New parkruns In Manchester And Durham

12 AUG2011

A new north of England parkrun launched successfully last Saturday at Wythenshawe Park with a good mix of club and independent runners. A field of 54 including members from Sale Harriers, Manchester Harriers and Winston Runners turned up at the new South Manchester location for the first event.

Barnsley Harriers' pair John Broom (18:27) and Dawn Broom (21:08) took the first day honours finishing as fastest man and woman. Amanda Davies was the mid-point runner in 26:05 and the last runner came home in 54:02.

If you'd like to take part in Wythenshawe parkrun, enter the park at the entrance for the athletics track; once in the car park follow the outside of the fencing around to the opposite side of the athletics. The start point is signposted.

The course starts at the far end of the athletics track outside the fencing. It takes an anti-clockwise direction around the outside perimeter of the fields, covering two laps. Each lap is 2.5km.

The traditional parkrun post event coffee is available at the Courtyard Tea Room within the park.

For the uninitiated, parkrun is the free weekly 5K timed run held each Saturday - 9.00am start. Entry is free but you must register in advance at the parkrun website and use your allocated barcode at the event.

Meanwhile the fourth parkrun in the north-east of England starts tomorrow (Saturday, August 13) at Graham Sports Centre, Maiden Castle, Stockton Road, Durham where cartoon character Mickey Mouse will be in attendance and organisers plan a video of the event.