Storms steer clear of Gloucester parkrunners

THE storms that had been rolling through Gloucester during the week stayed away for the duration of Gloucester’s 242nd parkrun last Saturday.   

The ground was damp and the humidity was building as the crowd of 54 finishers set out on their two loops of the District Park.

It was the first parkrun for Kaitlin Reid and Sarah Patell.

Another eight were completing their first parkrun in Gloucester, including visitors from Newcastle, Central Coast and Brisbane.

Karen and David McGaw are seasoned parkrunners but it was their first in Gloucester, following recommendations to come to visit.

They travelled up from Newcastle, enjoying a trip to Aussie Ark in Barrington Tops while they were in the area.

David Cannings, also on his first parkrun in Gloucester, took the humidity in his stride, with his usual parkrun being in Port Moresby.

Some walkers joined in from the caravan park, keen to see what was happening at this time on a Saturday morning.

The first male finisher was Michael McManus, while Alice Yates was the first female finisher on her first visit to Gloucester.

Locals Don Richardson and Rowen Sadler achieved personal best times, both of them improving steadily each week.

The event was delivered again by a team of volunteers.

Tracy Wilson was the calm hand of the timekeeper, relaxing with a chair and umbrella at the finishing line, with grandson Cooper keeping her company after he sprinted around the course.

Tracy was in sync with Ashley Taylor, who was handing out the finish tokens, confirming each position as he went. Regular volunteer Elaine Murray was the scanner for the day, while Pat Burrows was the tailwalker, guiding the group from behind and picking up cones on the return journey.

Gloucester parkrun is at 8am every Saturday.

It is free to participate in the five-kilometre walk or run around Gloucester District Park.

By Carolyn DAVIES