason Caldwell, Angie Craffey, Lisa Fulcher, Danielle Moss, Jason Sanders, and Hazel Turner.
Parkrun Tourism
Lisa Gribbin and Rachel Misson took on the two laps at Brooklands Parkrun, running on hard paths around the former runway, taxiway, a go-kart track, and through the woods. Lisa completed the course in 34:04 and Rachel in 34:06 — a brilliant effort on an interesting and varied course.
Kevan Strand completed the Gunnersbury Parkrun in 21:45.
Taking a scenic route around the lake at Leybourne Lakes, Delia Millen finished in 34:16, closely followed by Donna Hammond in 34:17. Richard Randle carried the “weight of the world on his shoulders” but still crossed the line strongly in 34:22.
Over to the coastal town of Margate where Justin Burden completed the Margate parkrun in 27:16, Lee Standen in 29:23 and Laura Clark in 57:26. At the Queen Elizabeth Parkrun Martin Whittingham finished in a time of 45:46.
Taking a trip to Norfolk, Eloise Pegg completed the Thetford parkrun in 29:12 and Harry Lockhart hot on her heels in 29:13.
Heading up to Salford for a scenic warm-up before the Manchester Marathon, a group of Striders tackled the Peel Parkrun — and it proved very aPEELing indeed!
David Martins led the team home in 33:39, closely followed by Jason Wearn in 33:40.
Not far behind were Nicola Crawley and Justine Wearn, crossing together in 53:21, with Sarah Martins just a few strides later in 53:28 and Nadine Lidbury in 53:38.
A great team effort and a perfect way to shake off the pre-marathon nerves! Bananas? No. Brilliant? Absolutely!
With Manchester coinciding with the London Marathon, April 27, 2025, became the largest day of marathon running in UK history, with a combined 90,000 runners participating across both events. This unprecedented occurrence highlighted the UK’s vibrant running culture and the growing popularity of marathon events nationwide. The Marathon is more than a race—it’s a celebration of human endurance, community spirit, and generosity.
While many eyes were on the capital, two Striders took on the challenge at the Not the London Marathon Run event.
Amanda Watson completed the half marathon in a time of 2:31:41, putting in a determined performance across a tough course. Meanwhile, Ian Watson tackled the 10-mile race, finishing strongly in 1:53:22.
Both runners were rewarded for their efforts with monster-sized medals, a fitting prize for a fantastic morning’s work.
Flying slightly under the radar but quickly spotted by fellow Striders, Heather Fraser and Debbie Samson successfully completed the Virtual London Marathon.
The duo covered the full marathon distance in 9:10:23, raising money for charity along the way.
This challenge was not just about completing the miles — it was a true test of self-motivation, self-awareness, and understanding that sometimes the greatest achievements come from giving back, even when you’re not at your best.
A truly inspirational effort from Heather and Debbie, demonstrating real spirit.
“All the world’s a stage” — and in Stratford-upon-Avon, Kay Hunt and Adam Thomas gave standout performances at the Shakespeare Marathon, each achieving a personal best.
Kay powered through the historic streets to finish in a fantastic 4:24:02, while Adam crossed the line in a brilliant 4:40:00, both runners delivering outstanding efforts worthy of a standing ovation.
A superb day of running in the Bard’s backyard — and personal bests to prove it!
The usual forecast for Manchester as a cool and cloudy day turned into a sun-soaked stage for Strider success — and the team shone brighter than ever.
First to seize the spotlight was Simon Pharoah, storming across the line with a phenomenal personal best of 3:18:14. A brilliant run that set the tone for the day! Kevin North followed with a sub 4 hour with a scorching run of 3:56
Hot on his heels, Jason Wearn delivered a strong finish in 4:01:00, with Dave Winchester following in 4:31:24 — an incredible achievement having already conquered the Brighton Marathon just weeks earlier.
Flying the flag for the Strider ladies, Lisa Gribbin battled the heat to finish in an excellent 4:48:42, showing true grit and determination.
Adding to the celebrations, Darren Laker smashed his personal best with a time of 4:56:11, while Nadine Golding 5:02:58, Nicola Crawley 5:11:41, David Martins 5:22:34, Tyree Spicer 5:35:55, Sarah Martins 5:41:00 , Justine Wearn 5:44:50 all crossed the line, completing an unforgettable day for the Strider family.
It was a marathon of sunshine, spirit, and superb running — with every finisher a star in their own right.
Under the blazing London sun, Striders took on one of the world’s most iconic marathons — and showed nothing short of extraordinary courage and determination.
A group of enthusiastic Striders were ready and waiting at Water Station 3, cheering on every runner, providing much-needed refreshment, and delivering an incredible boost of energy and encouragement along the way.
First across the famous finish line was Adrian Green, delivering a brilliant run to clock 3:39:22.
Not far behind, Konrad Gryniewicz battled through the heat to finish in 4:11:05.
Leading the Strider women was Eleanor Weekes, running a superb race to cross the line in 4:13:31, closely followed by Jennifer Davis in 4:33:19.
Andy Found battled through the tough conditions to complete his marathon journey in 4:58:51, but hot on his heels was Jayne Hatton, digging deep and surging to the line to secure a memorable personal best of 5:00:44.
A special celebration was in order for George Cromwell, who achieved a fantastic personal best with a time of 5:18:22.
Hazel Winchester finished next in 5:22:25, followed by Maria Chapman in 5:34:25.
Sharon Gardner showed real grit, finishing in 5:36:50 despite her phone and watch failing mid-race — a true testament to mental strength.
Jamie Weller added another highlight to the day, smashing a personal best with 6:20:44, and Jason Sanders completed the epic journey in 6:31:33.
Every Strider who crossed that finish line not only conquered the distance but overcame the intense conditions, the mental battles, and the pressure of the moment.
It was a day of grit, glory, and Strider pride in the heart of London.
For those completing a marathon, it was more than a race; it was a testament to the human spirit’s capacity to endure, inspire, and unite. You showed determination, hope, and triumph.
As every Strider crossed the finish line, you not only achieved personal milestones but also contributed to a collective narrative of perseverance and inspiration.
Remember that pain fades, but pride lasts forever.
Every mile was a victory. Every step, a story. You wrote something unforgettable out there. Go Striders Go!
If there are any mistakes or any additions please let me know
