Gloucester Parkrun

IT WAS another wet Saturday to test the resilience of locals and visitors who view Saturdays as “parkrundays”.

A hardy group of 17 walkers and runners gathered for the 217th Gloucester parkrun as the raindrops began to fall at Gloucester District Park.

It was a tossup for the Run Director on whether to use the wet weather course – which meant the group would have the mentally challenging task of having to do three (although shorter) loops rather than the normal two – or set up the usual course which would mean getting wet feet from the soggy grass.

The latter was opted for, which dampened the shoes and the times, with only one finisher, Jenny Lindsay, clocking a personal best time.

Eli Soupidis was the first male finisher, while Pim Heaney from Urunga was the first female finisher on her first parkrun at Gloucester.

Next were Matthew Heaney and local Jen Sage,having fun sprinting to the end in a photo finish, with the timekeeper declaring Jen first across the line (although the results showed otherwise).

Matthew and Pim were stopping in Gloucester on their way over to the Dungog Trail Running Festival the next day.

It was a morning for catching up – Bill Murray kept tailwalker Jenny Lindsay company, while John Watts turned up for his weekly walk and chat with John Bayley (which also involves running when the camera is turned on them).

Thanks as always to the volunteers who ventured out in the rain to make the event happen, doing their jobs with a smile. Susan Moore was giving out tokens, in sync with timekeeper Pat Burrows, while Elaine Murray expertly scanned.

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).

By Carolyn DAVIES