BA Athletics Club News Digest 5th September 2022
Events marked "#" are points scoring for the club's participation trophy
- for the 2022 title.
Club Event Map:
[Clickable link to Google Maps]
For future weeks: inclusions, with photos, please to Roderick Hoffman at news@barunner.org.uk.
This Week's Events
Please help me by sending in your results, for instance by filling in the tables below and
forwarding to
News@barunner.org.uk. Some events will have "Prompts" set up in
Facebook.
These allow the posting of a single image and some text and make it easy to flip
through everyone's entries.
Monthly Mile (submit by 8pm Sunday 18th September):
Run one mile and send me your time or add the details to the
Facebook prompt.
The mile can be somebody else's formal event or even one mile within a longer run.
I'll then produce a fancy graph showing your time this month compared to those
of other people and previous runs over the last year.
| Mile Participant |
Location |
Date |
How Measured |
Duration/Time |
Comment: e.g. event |
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Weekly Athletic Achievement (by 5pm Monday) or use the Facebook
group prompt:
| Participant |
Event |
Distance |
Location |
Day/Start |
Time or Duration |
Details or comment, and other achievements |
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e.g. Running |
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Big Half Report and Results
Sunday saw the latest edition of the Big Half, a mass half marathon in East
London, which effectively reverses the first half of the London Marathon course.
 Large
numbers of spectators imply the need for crossing points, especially near to the
finish, and we have manned the crossing close to Cutty Sark DLR on every
occasion of this race. Although the crowds were not the biggest we have
seen, it got pretty busy at lunchtime, as large numbers of finishing runners and
families tried to cross Creek Road to get home.
A staggered start meant that we were dealing with runners and wheelchairs
passing our point from 09:15 until 15:00.
Mo Farah [pictured from the Television coverage, running past Steve in the
crossing box] won the men's event for the third time, while Eilish McColgan
smashed the ladies' course record. David Weir also broke the course record
in the wheelchair event, while Eden Rainbow-Cooper won the ladies event,
equalling the course record.
A highlight of the day came at the end, when the "Big Mile" took place.
This was designed to enable local youngsters and babes in arms to enjoy the last
mile of the course, accompanied by their parents. Every one sported a
running number, which may be a cherished souvenir in the future. You've
never seen so many smiling faces on the course or in the crowd.
Thank you to the seventeen hard working volunteers who kept smiling, dealt
with a few grumpy or confused spectators, but who mostly kept the crowd happy
with their good humour and help.
Steve Hillier
We also had some runners in the Big Half - including the following:
| Place (Overall) |
Place (Gender) |
Place (Category) |
Name |
Club |
Runner Number |
Category |
Finish |
| 2006 |
1766 |
17 |
Dennison, Mike (GBR) |
SHAEF Shifters Running Club |
2110 |
60-64 |
01:37:51 |
| 2450 |
327 |
28 |
Jovani, Maria (ESP) |
SHAEF Shifters Running Club |
2596 |
45-49 |
01:40:45 |
| 2859 |
2454 |
114 |
Haylock, Ian (GBR) |
SHAEF Shifters Running Club |
16095 |
50-54 |
01:43:23 |
| 10078 |
3406 |
121 |
Reid, Jain (GBR) |
British Airways AC |
3609 |
55-59 |
02:26:46 |
| 12124 |
4733 |
215 |
Miller, Melanie (GBR) |
The Stragglers Running Club |
9756 |
55-59 |
03:11:58 |
2023
London Marathon Entry?
This year's London Marathon is fast approaching. It is being run on Sunday
2nd October and we are geared up to provide our usual course crossing teams and
we've also got many runners in the event. Next year the London Marathon reverts
to its traditional Spring date hence there will be less time to get organised
for it. The first thing to do is to decide whether you are interested in
entering the event and if so to put in your entry form.
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The 2023 TCS London Marathon Ballot is coming. Set your calendar
reminders for Saturday 1 October 2022. This year we'll be opening the
ballot for the 2023 TCS London Marathon the day before the 2022 event.
Whether you are taking part this year, in person or virtually, or are
still waiting to run 26.2 miles on the world-famous TCS London Marathon
course, this is your chance to do it in 2023.
There will be further details nearer the time, including a reveal of
this year's exclusive TCS London Marathon donation top and all the
information you'll need. For now, simply bookmark this page (How
to enter) and remember the date: Saturday 1st October, 2022.
2022 London Marathon Events
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The club expects to have a small number of guaranteed entrees and the
committee will have to decide how to allocate these. The first criteria we use
is that you need to have applied through the normal process and been rejected.
Roderick Hoffman
Stockley Park NOW event Wednesday 31st August - Report
Last Wednesday we had a good dry run around what will be the Stockley Park
parkrun course. I was joined by Barry Walters, Denis Foxley, Julie Barclay and
Paul Watt and three members of the parkrun team and we jogged around the single
lap 5k course. Meanwhile Steve Newell was measuring the lap distance for what
will be an alternative two lap course and John Shaw of Hayes and Harlington
Runners was clipping back some of the vegetation. Afterwards most of us had a
drink and lunch at the nearby The Hut Pub.
I can't announce a start date for the parkrun but it will be this year.
Roderick
Hoffman
Winter Five Mile Handicap Series 2022/23
There will be six monthly runs over the winter starting and finishing at the
Bedfont Club in Hatton Road. Two x 2.5 mile clockwise laps. The October and
March runs will be during BST, November to February GMT. Runners start from 6pm
onwards aiming for a 7pm finish. Walkers welcome to join in too (using a single
lap). Please dress appropriately when running in the dark. Points are awarded
after each run based on proximity of actual and target times compared with other
runners with a bias towards modest improvement.
Dates:
- Wednesday 26 October 2022
- Wednesday 23 November 2022
- Wednesday 14 December 2022
- Wednesday 25 January 2023
- Wednesday 22 February 2023
- Wednesday 29 March 2023.
In previous years the series winner has been determined from their best four
scoring runs so they haven't had to run in each event of the series, and is
normally rewarded for their achievement. Please tell Steve in advance to expect
you, and what your initial five mile target should be.
> Steve
Newell
Recent Activity Achievements
I picked up on 16 club members and friends reporting recent activity
achievements this week. I've added a few people to the email list
recently so a reminder that you are all welcome to submit an exercise
achievement each week or at anytime - you don't need to be a club member
and you don't need to have done a double marathon - just something
athletic that has pleased you.
| Colleague |
Activity |
Distance |
Course |
When |
Duration |
Comments |
| Barry Walters |
Running |
6km |
Bracknell |
Tue am |
00:44:15 |
Easy 2k warm-up to the forest followed by 10x1 mins uphill with 1 min
jog back recovery and 2k warm-down. In the evening did one hour of body
conditioning (press ups, sit ups, squats etc) at my local leisure centre. |
| Benita Scaife |
Walking |
5.4miles |
Bloomingdale Trail ("606"), Chicago. |
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The Bloomingdale Trail (aka the 606) is a disused elevated railway
line converted to a public park, similar to New York’s Highline. It runs
for 2.7 miles through the northern inner suburbs of Chicago… |
| John Scaife |
Walking |
5.4miles |
Bloomingdale Trail ("606"), Chicago. |
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...We had already done a lakeshore run setting off at 0700 to avoid
the heat, and started the 606 at mid-day, causing me to sing "Mad dogs
and Englishmen" as we set off. Luckily there are several drinking water
fountains en route. |
| Chris Kelly |
Climbing |
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Eagles Nest, Cape Town |
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After a scenic-but-also-hair-raising drive along Chapman's Peak, we
snuck in a quick climb up Eagles Nest, at the back of Table Mountain
national park. Great views of Hout Bay, Lions Head, and the Table Legs,
before heading back to CPT, for a full (but not too full ) flight home! |
| Emma Moreton |
Running |
19miles |
Somewhere dark! |
Wed v.early |
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19 miles starting at 5am… with hill club in the middle!
One long run to go! #London |
| Harjit Jhooti |
Running |
8km |
Newquay |
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Just a little 8K in Newquay. I ran a little bit of the coastal path. |
| James Edwards |
Running |
7.31km |
Bluestone Trail, Pembrokeshire Coast |
Last week |
00:39:23 |
Quick trail run whilst at Bluestone on the weekend . Ventured to the
Blackpool Mill then up to the old Iron Age fort. 146m elevation gain. |
| Julie Barclay |
Running |
6miles |
River Severn |
Mon |
01:02:00 |
Windswept run along the grassy Severn Way footpath…plenty of
blackberries to be had afterwards… |
| Paul Watt |
Running |
6miles |
River Severn |
Mon |
01:02:00 |
…photo is from Church Mead on Saturday, heading upwards. |
| Melanie Miller |
Race |
Half-M |
The Big Half |
Sun am |
03:06:06 |
| Michael Ball |
Race |
5km |
BH5k Naked Run |
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Another BH5k naked run. [Ed: Sorry, the enclosed photograph was of
too small a resolution to include so had to be left out. Or perhaps
other things being left out was the reason the photo couldn't be put in] |
| Mike Dennison |
Running |
20miles |
Thames to Mortlake, back via Richmond and Bushy Park |
Mon am |
02:38:58 |
First half easy, then from 13k at supposed marathon pace, then easy
again. I thought I'd find it hard to speed up, but ended up going too
fast on the faster bit (probably just wanted to get home sooner!). |
| Neil Frediani |
Running |
"10k" |
Blanchland Show races |
Sun |
01:27:06 |
Trail 10k (almost 12k!). First time I have been 1st in my age group
(1st of 1) and awarded a £10 voucher. Also the first time I have
received a pair of socks and a biodegradable medal full of wildflower
seeds. |
| Petra Otto |
Bootcamp |
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All week |
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Non-stop this week, from the gym to ‘Totally Shredded’ and followed
by Circuits, ‘Bootcamp’ (running with tyres in each hand), to ‘Friday
Night Mash Up’ circuits and, finally, Saturday morning Core Strength.
Without any doubt the Bootcamp was the hardest exercise class during the
past two decades!!! |
| Piers Keenleyside |
Running |
7.4miles |
Cajarc in the Lot Valley, France |
Sat |
01:19:23 |
On holiday, every morning I ran a loop climbing out of the valley
across the causse (moor) and then back down - one very steep uphill
trail and the other very steep down on rough rocky trails. 1075 foot of
elevation gain. This was the best of the 7 runs (and I walked the route
with Kathryn). |
| Roderick Hoffman |
Running |
19.85km |
Walton-on-Thames to Richmond |
Fri |
02:27:47 |
Effectively the old stage 22 of the GBR but continuing from the
Hawker Centre to Richmond. The guys in the photograph were undertaking
me, shouting to "Pull with your core!", so I let them pass. |
Roderick Hoffman
 Run
60 in September
I heard about the Run 60 miles in September for Cancer Research from
a gym friend. Sadly, my best friend was recently diagnosed with
liver cancer and starts chemotherapy next week. She has a big
fight ahead and I thought this challenge would be a small way of helping
with the research for a cure of this horrible disease.
For a change, I was free to run parkrun today. I had been
searching for some tourism and found a newish one not far away in
Edenbrook, near Fleet. This was also excellent as I needed an ‘E’
for my parkrun alphabet challenge. It was a nice parkrun.
Flat course of gravel paths, free carpark, nice toilets and a café
afterwards. For the 60 mile challenge I ran a few extra miles
which will mean I don’t have to run every day as have some in ‘The
Bank’.
As you all know, parkrun is such a friendly all inclusive event.
I arrived not knowing anyone and left with a couple of new Facebook
friends! There were some inspirational ladies there today.
Rosemary ran her 400th different parkrun today and her friend had run in
14 different countries *. She also was an expert on parkrun
challenges and explained the Wilson Index to me!! My Index is only
2 but I now understand how to increase it.
Here is the link to my Just Giving page if anyone can donate:
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/janet-is-running-60-miles-in-september-7
Janet Smith
* Roderick adds - Rosemary Egbe has run more different parkruns than
me - she is 9th on the all-time list whereas I'm back in 24th place. But
I have done parkruns in 18 different countries.
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Ed: As of this morning Janet has "banked" 16.3miles of her
60mile target - a good start but there is still a long way to go so she'll
welcome further encouragement in sponsorship.
parkrun Results for Saturday 3rd September 2022
32 activities are recorded this week. Please get in touch if your activity is
missing.
| Club parkrunner |
parkrun |
Run# |
Pos |
Time |
Age Grade |
Comment |
| Emma
Moreton |
Bedfont Lakes |
609 |
18 |
0:23:36 |
65.68% |
| Maarten
STENHAM |
Bedfont Lakes |
609 |
22 |
0:23:50 |
59.51% |
| Jakob
STENHAM |
Bedfont Lakes |
609 |
33 |
0:24:35 |
62.24% |
74th parkrun |
| Roderick
HOFFMAN |
Bevendean Down |
272 |
26 |
0:34:26 |
47.39% |
Taking one for the team (see below). BA parkrun #672. One minute
slower than Church Mead. |
| Joe NOLAN |
Black Park |
622 |
189 |
0:28:07 |
60.76% |
Fastest since Oct 2017 (next target 27:49) |
| Sarah
GORDON |
Braunstone |
546 |
238 |
0:36:51 |
55.86% |
Slow time but she admits being delayed by having to catch and pass
the tail-walker. |
| Alastair
HESLOP |
Broadwater |
|
|
|
|
Timekeeper at Guildford. |
| Mike
DENNISON |
Bushy Park |
892 |
60 |
0:20:04 |
82.81% |
| Maria
JOVANI |
Bushy Park |
892 |
162 |
0:22:15 |
72.06% |
| Diana
Smith |
Bushy Park |
892 |
1160 |
0:47:45 |
49.04% |
According to the computer a PB by 2:29 on 18th finish...but see
below. |
| Paul
WATT |
Church Mead |
22 |
12 |
0:23:26 |
66.71% |
Splitting the time difference between Durlston Country Park and Seaford
Beach. Fastest BA male and best grade. |
| Julie
BARCLAY |
Church Mead |
22 |
39 |
0:29:34 |
63.81% |
Fastest BA lady. |
| Paul
TIMMS |
Cirencester |
160 |
18 |
0:23:24 |
67.95% |
| Scott
DAVISON |
Crane Park |
471 |
85 |
0:28:23 |
52.38% |
| Janet
SMITH |
Edenbrook Country |
20 |
208 |
0:36:13 |
50.67% |
An "E" and 3 miles added (see above) |
| Trish
MCCABE |
Foots Cray Meadows |
136 |
27 |
0:28:43 |
55.31% |
Another London tick. Fastest BA runner from Julie Barclay! (Julie
had been tail-walker that day). |
| Dave
DIXON |
Hackney Marshes |
564 |
8 |
0:18:44 |
84.16% |
20th run at Hackney Marshes. |
| David
DUGGAN |
Hanworth |
102 |
44 |
0:34:22 |
47.48% |
First time since January two runs at the same parkrun on consecutive
weeks - missed groundhog by 4 seconds (perhaps that was his target?) |
| John
COFFEY |
Hazelwood |
153 |
100 |
0:35:41 |
58.90% |
| Steve
NEWELL |
Hazelwood |
153 |
111 |
0:48:07 |
41.74% |
| Alice
BANKS |
Higginson, Marlow |
118 |
65 |
0:26:21 |
79.32% |
PB by 2 seconds - on 39th run at Higginson, beating time from next
week last year. |
| Melanie
Miller |
Mote Park |
12 |
152 |
0:52:25 |
34.09% |
Tail walker at Mote Park. BA parkrun #673. |
| Barry
WALTERS |
Osterley |
388 |
114 |
0:29:51 |
56.73% |
| Adrian
HAINES |
Panshanger |
351 |
9 |
0:20:13 |
76.01% |
Fastest BA Male and best age grade (from Richard Ruffell) |
| Murray
Hogge |
Reading |
565 |
29 |
0:21:36 |
74.92% |
| Ben
Kelly |
Reading |
565 |
160 |
0:28:54 |
44.64% |
| Jain
REID |
Richmond Park |
717 |
267 |
0:32:10 |
56.27% |
| Joan
FOXLEY |
Rickmansworth |
216 |
342 |
0:37:41 |
62.14% |
| David
Cowell |
Wollaton Hall |
61 |
2 |
0:18:31 |
75.97% |
48seconds faster than last week's PB! |
| John
TAYLOR |
Woolacombe Dunes |
126 |
25 |
0:25:31 |
61.27% |
Nearly 5mins slower than last week's Rickmansworth run - sand vs
tarmac. First BA male so gets male record but Jacqui retains the age
grade record. |
| Tony
BARNWELL |
Wycombe Rye |
450 |
390 |
0:56:04 |
37.49% |
|
Christopher T KELLY |
Zandvlei |
225 |
74 |
0:37:23 |
41.82% |
There are nearer "Z" parkruns! But he was in SA anyway. Oddly though
Chris is the 5th club runner at Zandviei. |
parkrun Review Saturday 3rd September 2022
It was a good weekend for alphabeteers. Janet Smith (36:12) collected
an "E" at Edenbrook. She already has a valuable "Y" having run at
the long lamented Yeovil Montacute but still needs "I", "K", "V" and "Z".
A "Z" was exactly what Chris Kelly (37:23) found at Zandvlei as he attempted
rehabilitation after his sub12 hour Comrades triumph last Sunday. There
are no "Z" parkruns in UK yet but they can be found in Europe.
Trish McCabe (28:43) ticked off another London park at Foot's Cray Meadows (Sidcup)
and lowered the club female record by half an hour.
Roderick Hoffman tried Bevendean Down near Brighton while Melanie Miller
(52:25) picked up volunteer credit at run #12 at Mote Park in Kent. Her Wilson
Index moves up to 13. The club total has moved up to 673 different parks
worldwide including some which have been discontinued.
Some of our fast guys were running this week. Dave Dixon (18:44,
84.16%) ran the Hackney Marshes parkrun for the 20th time. David
Cowell (18:31) improved his on his 'pb' at Wollaton set only last week by 48
secs and Adrian Haines (20:13) improved the club record at Panshanger (Herts).
Mike Dennison (20:04' 82.81%) ran round at Bushy while Alice Banks. (26:21,
79.32%) grabbed a 'pb' at Higginson, Marlow.
Those who are still a bit vague about their Wilson Index can now download the
"5k" app, key in their parkrun id and it should immediately become very clear.
Paul Watt (23:26) and Julie Barclay (29:34) scaled the hills at Church
Mead, Amersham for what was the 22nd week of parkruns there. Julie's
Wilson Index (WI) Is now 26. Paul is still on 16!
Steve Newell
True or not true? And how slow is the slowest?
Di Smith writes "Just to say that, if you’re
checking the latest parkrun (or parkwalk in my case) results, don’t get
over-impressed by my new PB. Yes, I did finally crack the 50-minute barrier,
(one of my New Year aims, if I remember rightly) - my token at the finish said
1210th and my watch had 49:20 on it. However, in the official results (and Bushy
Parkrun have admitted on their Facebook page that there was a problem with them,
which they’ve tried to correct), I was 1160th in a time of 47:45. Well, I wish!
All I can say is that it’ll be one hell of a target to beat and I don't expect
any more PBs in the near future. I may be some time!"
I can sympathise - according to the parkrun computer my all-time all-locations fastest parkrun is 23:39. That was achieved at the second running of Fulham Palace parkrun in October 2013. Soon after that they re-measured the
course and made it longer. Then after a year they re-measured it again and made
it longer still. When asked I quote my 23:52 run at ECOS in Northern Ireland in
August 2014 as my fastest parkrun since it is the one where I don't know that
the course was short. But according to the parkrun computer I was 13
seconds faster at Fulham Palace.
Two weeks ago I referred to the list of
slowest UK parkruns. Church Mead (and Durlston Country Park) are too new to be listed but of the 706 that are
listed Bevendean Down is at number 692 - see my report below. That makes
it 'worse' than Henley-on-Thames 686th, Queen Elizabeth 675 and Wendover Woods
at 668. Two others I've done in the past are higher on the list - Lullingstone
at 694 and Lyme Park at 698. However John Taylor trumps me this week since
Woolacombe Dunes is listed at 705, only exceeded by Great Yarmouth North Beach.
The following table also includes, for parkruns I've run, the height ascended
as recorded by my GPS device - this is subject to the usual errors (e.g.
Victoria Dock should be much nearer to zero). The sand on the slopes of
Woolacombe and Great Yarmouth make their difference.
| parkrun |
factor |
listing |
height ascend |
| Victoria Dock |
0.8 |
1 |
7m |
| ... |
... |
... |
... |
| Wendover Woods |
4.8 |
668 |
105m |
| Queen Elizabeth |
5.0 |
675 |
101m |
| Henley-on-Thames |
5.5 |
686 |
78m |
| Bevendean Down |
6.0 |
692 |
119m |
| Lullingstone |
6.0 |
694 |
129m |
| Church Mead |
? |
? |
129m |
| Lyme Park |
6.4 |
698 |
124m |
| Woolacombe Dunes |
9.0 |
705 |
? |
| Great Yarmouth North Beach |
10.0 |
706 |
? |
| Durlston Country Park |
? |
? |
? |
Discounting the time I walked around Northala Fields having just come out of
hospital, and two parkruns both at altitude and through deep snow, my time at Bevendean Down is my slowest bar one run - I was a minute slower the first time
I ran at Wendover Woods, though I did subsequently get a five minute PB there.
Were I to run again at Bevendean Down I would expect to get a PB.
Full club parkrun database -
{read access to
club parkrun database} - Download and explore.
Club Event Map:
[Clickable link to Google Maps]
> Roderick Hoffman
parkruns Visited - tell us about parkruns other club members may be tempted to
visit
 Bevendean Down
One of those that you have to do, and enjoy, occasionally to make you appreciate
the flat parkruns. The "Downs" aren't the problem here, it is the corresponding
ups. Two and a bit clockwise laps on a combination of grass and cowpats. You
walk the bit from finish to start before the off. Then it's 1000m mainly uphill
before you turn the corner and have the 500m steep uphill in front of you.
You've then got 800m of enjoyable down running though you are troubled on the
first lap by the knowledge that you've got to do all of the uphill again!
I ran this at the best time of year, after a dry summer but having had some rain
to soften the surface slightly. In winter I would expect these chalk downs to
get much softer and be much harder to run on. They probably won't turn to mud,
but may prove slippery including towards the bottom of the downhill section. On
a clear day you can see Brighton Beach including the "British Airways i360",
going up and down. On a stormy day you are going to be very exposed!
There are no facilities at this parkrun - no dedicated parking, no toilets and
no open pub or café afterwards. But the usual friendliness of a small parkrun
and highly recommended, and if you visit it twice there will be an almost
guaranteed PB for you. But there are five parkruns in the Brighton area and four
of them are easier than this one - and no club member has run at East Brighton.
Just saying.
Roderick Hoffman
 Mote
Park (stolen from Facebook)
Mote Park and event #12 and one I badly needed if only to bring my
Wilson Index up 2 notches…only an hour away [in Maidstone, nearer to the
centre of town than Maidstone parkrun] but what a beautiful park & lake;
speak of a stunning start, one of the best in the South East I have ever
done. Unfortunately I had to volunteer up my ‘services’ (laughs) as
Tailwalker because I am doing The Big Half tomorrow and didn’t want to
exert myself so. As it turns out, so are a number of other people doing
it too, no less than the other Tailwalker and we’re even in the same
wave and exit the same entrance tomorrow out the station, how freaky is
that. Anyway the course is undulating but all on tarmac. A lovely
friendly bunch of volunteers.
Melanie Miller
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Club parkruns
The Club Map is currently up-to-date with the parkruns that we have and
haven't run between us. This extract is focused on the south east but click on
the image to load the full map to see other areas, or to see the details of a
specific parkrun done or not done.
Next Digest - Results, news, pictures, feedback, jokes,
stories - send them to the editor, Roderick Hoffman, at
news@barunner.org.uk.
Not for you, no longer interested? remove me please.
Difficulty viewing this? Read it from the website:- http://www.barunner.org.uk/News Latest.shtml. Club website: www.barunner.org.uk.
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