by Jamie Penfold

Hello again you lovely people. How the devil are you? I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas and looking forward to the New Year. I’ve escaped the family for a couple of hours and headed to the Winchester for a pint to let it all blow over and meticulously run through this weeks results.

This week we had the pleasure of a bonus parkrun on Christmas Day and seeing the record breaking turn outs across the UK and further afield was truly mind-blowing. Ashford parkrun had a record breaking attendance of 474 which many of you attended. And that’s where we start today.

A total of 56 Striders attended a parkrun on Christmas Day with 44 heading to Victoria Park in Ashford where Simon Pharoah was once again the first strider across the line with a time of 18:31, followed by Frank Remigio with a time of 18:32, and Jack Farrant third strider, with a time of 20:03.

They were followed by
Gary Tiley 23:36, Matthew Beasley 23:38, Chloe Stott 23:47, Matthew Gilbert in 23:51, Dan Green 24:21, Claire Green 24:21, Michael Ruck 25:17, Daniel Stott 26:04, Darren Laker 26:55, Kevin North 27:01, Nicola Crawley 29:19, Russ Berliner 29:38, Justin Burden 29:39, David Helme 29:42, Daniel Schwartz 30:02, Lee Gribbin 30:03, Isabelle Froissart 30:04, Scott Hawkins 30:09, Rebecca James 30:11, Catherine Wall 30:59, Don Dewar 31:05, Rachel Tomsett 31:51, Andy Found 32:05, Terry (fred) Sellen 32:47, Claire Iley 32:57, Katarzyna Janas 32:58, Nige Terry 33:12, Sharon Gardner 33:30, Donna Hammond 33:42, Lionel Hammond 33:45, Pauline Tallett 35:25, Dave Warner 35:28, Justine Wearn 36:09, Danielle Moss 36:44, Jason Wearn 36:56, Amanda Watson 37:29, Nadine Lidbury 38:15, Delia Millen 38:55, Helen Rumsey 38:55, Stephen Rumsey 38:56, 39:00, Martin Whittingham 43:34 and Lisa Gribbin 55:00.

Out and about with parkrun Tourism a further 9 Striders represented the club across the County and further afield.

Staying in the Garden of England Adam Booth completed the Walmer and Deal Seafront parkrun in 20:24 followed by Thomas Rogers in 25:06.

Further down the coast in East and West Sussex respectively
Ray Adams completed the Hastings parkrun in 26:20 and Hazel Turner completed the Worthing parkrun in 26:18.

Heading within the M25 Harry Lockhart completed the Bexley parkrun in 28:08.

Then we had a gaggle of Striders heading up North for the holidays.

Neil Wood completed the Crewe parkrun in 22:05. Tamsin Ritchie completed the Northallerton parkrun in 28:38.

We had two Striders in Northumberland; Eloise Pegg completed the Ashington Community Woodland parkrun in 24:42 and Jamie Penfold completed the first of two mudfests in 3 days at The Pastures parkrun finishing in 26:51.

And if that wasn’t enough there was even more parkrun fun and games two days later!!!!

Once again we had a good mixture of people staying home in Ashford and some heading further afield on 27th December.

At Ashford, Chloe Stott was first strider across the line with a time of 23:52, followed by Michael Ruck with a time of 24:39, and Matthew Campbell third strider, with a time of 24:46

They were followed by Ray Adams 25:36, Don Dewar 26:44 (first in his age category!), Daniel Schwartz 26:46, Alice Foulger 27:35, Darren Laker 28:21, Kevan Strand 28:23, David Helme 29:03, Terry (fred) Sellen 30:17, Jason Sanders 30:45, David Gadsby 30:56, Catherine Wall 31:25, Rachel Tomsett 32:26, David Martins 32:46, Vicky Stevenson 32:51, Sarah Martins 32:57, Amy Hook 33:38, Russ Berliner 34:04, Pauline Tallett 35:15, Angela Craffey 36:38, Robert Harris 38:15, Julie Foster 41:42, Amanda James 43:20 and Rick Newman 54:12.

We had representation across Kent and further afield. Starting in the Garden of England we had Simon Pharoah who completed the Walmer and Deal Seafront parkrun in 20:38.

Claire Green completed the Dover Waterfront parkrun in 23:50 followed by Dan Green in 23:51, Lee Gribbin in 25:35 and Lisa Gribbin in 28:20.

Fancying a hillier challenge Jack Farrant completed the Canterbury parkrun in 25:40 closely followed by George Phillips in 26:45.

Finally in Kent Leigh Freeman completed the Leybourne Lakes parkrun in 39:04.

Up in London Josh Stephens completed the Battersea parkrun in 29:02 followed by Aimee Donohue in 33:44. Harry Lockhart returned to the Bexley parkrun and finished in 31:35.

A large group headed to Eastbourne; Katarzyna Janas completed the Eastbourne parkrun in 30:39, Nige Terry in 33:36, Delia Millen in 34:48, Richard Randle in 34:49, Stephen Rumsey in 39:07 and Helen Rumsey also in 39:07.

Up in Essex Nicola Crawley completed the Colchester Castle parkrun in 38:00 followed closely by Justine Wearn in 38:18.

In Hampshire we had another group taking on the fearsome Queen Elizabeth parkrun. Lionel Hammond completed in 28:37, Justin Burden in 31:19, Donna Hammond in 39:16 and Laura Clark in 1:10:42. The horrific hilliness of Queen Elizabeth parkrun is tempered slightly by the most entertaining first timers briefing you are likely to witness.

Not far from there Hazel Turner completed the Worthing parkrun in 26:37.

Up near St Albans Isabelle Froissart completed the Jersey Farm parkrun in 30:19.

Out West near Bristol Matthew Beasley completed the Somerdale Pavilion parkrun in 24:14.

And then back in God’s own lands of the North East of England Tamsin Ritchie completed the Jubilee parkrun in 28:36 and Jamie Penfold completed another mudfest at the Kirkharle Courtyard parkrun in 25:30….and met alpacas too!

But prize for the furthest travelled for a parkrun this week goes to Lee Standen who travelled to the land down under and completed the Maylands Peninsula parkrun in 29:56.

And that is parkrun done for another year. It’s been amazing seeing the sheer variety of parkruns people have visited over the year and seeing Ashford Striders represented across the Globe. I cannot wait to see where our travels take us in 2026.

There was also some racing taking place over the last few days.

Boxing Day saw a group of Striders taking part in the Saltwood Boxing Day Run.

First home was Simon Pharoah in 0:19:57. We then had Richard Randle and Lionel Hammond (PB) finish in 38:04 closely followed by Vicky Shurbsole with a time of 42:04. Nicola Crawley finished in 44:17, Justine Wearn finished in 44:32, Jason Wearn in 44:34 and Dee Millen (PB), Lisa Rump (PB) and Donna Hammond (PB) all with a time of 45:59.

Finally today Michael Davies took part in the Staplehurst 10 Miler and finished with a time of 1:19:34 and winning his age category in the process.

And that concludes our 2025. Well done everyone. Super proud of everything you have all achieved this year.

As ever if there’s any mistakes or my autocorrect has excelled itself then please let me know.

All that is left for me to say from up here in Northumberland where I can confirm it is absolutely freezing, is have a fabulous New Year and I’ll see you all in 2026!!!

By Ashley Robinson

❄️ Ashford Striders Weekly Round-Up – The Great Ice Escape Edition ❄️

With Ashford parkrun frozen and officially downgraded to a budget friendly Dancing On Ice venue, our glorious Striders escaped in every direction — across counties, across bridges, and even across borders.
But this week didn’t just belong to the parkrun tourists… oh no.
Because members of the club flew to Spain, filled their suitcases with suncream and electrolytes, and took over the Benidorm 10k and Half Marathon in serious style.

🎓 Coventry parkrun
Stephen Cartwright travelled to Coventry and clocked a very respectable 30:50 in between social activities!

🐟 Maidstone River Park parkrun
Cara Linin zipped through in 32:44 while Nadine Golding took a more relaxed, scenic approach with 46:56.
Both avoided accidental river dips and had some with all the photography opportunities.

🎩 Nonsuch parkrun
Isabelle Froissart cruised to a classy 30:15 on the deer-filled grounds.

🧼 Harrogate parkrun
Pia Amsler delivered a strong 32:30 despite temperatures that could freeze a water bottle mid-run.

🎠 Cheltenham parkrun
Tamsin Ritchie ran a swift 29:35 around the racecourse, sadly with no bookies available to profit from her excellent form.

🌑 Tonbridge parkrun
David Martins finished in 30:47, Nicola Crawley followed with 31:17, and Sarah Martins completed the trio in 34:09.

🌳 Peckham Rye parkrun – The Tutu Takeover
Josh Stephens stormed in with 23:19, closely followed by Jamie Penfold in 23:57.Aimee Donohue added a stylish 28:40 all while wearing tutu’s!

🌬️ Folkestone parkrun
The coastal winds attempted to blow them all into France but was unsuccessful.
Dan Green smashed a 21:34, Michael Ruck with 24:13 and Claire Green at 24:30.
Further back, Claire Iley finished in 30:03 and Maria Chapman in 32:18.

🌉 Severn Bridge parkrun
Justine Wearn finished in 32:40 with Jason Wearn just behind at 32:50.
They technically ran in two countries, making this an international Strider’s event.

🌊 Walmer & Deal Seafront parkrun
Adam Booth tore up the course with a 20:04, securing 7th place overall.
Isobel Phillips followed with a smooth 31:16.
A top seaside effort.

🌲 North Walsham parkrun
The Hammond’s nipped up to Norfolk to take on North Walsham Parkrun with Lionel finishing in 26:41, while Donna Hammond opted for the scenic casual stroll with 58:53.

🦌 Mote Park parkrun – Another Full Tutu Takeover
Another Full Tutu Takeover turning the park into a mobile ballet show with significantly more heavy breathing.
Stephen Rumsey ran 27:04, followed by Justin Burden in 28:39 and Daniel Schwartz in 29:10.
Next came Katarzyna Janas in 32:58, then Nige Terry at 34:48.
Delia Millen finished in 35:30, followed by Clare Nunn in 37:09, then Helen Rumsey in 39:22 and Richard Randle just a second behind.
Finally, Martin Whittingham wrapped things up with 50:37.

🏞️ Whitecliffe Lake parkrun
Rachel Tomsett ran a strong 31:05 around the lake on one of Parkrun’s latest additions.

But this week didn’t just belong to the parkrun tourists… oh no.
Because members of the club flew to Spain, filled their suitcases with suncream and electrolytes and headed to……………………..

🌞 Benidorm Race Weekend
While the UK shivered, a squad of Striders chose a more Mediterranean solution to the cold:
Jump on a plane to BENIDORM.
Normally we expect mobility scooters, the 1euro pint but not for these seasoned runners……well not before the race anyway!!

🇪🇸 Benidorm 10k
Andy Found finished in 01:06:40 ensuring he was back in time for the evening entertainment.
Julie Foster crossed the line 01:20:52, securing a seasonal PB. Strong running Julie!

🇪🇸 Benidorm Half Marathon
Elle Weekes was the first strider to cross the line in 01:56:26. Scott Hawkins stormed home in a PB 01:59:48, Rebecca James put in a brilliant PB 02:13:56 with Jayne Hatton following closely with SB 02:14:03. On her tail was Amanda James who finished in a PB 02:15:45.

Hopefully you all celebrated in style with the local nightlife! I for one believe this should be an annual away weekend for Striders! What do you reckon everyone?

Finally, I couldn’t write the report without mentioning the one and only Rob Harris! I know I am one for crazy ideas, but this was just insane but also inspirational. Over the year Rob has been running half marathons as if he was popping to shop for milk and today marked the 100th of the year.
7.30am in what can be described as slightly damp conditions a large contingent of the Striders family came together to run this special occasion with him. Whether you ran the first loop, second loop or the whole half marathon this just shows what an absolute belter of the club this is. At the end Rob was presented with a trophy and a huge applause to what is an incredible achievement. Well done Rob!
That is enough from me so as always great work, keep it going into next week and beyond!

MightyAshfordStriders!

By Jamie Penfold

Hello again you lovely people!  How the devil are you?  Well it’s that time of the week again and I’m writing this weeks report whilst watching the Brazilian Grand Prix.  This week’s report is in no way influenced by the Formula 1 in the background!  

It’s lights out and away we go with the parkrun results of the weekend.

A total of 63 Striders lined up on the grid at a Parkrun…36 at Ashford, and 27 on tour.

We begin as ever at home at Victoria Park with Ashford parkrun. 

Taking the chequered flag first for the team in red (Striders…not Ferrari) was Simon Pharoah crossing the line with a time of 18:07, followed by Keith Haynes with a time of 20:00, and Jack Farrant with a time of 20:36.  Following  up close behind was Kevan Strand 22:21 and first of the ladies Linda-jean Delport 22:27.  Just outside of DRS range was Dan Green 22:40, Michael Ruck 24:24, Harry Lockhart 24:30 and Matthew Campbell 27:17 with Jason Brice 28:02, Matthew Beasley 28:27, David Gadsby 28:30, David Helme 29:58 and Russ Berliner 30:01 closely behind. 

Then we had Scott Hawkins 30:11, Rachel Tomsett 31:14, Catherine Wall 31:31, Victoria Shrubsole 32:19, Andrew Cornwell 32:19, Leigh Freeman 32:20, Sara Dewar 32:24, Rebecca James 33:42, Gayle Bailey 33:52, Vicky Stevenson 33:54, Andy Found 33:54, Elle Weekes 33:55, Rachel Oliver 35:38, Amanda James 36:19, Kate Bushell 38:41, Paul Diddams 39:11, Pauline Tallett 39:25, Julie Foster 39:41, Robert Harris 39:57 and Tamsin Ritchie, tail walking with 1:01:46.

As ever parkrun cannot happen without the volunteers who marshal and oversea the events.  A big thank you to those of you who volunteered this weekend.

Now on to parkrun tourism.

Starting with our neighbouring parkruns in Kent.  At Folkestone we had Maria Chapman completing in 31:51.  Then at the hilly circuit of Kingdom parkrun we had Stephen Rumsey completing in 27:36, Justin Burden completing in 28:28, Richard Randle completing in 31:48, Lee Standen completing in 32:05, Katarzyna Janas completing in 34:11, Nige Terry completing in 36:26, Delia Millen completing in 37:08, Helen Rumsey completing in 41:10, Laura Clark completing in 47:54 and Martin Whittingham completing in 49:16.

Up the M20, not a million miles from Brands Hatch, at Mote Park we had Lee Gribbin  in 26:59 and Lisa Gribbin in 30:34.  At Kent’s newest parkrun we had David Martins completing in 29:02, Sarah Martins crossing the line in 32:59, Nadine Lidbury in 33:32, Cara Linin in 33:32 and Amanda Watson in 34:04.  

Then in London, locked up in Parc Ferme at Wormwood Scrubs we had Josh Stephens in 24:00 and Aimee Donohue in 33:02.  At Hilly Fields we had Justine Wearn in 55:40 and Nicola Crawley in 56:45.  

Just outside London’s own circuit (the M25) we had Lionel Hammond and Donna Hammond completing the Oaklands College parkrun in 27:17 and 34:58 respectively.

Heading North like Ayrton Senna in a slipstream was Hazel Turner at Warrington parkrun, completing in 26:27.  And then in the industrial heartland of Northumberland at Ashington we had Eloise Pegg completing the Ashington Community Woodland parkrun in 25:06.  

Prize for the furthest travelled Strider goes to Isabelle Froissart who travelled to Poland (home of 1 time race winner Robert Kubica) to complete the Zalew Wrzesiński parkrun in 29:52.

So onto the races this weekend……well….race.  We had one Strider racing this week.

Eloise Pegg took part in the Heaton Memorial 10k on Newcastle’s Town Moor.  Streaking to a PB like Lando Norris extending his lead in the championship, Eloise finished with a superb time of 50:50.  Superb effort Eloise!!!

And that’s our lot for the week.  Well done everyone!

On a final note I would like to mention that November is Men’s Mental Health Month.  Running is a superb way of managing our mental health and wellbeing.  It’s not until you can’t do it that you realise just what a positive impact it has on you.  Running helps reduce anxiety, improves mood, improves your overall health and helps with sleep.  

Treasure what you have at your feet and remember you are part of a wonderful community.  If you’re struggling remember we have a team here who are here to support.  

Have fun, be kind and support one and other. 

I hope to be back soon! 

Have a wonderful week.

☮️ & ❤️ 

JP

by George Philips

Welcome to November and Halloween Week, the nights are drawing in but that doesn’t stop the Striders from heading out. Plenty of ghouls and ghosts could be found in and around this week

parkrun

A cancelled Ashford parkrun can be a Striders Nightmare but it just meant another week of tourism for the Ashford Striders with 46 members taking on the various 5km routes.

Matthew Beasley was the solo Strider at Bedgeboooory Pinetum, a hilly but picturesque course, it’s definitely worth making the trip to. Matt finished in a time of 28.06

Rachel Tomsett Found herself up in Leicestershire with Braun(grave)stone the parkrun of choice, she completed the course with a time of 31.40.

Jack(o’lantern) Farrant headed up north finishing in 20th position at Darlington Spook Park with a time on 20.46.

Slightly closer to home was Andrew, Vicky and Clare who opted for Dover Waterfront (Dover is scary enough as it is) finishing in 31.39, 31.40 and 36.12.

Croakestone (Folkestone, not my best…) could have been mistaken as an Ashford Striders take over with 13 Striders heading down the M20. Simon Pharoah was the first Strider home in a time of 18.09, which also saw him finish in 5th place. Next were Kevan Strand in 21.48, Dan Green 22.43, Linda Jean Delport 24.03, Michael Ruck 24.22, David Helme 29.10, Sharon Gardner 29.11 (a new PB and breaking 30 minutes!) Russ Berliner 29.23, David Martins 30.03, Maria Chapman 31.37, Ned Goulding 32.42, Sarah Martins 32.45 and Kat Silvester 35.25.

Martin Wittingham was completing his Staying Alive parkrun challenge, which requires you to attend 3 Bs and 3 Gs. Martin heading to Gunpowder parkrun and finished in 46.19.

Kingdom parkrun gained a couple of extra witches this week, Nic Crawley and Justine Wearn took on the 3 lap course finishing in 38.55 and 39.00. 🧹🧹🧙‍♀️

Maidstone Shiver Park had Paul Diddams, Pauline Tallet and Amanda Watson. Another Strider favourite saw times of 42.56, 42.58 and 43.54.

Marion Fitzpatrick headed to Newry Greenway in 31.20

Nonsuch saw another large group of Spooky Striders, Lionel Hammond was first across the line in 27.01, shortly followed by Justin Burden 27.35, Lee Standen 31.17, Katarzyna Janas 33.58, Donna Hammond 35.33, Nige Terry 35.50, Richard Randle 35.52, Dee Millen 36.11, Steve Rumsey 39.26, Helen Rumsey 39.38 and Laura Clark 60.29.

Walmer and Deal Screamfront had Adam Booth finishing in 7th place with a time of 19.41.

Finally another group of Striders headed to Kent’s newest parkrun at White(as a ghost)cliffe Lake. This was actually the very first parkrun to take place on this new course, Josh Stephens finished in 23.35, Hazel Turner in 25.39, Jamie Penfold in 26.19, Tamsin Richie 28.41, Lee Gribbin 28.49, Lisa Gribbin 30.22 and Aimee Donohue 33.07.

Sunday Races

Movember Run

Saturday morning saw Elle Weekes taking on the Morunner Movember Half Marathon in Herne Bay. Taking on pacing duties for a friend Elle earnt her tash coming in at 2.26.53 to break the 2.30 target.

Deal (Haunted) Castle 5 mile race

3 Striders took on the Deal Castle 5 mile race hosted by Deal Tri Club. Well worth checking out there other races as they are well organised and really reasonably priced too! The bad weather cleared ready for the start and it ended up being lovely!
Adrian Green ran and supported a friend on today’s run finishing in 52.32
Isobel Phillips was completing her first race in over a year and her longest run since Grace was born she finished in a time of 52.13, we ran together and I was very proud of my wife today! A big thank you to Jayne, Amanda and Becky who made the journey over to Deal just to support which really helped for the final mile! They earnt a well deserved coffee after!

Gravesend Duathlon

Final result of the week came in the form of a duathlon, New Strider Peter Pickering ran 5k, cycled 20k and ran another 3k in terrible conditions at Gravesend Cyclopark. Despite the terrible conditions Peter found himself standing on the podium at the end of the race in 3rd place getting him a well earned trophy.

By Jayne Hatton

Well what a weekend this has been for Ashford Striders. Runs and races all over and we start with Parkrun.

With no Ashford parkrun this week, because of some wizards and witches taking over the park, it was down to the Striders to fly the flag elsewhere.

Jamie Penfold and Hazel Turner completed the Bromley parkrun in 24:20 and 28:12 respectively.

Lee Gribbin completed the Dover Waterfront parkrun in 24:13, next was Andy Found in 26:00, Lisa Gribbin in 27:32, Jayne Hatton in 30:07, Justine Wearn 31:40 and finally Jason Wearn in 31:44.

David and Sarah Martins completed the Farfalle parkrun in 29:30 and 32:53 respectively.

Simon Pharoah came in second place completing the Folkestone parkrun in 18:03, Michael Ruck came in 24:35, Isabelle Froissart 28:51, David Helme 28:55, Aimee Donohue 29:37, Rachel Tomsett 33:17.

Eloise Pegg completed the Forest Rec parkrun in 27:55.

Maria Chapman completed the Great Lines parkrun, Medway in 31:47.

Justin Burden, Lee Standen and Laura Clark completed the Hockley Woods parkrun in 29:32, 33:30 and 48:46 respectively.

Josh Stephens completed the Leybourne Lakes parkrun in 23:01, Daniel Schwartz in 27:26, Cara Linin 31:59, Katarzyna Janas 33:39, Nige Terry 34:08, Helen Rumsey 40:15, Clare Nunn 41:55, Nadine Lidbury in 48:27.

Nicola Crawley completed the Mote Park parkrun in 31:12.

Lionel and Donna Hammond completed the Swanley parkrun in 27:16 and 35:03 respectively.

Tamsin Ritchie completed the The Pastures parkrun in 28:39.

Adam Booth and Ombéline Marone-hitz completed the Walmer and Deal Seafront parkrun in 19:42 and 29:15 respectively.

Amanda Watson completed the Waterakkers parkrun in 40:08.

Martin Whittingham completed the Westmill parkrun in 45:58.

Well done parkrunners!!

Now onto the weekend races and the reason the report was delayed (sorry!)

First up and we head over the channel to beautiful Bruges. A lone Strider took on the half marathon route and came away victorious with not only a great time of 2:14:12, Ian Watson also managed a free beer, pot of pasta and a T-shirt! Fantastic haul Ian!

Next up was another loan Strider but Chloe Winham didn’t let that distract her as she took on the Great Eastern Run! Chloe finished the run through Peterborough city centre, including the grounds of the cathedral, in an impressive personal best time of 1:48:57! Well done Chloe!

The fantastic five decided London was going to be the setting for their next awesome adventure and joining the Royal Parks half marathon was their plan. They came away with smiles on their faces and some awesome times to show for it too. First home was Carole Thomas, showing what sheer determination can do for a person, in a brilliant personal best time of 1:46:27! Carole was followed by the very brave and equally determined Chris Lacey in his personal best time of 1:52:28 sporting a very impressive 14 stitches! Ask Spidey for details! Following them over the line was Steve Cartwright who reported a beautiful run and great crowds getting him round in 2:19:35. Rob Harris was next up in 2:31:57, I’ve lost count on which half marathon this is for the year Rob, you just keep on going! Someone else who hasn’t stopped is Julie Foster, proving that hard work really does pay off, Julie crossed the line in 3:24:21! Well done everyone!

Finally we end with the results from the Givaudan 10k! There was a definite sea of red today in Ashford and the results certainly reflect the support that each runner received out on the course. It really does make such a difference. So thank you to those of you that got out there to give a cheer to your fellow runners today!

I’m going to go ahead and list you all because there are not enough adjectives to describe how awesome you are.

Frank Remingo 0:35:43 PB
Simon Pharoah. 0:36:42 PB
Keith Haynes 0:39:49
Jack Farrant 0:42:59 PB
Harry Scott 0:44:29 PB
Steve Greatorex 0:45:02
Josh Stephens 0:45:10 PB
Jamie Penfold 0:47:51
Chris littlejohn 0:48:23 PB
Scott Hawkins 0:48:52 PB
Adam Thomas 0:49:02
Matthew Beasley 0:49:07 PB
Chloe Stott 0:49:26 PB
Matthew gilbert 0:50:01
Michael Ruck 0:50:36 PB
Dave Winchester 0:50:59
Lionel Hammond 0:52:16 PB
Daniel Schwartz 0:52:21
Don Dewar 0:53:45
Justin Burden 0:54:17
Daniel Stott 0:54:34 PB
Jason Brice 0:55:49
Mat Norman 0:56:03 PB
Gayle Bailey 0:56:27
Matt Campbell 0:56:48 PB
Jason Sanders 0:57:41
Megan Clare 0:57:43 PB
David Gadsby 0:57:48
Aimee Donohue 0:57:50
Kevan Strand 0:58:09
Steve Rumsey 0:58:32
Sharon Gardner 0:58:34 PB
Lee Standen 0:59:01
Ashish srivastava 1:00:04
Vicky Shrubsole 1:02:21
Andrew Cornwell 1:02:22
Katie Redman 1:03:15
Russ Berliner 1:03:19 PB
Amy Hook 1:04:09 PB
Rachel Tomsett 1:04:42
Donna Hammond 1:06:42 PB
Sara Dewar 1:06:56
Rachel Oliver 1:08:49
Emma Bradford 1:09:33 PB
Annaliese Irven 1:10:15 PB
Sharon McInnes 1:13:28
Vicky Corby 1:13:32
Kat Silvester 1:19:13

Each week I read the run report I feel proud to be a Strider but today at the Julie Rose Stadium I was in awe of every single runner coming in, from the first to the final finisher each one got that famous Strider support right over the line. Well done to you all and I truly mean it when I say I love this club!! ❤️

By Jamie Penfold

Hello again you lovely people! How the devil are you?

Well it’s that time of the week again where we celebrate the weekly achievements of the Ashford Striders gang.

As ever we start this weeks report with parkrun. On Saturday there was almost a 50/50 split of people staying at home in Ashford and those who went out on the tourist trail.

We’ll start at home in Victoria Park for Ashford’s parkrun.

Frank Remigio was first strider across the line with a time of 18:01 followed by Keith Haynes with a time of 19:58 and Dan Green with a time of 22:22.

They were followed by the two Harrys; Harry Scott in 22:23 and Harry Lockhart 23:30. Linda-jean Delport was the First Lady home with a time of 25:10 followed by Michael Ruck in 25:18, Chloe Stott in 25:28 and Daniel Schwartz 26:55.

Andy Found then crossed the line with a time of 27:49, Darren Laker in 28:36, Jason Brice in 28:50 and Catherine Wall in 29:54. We then has a string of runners crossing the line in quick succession starting with Ross Mcinnes in 31:14, Carole Thomas in 31:32, David Helme in 31:55, David Martins in 32:03, Sarah Martins in 32:12, Rebecca James in 33:26, Elle Weekes in 33:27 and Leigh Freeman in 34:07.

We then had Pauline Tallett cross in 36:12, Michelle Brice in 36:35, Robert Harris in 36:37, Jennifer Watts in 36:47, Amanda James in 37:13, Sharon Mcinnes in 38:37 and Angela Craffey in 51:18.

As ever parkrun can’t happen without the volunteers giving up their time each Saturday morning. So a big shout out to the Striders who volunteered both at Ashford and whilst out on tour.

So out and about and we start close to home at Whitstable parkrun where Simon Pharoah completed in a great time of 18:33. Inland in Maidstone, Lee Gribbin, Lisa Gribbin and Martin Whittingham made the short trip up the M20 to take part in the Maidstone River Park parkrun in 31:18, 35:40 and 38:45 respectively.

Over in Tonbridge, Isabelle Froissart completed the Tonbridge parkrun in 29:38 and at Ifield Mill Pond parkrun we had Stephen Rumsey completing in 26:00, Lionel Hammond in 27:23, Katarzyna Janas in 33:34, Delia Millen in 34:33, Donna Hammond in 35:05, Nige Terry in 36:31 and Helen Rumsey in 39:56.

Heading within the M25 Jamie Penfold completed the soggy Foots Cray Meadows parkrun in 24:48.

In Essex, Rachel Tomsett completed the Chelmsford Central parkrun in 31:27 and back within the boundaries of the M25 at my old stomping ground of Hornchurch at Harrow Lodge parkrun we had Justin Burden completing in 28:02, Lee Standen in 29:24 and Laura Clark in 58:20.

Heading to North London we had Justine Wearn completing the Grovelands parkrun, Enfield in 33:31 and Jason Wearn in 57:35.

Heading a bit further north we had Scott Hawkins who completed the Christchurch Park parkrun in 29:30.

Back in the wonderful North East of England we had Jack Farrant and Sharon Gardner doing parkrun at the stunning Chopwell Wood parkrun in 22:39 and 33:08 respectively.

And finally Nicki Charles visited the UK’s hardest parkrun. Great Yarmouth North Beach parkrun; 5K all on sand both on the beach and in the dunes. She completed that in 39:53.

Now onto the race results.

We’ll start on Saturday with Swim Serpentine in London where Richard Randle and Jason Wearn completed the 2 mile swim in times of 1hr 18min 30sec and 1hr 27min 36sec. Both times were PBs and meant they both completed the three events of London Marathon, Ride London and Swim Serpentine bagging them the London Classics medal. Well done gents!!!! Chapeau!

Then to Sunday and we had Rob Harris completing the Reigate Half Marathon in a time of 2:37:21.

George Phillips took part in the 15km Tough Mudder in a time of 2:35:46.

On my old doorstep on North Tyneside Eloise Pegg completed the North Tyneside 10K race along the North East Coast in a time of 59:01…..the hill the leads up from the banks of the Tyne up to Tynemouth Priory is brutal so full admiration Eloise.

A last but not least a huge cheer for Hazel Winchester who not only completed the Berlin Marathon today but also bagged a PB of 4:56:43. I’ve heard from friends who were also running Berlin that the conditions were tough with it being extremely warm! What a way to finish off the run report. Well done Hazel!!!

Before I say auf wiedersehen Pet just a reminder of the events we have coming up this week with runs on Monday and Tuesday evening, a tech session on Monday, Strength and Conditioning on Tuesday, Early Risers on Wednesday and our mass group handicap run at Victoria Park on Thursday. Please make sure you get there on time so we can make a prompt start; and the meet up is at Victoria Park, NOT the club. That’s always a great event and a lot of fun.

Keep smiling. Keep running.

“When your legs get tired run with your heart”

By George Phillips

Ashford was the place to be Saturday and the Striders never disappoint when it’s Take Over day! The bad weather did not completely stay away, but spirits remained high.

To switch it up, this week we will start with the volunteers, I’m sure everyone enjoyed supporting all the runners out on course and a big thank you to Julie for getting it organised so well. These events really show why Striders are the best running club in Ashford!

Run Director – Mat Norman
Event Set up – Justin and Laura
Marshalls – Carole, Chris, Lucie, George, Rob, Gayle, Pauline, Danies Son, Megan, The Whole Corby family, Steve and Helen
Time Keepers – Clare and Ned
Scanners – Gary, Pav and Sarah
Finish Tokens – Amanda and Tamsin
First Timers – Isabelle
Tail walkers – Isabelle and Maria
Funnel Manager – Julie
Report Writer – Lisa
Photographer – Amy
And last (and probably most importantly) the Cake Table – Becky and Jayne
I’m sure there were others too, so apologies if I have missed anyone!

We also had a host of Pacers helping runners round the course. Keith, Kevin, Jack, Scott, Josh, Andy, Vicky, Cara, Lisa, Aimee and Kat. And the award for closest to their finish time was……Keith! Who was only 3 seconds off with a time of 20.03.

On to the runners!

A total of 46 Striders attended a Parkrun on 13/09/25 , 35 at Ashford, and 11 on tour.

Keith Haynes was first strider across the line with a time of 20:03, followed by Kevan Strand with a time of 21:46, and Dan Green third strider, with a time of 21:49

They were followed by

Jack Farrant 24:07, Terry (fred) Sellen 24:07, Chloe Stott 24:23, Lee Gribbin 24:54, Michael Ruck 25:09, Linda-jean Delport 25:29, Alice Foulger 25:30, Chloe Winham 25:31, Jason Wearn 26:04, Scott Hawkins 26:05, Harry Lockhart 26:48, Justin Burden 27:11, David Gadsby 27:55, David Martins 28:03, Josh Stephens 28:13, Jamie Bartlett 28:31, Andy Found 28:56, Catherine Wall 29:34, Russ Berliner 30:29, Victoria Shrubsole 31:37, Marion Fitzpatrick 31:43, Cara Linin 33:49, Lee Standen 34:30, Melissa Dawkins 35:28, Lisa Gribbin 35:53, Aimee Donohue 38:07, Kat Silvester 39:16, Rick Newman 45:21, Justine Wearn 45:22, Mark Niles 52:38, Isabelle Froissart 1:03:17, Maria Chapman 1:03:18,

Parkrun Tourism

Not everyone could make it to the take over so a number of Striders took to park runs around the country, a couple even made it overseas!

Leigh Freeman completed the Cardiff parkrun in 35:23,
Ross Mcinnes erupted over the line at the Etna parkrun in 43:10, Sharon Mcinnes in 45:14,
Simon Pharoah was this weeks speediest Striders down in Folkestone with a time of 18:39,
Richard Randle completed the Moors Valley parkrun in 31:01, Katarzyna Janas in 33:59, Delia Millen in 34:56 and Nige Terry in 35:00,
Martin Whittingham completed the Pontypool parkrun in 41:22,
Konrad Gryniewicz completed the Southwark parkrun in 23:48,
Eloise Pegg completed the Whitley Bay parkrun in 29:54

Sunday Races

Rye Ancient Trails 15k and 30k

A gaggle of Striders left the roads behind and took on the hills surrounding Rye.

Darren Laker and Daniel Schwartz took on the 15k route in times of 1.58.32 and 1.48.00.

Dave Winchester, Matt Beasley and Ash Robinson opted for the 30k route finishing with times of 3.28.00, 3.46.06 and 5.18.35.

Garmin New Forest Marathon and 10k

Opting for a lovely weekend in the New Forest Dee Millen, Kasia Janas and Nige Terry took on the 10k run in the woods. Competing in their first race meant PBs for Kasia and Nige with times of 1.15.18 and 1.17.08. Dee got herself a course PB with a time of 1.15.23.
Leaving Richard to fend for himself, he took on the Marathon distance in the New Forest finishing with a time of 4.52.15.

Another brilliant week to be an Ashford Strider!

By Rebecca James

Good Evening and Happy Sunday Strider’s! 

We have had some awful weather this week, I myself have managed to dodge the rain on every run, which is definitely a win! 

Everyone has been super busy this weekend will all sorts of races, so buckle up, we are ready to begin…

STRIDER’S ROUNDERS

We will start with Friday Evening with the Strider’s Rounders Match. Organised by Nicola Crawley, a group of Strider’s headed over to Victoria Park to test out their Rounders skills. There was plenty of competitiveness, fun and laughs had by all! 

Overall, the winning team won by just one point, well done to everyone who took part!🏏 sending best wishes to Lin also! 

GREAT NORTH 5K

Jamie Penfold headed North to complete his first run of three over the weekend! Jamie completed the Great North 5K in an impressive time of 22:50. Nice little warm up for the weekend ahead!😋

RYE SUMMER SERIES

The last race of the Rye Summer Series took place on Friday. Three Strider’s headed down to take on the 5K route. First finished was Lionel Hammond, finishing in 31:14, following was Amy Hook in 32:00, and Donna Hammond in 32:19. 

Next we come to Saturday Morning, PARKRUN day for so many!! 

ASHFORD PARKRUN

Simon Pharoah finished first of all Strider’s in a time of 19:02, followed by Keith Haynes 20:10, Jack Farrant 21:03, Neil Wood 21:13 and Kevan Strand 21:58. Adam Booth followed next with 22:03. Scott Hawkins and his new trainers ignored their planned ‘easy run’ and bought home a course PB with a time of 24:37. Michael Ruck finished next with 25:22, Chloe Stott 25:27, Hazel Turner 25:39 and Lee Gribben 26:45. Matthew Beasley opted for a parkrun rather than an ultra today, finishing in 27:49. Daniel Schwartz finished in 27:50, followed by David Gadsby in 27:52. Darren Laker finished parkrun finishing his half marathon distance in 29:37, with Lisa Gribben hot on his heels in 29:38. Tamsin Ritchie and Cathy Wall were in the 30’s club with times of 30:08 and 30:19. Rob Harris, also running crazy distances finished in 31:01 finishing his half marathon distance. David Helme was next in 31:33, Kat Silvester 32:22, Penny Grigg 34:12 and Rachel Tomsett 34:13. Leigh Freeman followed in 36:12, Jason Brice 36:19, Jennifer Watts 37:56 and Clare Nunn 41:18. Last but certainly not least was Julie Nicholson as Tailwalker, in 63:54. 

Great running everyone❤️

As always, thank you to the volunteers who make this event possible for us all every week – Jason Caldwell, Julie Nicholson and Mathew Norman. 

Now onto Parkrun Tourism..

CANTERBURY PARKRUN

Gary Tiley headed down to Canterbury Parkrun. He raced a juggling runner who seemed to be running incredibly fast considering the circumstances!!😆 Gary finished in a time of 23:57.

CARLISLE PARKRUN

Jamie Penfold completed his second race of the weekend, finishing in a slightly more chilled time of 26:47 ahead of his half tomorrow! 

EASTBOURNE PARKRUN

Gaining herself a shiny new PB, and now in the sub 24 club is Alice Foulger who completed her run in 23:45. Great running Alice, congratulations!

FAIRVIEW PARKRUN

Martin Whittingham headed to Fairview Parkrun and completed the course in 37:59.

HADLEIGH PARKRUN

Nicola Crawley and Justine Wearn completed another parkrun together, finishing in 37:22 and 38:01. We love to see the starting photo of them both, always in the air🤩

LEYBOURNE LAKES

Maria Chapman opted for a pretty parkrun, and completes Leybourne Lakes in 30:14. 

WARNER AND DEAL PARKRUN

Isobel Phillips completed her first Parkrun after having baby Grace. Isobel ran with her sister and completed the course in a time of 35:36. SHE’S BACK!! Well done Isobel!

RISING SUN PARKRUN

Victoria Shrubsole and Andrew Cornwell completed the Rising Sun parkrun ahead of the Great North run finishing in 35:55 and 35:56. 

SHORNE WOOD

Isabelle Froissart complete Shorne Wood Parkrun in a time of 30:56. 

WOODBANK PARKRUN

Terry Sellen strayed from the usual Ashford Parkrun, and took on Woodbank Parkrun whilst visiting family. He completed the course in 25:06.

WHITLEY BAY

Another couple up North, Harry Lockhart and Eloise Pegg completed Whitley Bay parkrun. I hear there was some small competition between the Pegg family on who was going to be first across the line, Harry was happy to take that crown! 

Harry finished in 23:22 and Eloise in 25:51. Well done guys. 

THE LEAS 

A group of Strider’s headed down to Monster on Sea to complete The Leas Parkrun. First to finish was Steve Rumsey in 24:51. Followed by Lionel Hammond in 26:05. Justine Burden in 26:07, Richard Randle in 29:22, Dee Millen in 34:34, Nige Terry in 35:27, Donna Hammond in 36:08, Katarzyna Janas in 39:32, Helen Rumsey in 39:44 and Laura Clark in 54:51. 

BACKYARD ULTRA

Luke Marsh and George Cromwell took on the Backyard Ultra course. The guys completed laps of 4.167 miles (6.7km) in the hour, every hour. Well done guys, some great endurance there!!  

Sunday was a very busy day for racing this weekend, from London to Newcastle. 

BATTEL BONFIRE BOYES BBB 10K

The BBB 10k takes runners through the pretty and historic streets of Battle. A few Strider’s headed down to take on the challenge. First over the line was Lionel Hammond in a time of 58:41. Next was Richard Randle in a time of 1:00:52, followed by Dee Millen in 1:13:11 and Donna Hammond in 1:16:38. 

JULIE ROSE HALF MARATHON/MARATHON

Taking on the half marathon distance running around the 400m track at the Julie Rose Stadium is Amy Hook. Amy finished in a time of 2:45:45. Congratulations Amy! 

THE BIG HALF 

A group of Strider’s completed a half marathon around the streets of London. Josh Stephen’s completed the route with an impressive PB of 1:45:15!! A huge congratulations!!!🙌 following was Jason Brice who vowed he was taking a ‘jog’ around London finished in 2:24:55. That’s a decent jog Jase, I hope the pie and mash was good!😉 Next was Aimee Donahue who finished in 2:27:31 with a course PB. Well done to you all!! 

THE GREAT NORTH RUN

Heading up north now to congratulate those who have completed the great north run. First over the line was Simon Pharoah in a time of 1:27:24. Next was Jamie Penfold finishing in 1:53:02 with a course PB! Coming behind was Sharon Gardner in 2:32:33. Following was Claire Iley in 2:35:56. Last but not least, crossing the line together was Victoria Shrubsole, and Andrew Cornwell in 2:38:07. Well done to you all!! 

BEWL WATER SWIM RUN 

Nicola took on the challenge including some running, but also swimming! 5km of running was completed as well as 1.4km swimming. Nic finished in 1:21:30. Congrats!

Enjoy the rest of your evening, and best of luck for all upcoming runs next week❤️

by Stephen Cartwright

Ashford Striders Run Report 31st August 2025 – “The Greatest Stride on Earth!” 

When the race calendar takes a breather, the Striders don’t slow down – they step into the spotlight. With no official races this week, it was Parkrun that stole the show, and Ashford Striders turned it into a full-blown spectacle.

With the circus rolling into town this week, it seemed only fitting that Ashford Striders brought their own show to the streets! Saturday’s Parkrun had all the colour, energy, and community spirit of a big top performance – minus the juggling (unless you count juggling water bottles, pace, and conversation!).

Runners gathered with the usual buzz, but there was a definite sense of spectacle in the air. Whether it was the clown-like socks, lion-hearted efforts, or tightrope-worthy balance on the paths, everyone brought their A-game.

While jugglers, clowns, and acrobats dazzled crowds under the big top, 67 Ashford Striders put on a show of their own across the Parkrun stage—40 at Ashford and 27 on tour, proving once again that we’re the real main attraction.

Leading the Striders parade was Frank Remigio, who flew round the course like a man shot from a cannon, finishing in a blistering 18:03. Hot on his heels was Keith Haynes at 20:01, and Jack Farrant completed the podium with a strong 20:39—no clowning around at the front!

The rest of the troupe followed in fine form: Harry Scott 22:59, Jason Caldwell 23:40, Linda-jean Delport 24:08, Matt Wickens 24:47, Brian Marsh 25:13, Terry (Fred) Sellen 25:34, Michael Ruck 25:57, Elle Weekes 25:58, Daniel Schwartz 26:49, Darren Laker 26:56, Chloe Stott 28:00, Hazel Turner 28:13, Jamie Bartlett 28:45, David Gadsby 29:25, Daniel Stott 29:29, Ross McInnes 30:00, Catherine Wall 30:25, Jason Brice 30:49, Vicky Stevenson 31:16, Russ Berliner 31:47, Marion Fitzpatrick 32:04, Claire Iley 32:59, Robert Harris 33:04, Sara Dewar 33:05 her quickest since August 2023, awesome! David Helme 33:13, Kat Silvester 33:26, Amy Hook 34:16, Leigh Freeman 35:07, Josh Stephens & Aimee Donohue 35:17 synchronised running—very circus!, Paul Diddams 35:31, Pauline Tallett 35:39, Clare Nunn 36:17, Sharon McInnes 36:31, Jennifer Watts 36:34, Rachel Oliver 37:55 and Rachel Tomsett 53:50.

A huge thankyou to this weeks volunteers of Don Dewar, Jason Caldwell and Mat Norman – the real ringmasters of the morning! Without your time, energy and encouragement, the show simply couldn’t go on.

While 40 Striders held down the fort at Ashford, the remaining 27 took their barcode powered passports and hit the road, the coast, the capital and even the continent. From scenic vineyards to Roman ruins, this week’s touring troupe turned parkrun into a travel brochure.

Harry Lockhart showed great pace at Bexley Parkrun, crossing the finish line in a swift 26:39, while Scott Hawkins tackled the Dartford course with determination completing it in a solid 30:28.

Down by the coast, six Striders brought their energy to the Dover Waterfront Parkrun. Lee Gribbin led with pace and pride, a 26:06 seaside glide; Nicola Crawley wasn’t far behind, with 29:00 she was well timed; Chris Littlejohn steady and true, 29:12 a solid view, Amanda Watson strong and keen, clocked 30:57 what a scene; Maria Chapman brought the cheer, at 32:03 she had no fear; Lisa Gribbin wrapped the show, with 33:13 go Lisa, go!

Kevan Strand took on the fast and flat Gunnersbury Parkrun in West London and absolutely blazed through the course in a lightning-fast 20:52! It was a masterclass in pace, power, and precision—Strider style in the capital!

Meanwhile Tamsin Ritchie embraced the wild beauty of Kingdom Parkrun, conquering the woodland trails in a determined 31:05.

Justine and Jason Wearn floated through the Maidstone River Park Parkrun in a cheerful 35:02 and 35:06 respectively. Rumour has it that Justine was tempted to stop for a riverside selfie—but the finish line called louder!

Matthew Beasley took on the Mote Park Parkrun, a course known for its lakeside loops and sneaky inclines. He powered through in a swift 26:56, showing that hills are just speed bumps when you’ve got Strider legs and a good breakfast.

Peter Lane brought Ashford Striders flair to the Eternal City, completing the Roma Pineto Parkrun in a proud 51:08—and what a course to conquer! With glimpses of St. Peter’s Basilica in the distance, it’s a scenic tour through history where Peter ran with the determination of a gladiator!

Let’s hope that Peter had a post-run espresso at the Van Gogh Caffè, just steps from the finish line—because in Rome, even recovery is done with style!

While Ashford was buzzing with circus energy, a group of Striders escaped to the rolling hills and grapevines of Squerryes Winery, where the terrain was scenic, the air was fragrant with Pinot Noir, and the running was anything but flat.

Forget juggling—this crew was balancing pace, elevation, and the temptation to stop for a tasting session mid-run. Here’s how our vineyard voyagers performed: Stephen Rumsey – 26:13 (swift and smooth, like a fine rosé), Lionel Hammond – 27:10 (crisp and consistent), Justin Burden – 27:59 (a vintage effort!), Katarzyna Janas – 35:43 (graceful through the grapevines), Donna Hammond & Delia Millen – 36:50 (a perfectly paired finish), Nige Terry – 37:57 (running with full-bodied enthusiasm), Helen Rumsey – 41:46 (notes of determination and joy) with Martin Whittingham – 1:01:13, and Laura Clark – 1:01:20 (both aged to perfection and finishing with style!)

Further afield, Jamie Penfold took on the legendary Town Moor Parkrun in Newcastle and stormed across the finish line in a rapid 24:15 – a performance as sharp as a Geordie breeze!

Ash Robinson took on the Trelai Park Parkrun in Cardiff with the fire of a Welsh dragon and the stride of a seasoned Strider, crossing the finish line in a proud 31:56. The spirit of Cymru in the air, Ash powered through the course like he was chasing down a runaway rugby ball. Da iawn Ash! You brought the roar of the valley to Parkrun.

Eloise Pegg took on the Whitley Bay Parkrun with the kind of energy usually reserved for chasing seagulls away from your lunch—and crossed the finish line in a sizzling 26:40! Despite relying on an all-inclusive diet of chips (crispy, golden, and apparently not endorsed by sports nutritionists), Eloise defied the odds and proved that sometimes, salt and vinegar can be a performance enhancer. Who knew? With the sea breeze in her hair and the scent of fry-ups in the air, she ran like she was late for a beachside chippy queue. A cracking effort, and a reminder that while carbs are great, maybe next time we throw in a banana too.

Another excellent week for the Striders.

Remember: not every run will feel good. Some will feel slow; some will rush by. Some will make you question why you even started. But every single one will make you stronger.

Running teaches resilience. It shows you how to keep going, even when it’s uncomfortable. And that lesson will stay with you long after the finish line.

Happy running, Striders. Until next time.

🏏 Bats, Bubbles, and Barcode Scans – What a Weekend! 🏃‍♀️

Before a single parkrun step was taken, the Ashford Striders ladies were already making headlines on Friday night – not on the trails, but on the cricket pitch! Taking part in the fabulously named “Bats and Bubbles” tournament, they swapped running shoes for cricket bats (and possibly Prosecco flutes). While they didn’t walk away with the trophy, they gave it a fantastic effort – full of team spirit, big swings, and plenty of laughs. Let’s just say the only thing more impressive than their bowling was their ability to remain upright after the bubbles. 🥂🏏💙

Parkrun 

This weekend, the parkrun posse was out in full force – crossing counties, tackling trails, and showing the UK (and beyond!) how it’s done, one barcode at a time. With nearly as many tourist stops as a coach trip to the seaside, our runners didn’t just run—they ran the show! 

Let’s kick off with our Folkestone Festival of Footwork, where practically the whole postcode turned up. Special mentions to:

• Frank Remigio, came in at 18:12 – clearly allergic to taking it easy.
• A mighty Folkestone crew followed in fine form: Harry Scott, Terry Sellen, Elle Weekes, Justin Burden, Michael Ruck, and Stephen Rumsey all kept it sub-28, giving GPS watches a proper workout.
• A warm Parkrun welcome to the back-half brigade: from Jason Sanders at 28:49 to Laura Clarkat 54:29, every single one of you brought the energy and enthusiasm – and possibly the post-run snacks. 💪

Meanwhile, the tourism bug bit hard elsewhere:

🌊 Dover Waterfront had the pleasure of Simon Pharoah, who scorched the seafront in a sizzling 18:04. We assume he ran so fast he caused a small breeze behind him. Local weather reports are being updated accordingly.

🌊 Blyth Links welcomed Eloise Pegg, breezing in at 24:52. If grace and pace had a parkrun lovechild, this would be it.

🎓 In Canterbury, Martin Whittingham took a 52:18 jaunt through the academic air – it’s a thinking man’s parkrun.

🏁 Over in Dereham, Amanda James powered through in 30:18 – because Norfolk’s flat(ish) and she’s fabulous.

🛬 Judarskogen parkrun (yes, that’s in Sweden 🇸🇪) saw Lee Standen jet-set his way to a lovely 30:34 – Nordic trail? Nailed it.

☀️ Leybourne Lakes had a triple treat: Amanda Watson (29:48), Nicola Crawley (32:26), and Marion Fitzpatrick(33:00) – all possibly paddling between kilometres.

🏞️ In Maidstone River Park, George Cromwell and Lucie Shrubsole finished just one second apart (28:20 & 28:21). Suspiciously synchronised? Or just superb pacing? Either way – we approve!

🎢 At the challenging Queen Elizabeth parkrun, Rachel Tomsett tamed the hills in 43:53 – give that woman a medal and an oxygen tank!

🌳 Royal Tunbridge Wells hosted Isabelle Froissart in a lovely 31:11. Royal park, royal pace.

🟩 Over at Mote Park, Gary Tiley clocked an impressive 22:10. Someone’s been sneaking speed sessions into their week!

🌄 In the muddy meadows of Uckfield, David Martins (29:07) and Sarah Martins (33:10) made light work of a course better known for cowpats and character-building.

Sunday: Asics LDNX 10k – Fast Feet & Personal Bests!

The streets of London saw some serious pavement pounding this weekend as Kay Hunt, Adam Thomas, and Frank Remigio took on the Asics LDNX 10k—and they absolutely smashed it.

Leading the charge (and possibly breaking the sound barrier) was Frank Remigio, clocking a blistering 36:54. Frank didn’t just run—he teleported across the course. With that personal best, we’re now checking if he was actually wearing rocket-powered trainers.

Kay Hunt followed with a fantastic performance, crossing the line in 53:43—a shiny new personal best! It seems all those early morning runs and strategic carb-loading (read: pasta and hope) paid off.

Just one second behind (yes, one second!), Adam Thomas came in at 53:44. Whether he was being a gentleman or simply distracted by Kay’s sprint finish, we may never know. But let’s be honest—what’s one second between friends and running heroes?

Congrats to Kay and Frank for smashing their personal bests—and to all three runners for showing up, giving it their all, and reminding us that racing is about heart, hustle, and maybe just a hint of healthy competition.

☕ Sunday Smiles – “Run With It” & Striders Take It Easy(ish)

After a whirlwind of parkrunning, it was time for a gentler gear on Sunday, when Elle’s “Run With It” crew joined forces with Ashford Striders for a lovely Run and Coffee social. Runners, joggers, and walkers came together with a shared mission: move a little, chat a lot, and finish strong with cake 🍰 (objectively the best kind of finish line). Whether it was a speedy dash or a Sunday shuffle, the event was all about well-being, togetherness, and fresh air therapy.

And because Elle knows how to treat her people, there was even a little sock surprise courtesy of her fantastic company, Run With It 🧦 – keeping feet happy and spirits high. A perfect end to a weekend of Strider-style community and connection.

🏅Final Thoughts:
Whether you sprinted, jogged, walked or wobbled, every one of you added to the story this weekend. And remember: it’s not about the time on the clock, it’s the time spent together. (Although we arewatching, Simon and Frank 👀… you two are causing turbulence on the leaderboard.)

Same time next week, barcode in hand?

#parkruntourism #legendsinlycra #sweatybutproud