31 July to 4 August 2025 - Some Runs, a Park and The Night Owls

The fourth and final Sale Sizzler 5km race of the season took place on 31 July, with a splendid turnout of 605 runners. With a 'good for me' time of 29:53, I came home in position 592. Sue was six minutes ahead and ready with a cup of water for me at the finish. Results may be found here.

Saturday morning found us at Wythenshawe parkrun number 628. This was Run Director Jenn's 500th parkrun. Here we are, lined up at the start.

Rather surprisingly, I managed 29:48, quicker than on the Sizzler course, in position 245 out of 421 finishers. Full results are here. What a contrast between these two events!

The usual suspects - me, Sue, Paul, Jeanette, Andy, Owen and Jenny were joined by Keith and Carol from Crosby on their 39th wedding anniversary, and non runners Nick and Daniella from Nuremberg. Nick is an old university pal of mine and is mentioned elsewhere on these pages in the context of Via Ferrata escapades, and my first Alpine backpacking trip to the Lechtal Alps in 1980.

Sunday's Wythenshawe Community run was the last in a trio of 5km runs for me, and I was fairly tired after getting around the same course as the Sizzler in 33:33. Why do you feel more tired after a slower run?

Anyway, Monday's 5km was at a leisurely walking pace, on a nice route from home that incorporates De Quincey Park, looking as green as is possible in midsummer.

Later, the hotpot supper evening at Eagley Jazz Club was enlivened by good food (delicious cheesecake) and a great performance by Salford's jazz band, The Night Owls.

Saro, Sangeerththa and Sophie were all in good form, as well as Reg.

Superb...

26 to 30 July 2025 - Runs, Scarborough, Cricket, and a stroll along the Cleveland Way

This is a catch up entry covering the last few days.

On Saturday 26 July Sue and I both joined 405 finishers at the Wythenshawe parkrun #627 - Sue in 24:35 (position 92) and me in 32:40 (position 304).

Full results are here.

After that we went to Hathersage to meet Anne and Ulrich. Sue joined them on a ride to Tideswell.

Then they went back to Sheffield, and Sue and I went home.

Sunday 27 July - I volunteered to marshal at the 2km turnaround point for the Wythenshawe Community Run.

Monday 28 July found us on the road to Scarborough, where we stayed for two nights in the iconic Grand Hotel. It's a huge place and we had a nice big room.

Albeit the seagulls had done their best to blur our vision.

Richard and Jenny had a turret room, from which several porthole photos were taken.

I went for a walk while the others went for a cold water swim. Meanwhile, the room above us ran a bath, the water from which exercise made its way into our room, dripping onto our bed and possessions through the light fittings. Luckily nothing was damaged and we we given another room.

It's a magnificent building with a huge atrium.

Most of our group of eight found their way to a convenient bar, and a meal at the Richard III restaurant. Richard himself was absent, as he got involved in the rescue of a neighbour's cat that had found its way into their house whilst they were packing their car earlier.

Tuesday 29 July - six of us (Richard made it back from his 'cat rescue' incident) made our way to Scarborough's cricket pitch, where in perfect weather we enjoyed the first day of a county match between Yorkshire and Sussex. The moderate crowd was allowed to inspect the pitch and play ball games on the outfield during the lunch and tea breaks.

Scoring was slow. I took one picture of the action - by chance I captured the dismissal of Sussex's Carson, being caught by Yorkshire's Lyth. If you expand the image you can spot the red ball traveling into Lyth's cupped hands.

The facade of the Grand Hotel looked magnificent in the evening sunlight, before we headed off past the harbour to 'Ask Italian' for some nice food.

Meanwhile, Sue and Jenny had enjoyed a 30 mike bike ride while the rest of us were relaxing at the cricket.

Wednesday 30 July. We gathered in the spacious foyer before heading north to Cloughton.

All eight of us were soon striding out along the Cleveland Way footpath.

A five minute diversion led to 'elevenses'. Jenny and Sue had called in here yesterday.

The coast path is anything but flat, but the views are good.

Lunch was taken in a rocky field before we left the coast path and made our way to the Cinder Track that was reached via an awkward stile.

It's a lovely gentle woodland track, in great contrast to the hilly coast path.

Sue found a Magpie Moth.

And Broad-leaved Helleborine.

Here's our route (apart from Julie, who took a shortcut). Around 16km with 250 metres ascent, taking about four and a half hours.

Then we had an uneventful drive home.