Gloucester Parkrun

There was rain on the radar but that didn’t faze the 71 finishers of Gloucester’s 245th parkrun last Saturday. 

As usual, there was a slow buildup of numbers as people wandered up to the start, with ages ranging from toddlers in prams to those still running in their eighties.

One group from Taree were on their regular trip to Gloucester – consisting of a very early morning train trip, a climb up the Bucketts to see the sunrise, followed by the parkrun and then capped off with breakfast in town before the train trip home.

The rest of the crowd was content to just do the 5 kilometres needed to get around the parkrun course. Some came along to get their regular dose of exercise, while others treated it as a chance for a walk and talk with friends.

It was the first parkrun for Maggie Compton, with another four at their first Gloucester parkrun, including Margaret Dunford who volunteered after her run to help with the finish tokens.

The first male finisher was local Eli Soupidis, while Erica Thornton was the first female finisher.

The cooler conditions inspired a few personal bests, with locals Howard Cameron and Don Richardson improving steadily each week. Jane and Roger Liddle, Joshua Westley, Katrina Morris, Lucy Barraclough and Kouroth Maleklou all clocked personal best times.

Erin Marshall celebrated her 50th milestone, with son Hudson at the finish line to cheer her home.

The strangest request for the day (and probably for Gloucester parkrun’s history) was for a massage therapist – not a role listed on the parkrun volunteer register.

The register does however have a number of volunteer roles that are needed each week for the event to go ahead, with some volunteers often doing more than one job.

This week it was Pat Burrows’ turn to be timekeeper, with a single focus on keeping track of finishing times. Regular volunteer Rod Eckels helped set up the event then handed out finish tokens – and also stepped in to set up the marquee when some raindrops started to fall part way through the morning.

Ros Poynting was the scanner for the day, as well as doubling up as photographer for the crowd shots at the start of the parkrun.

Our tailwalker was Jenny Lindsay, guiding the group from behind, and helping with event closedown by picking up cones on the return journey.

Gloucester parkrun is at 8am every Saturday – so come along and join in the fun of a 5 kilometre walk or run around Gloucester District Park (it’s a free event).

7 FEBRUARY

By Carolyn DAVIES