Distance Running News, 21 December 2019

22 December 2019

A race free weekend saw several Cheltenham Harriers show good from as they incorporated parkruns into their training for upcoming races. Whilst seven Harriers claimed first place finishes, the run of the morning came from Clark Lawson (18:15) who finished second at the Gloucester City event.

Not only did Lawson claim his highest ever parkrun finish, but he also smashed his previous fastest parkrun time by 46 seconds and surpassed his track 5000m PB by thirteen seconds. James Bingham (17:32) set a new course record as he finished first at the fifth staging of the Soham Village event in Cambridgeshire, with the veteran negotiating the muddy school playing fields 44 seconds quicker than the previous record.

Over in Hereford there was an all Harriers top three as Charlie Jones (17:24), Dan King (18:01) and Chris Cleary (19:05) led the field around the perimeter trails of the racecourse. There was also a first place finish for Chris Booth (17:56) who lowered his course PB at the challenging Tring event in Hertfordshire.

Thirteen hours earlier In New Zealand, Rachel Underhill (19:26) finished as the first lady home and eighth overall at the Western Springs parkrun in Auckland, an event where fellow Harrier Oli Mott still holds the course record.  Alex Lee (16:05) was the first across the line for the 46th time at the Cheltenham parkrun as he weaved his way around the four laps of Pittville Park lake. Henry James (18:08) and Ed Bingham (18:45) then finished sixth and ninth respectively before Jo Wilkie (22:12) finished as third lady. Meanwhile, just 1.5 miles away Dave Tomlin (19:17) set a new V45 age group course record as he was first home at the KIng George V Playing Field event. In Wolverhampton Caroline Cotterell (21:06) was the first lady home as she enjoyed some parkrun tourism whilst Ellis Woolley (22:35) finished as second lady at the Old Deer parkrun in Richmond-upon-Thames.