Autumn is fading to winter along the canal, as the trees drop their last leaves and the robin that lives beside the 'Walton Perk' cafe barge becomes more eager for titbits.
Mushrooms could be crossed off the shopping list when I spotted two white blobs in the undergrowth just beyond the robin's perch. These 'blobs' turned out to be a couple of delicious field mushrooms that later enhanced our dinner.
On Saturday morning Cary encouraged us to visit the Bramhall parkrun. This was an early venue on the parkrun circuit, and Cary wanted to take part in its 666th event. Some parkrunners 'collect' stuff in the same way as some walkers 'bag' mountain summits. Cary does both. The weather was fine for the 537 participants who turned up - far more than usual; I wonder why? We chatted to a bloke who had driven all the way from Falkirk just to do this #666 parkrun!
The route is an entertaining two lap affair, around the impressive Bramhall Hall.
Here's Cary, looking happy at the finish as he queues to have his barcode token scanned. Full results are here.
Philip Sesemann took just 29:21, and the chap shown below finished in the top 10 a little later. Here are the full results.
I took no further pictures, distracted by the Indian bell, that I rang constantly for about half an hour, encouraging the runners from a point just 500 metres before the finish.
There were 3242 finishers and I think all the Barbers (except maybe Paul who may have gone quicker in his youth) achieved PBs:
Laura - 37:13
Greg - 38:47
Paul - 42:51 (second in his VM65-69 age group by just a few seconds - well done!)
Frankie - 56:59
Greg - 38:47
Paul - 42:51 (second in his VM65-69 age group by just a few seconds - well done!)
Frankie - 56:59
and Sue - 49:48 - beating her PB of 52:34 set on 23 May 2004.
[My PB was also set on 23 May 2004 - 45:00, on the Bupa Greater Manchester run. In those days parkrun didn't exist and we just did a bit of untimed jogging.]
We adjourned to the Barber residence for bacon butties, coffee and cake with various other friends. Many thanks for that. What a splendid morning.
2 comments:
These park-runs certainly provide an objective for more regular running than one may achieve otherwise. Would that I was still able to partake, but I have to preserve my two artificial knees for more mundane activity.
There's a chap at our local parkrun who walks round with a zimmer frame. It takes him about an hour.....
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