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Okay, so 2016 may be the year of Strava (and hills).

There’s usually at least one Strava segment at each parkrun. If not the full course then at least a lap of it. So be warned as these will be checked over the course of 2016 with a special Strava round up at the end of the year.

If you haven’t downloaded Strava you should do so at your earliest convenience. You can use the free version to access the segment leaderboards. You don’t have to run with your phone as if you have a Garmin you can link your Garmin account to Strava so it uploads automatically to Strava when you upload to Garmin.

In January there was the possibility to do seven parkruns (no, January hasn’t been extended to seven weeks, it just feels like it) thanks to the double parkrun challenge on New Years Day. Glenda Murray was the only Seaparker to do seven but Bobbie Irvine came in a close second with six (if it wasn’t for that B2R 10K he did).

New Years Day

The original plan was to either do Comber at 09:30 or Waterworks at 09:45 plus do Stormont at 11:00, but as with all best laid plans Waterworks didn’t go ahead due to flooding (or everyone being hung-over, it wasn’t clear). So it was only the folks that went to Comber at 09:30 who managed to do the New Years Day double parkrun challenge, while the Waterworks Five had to settle for a coffee in McDonalds while waiting for the 11:00 start at Stormont.

All the Seaparkers who attended Comber did the double. Julie-Ann Mitchell (on her 1^st run at Comber) was the 1^st Seaparker over the line in 2016 (the year, not the time). Yes she even beat Bobbie Irivine with a new overall parkrun PB of 26:47. For someone who doesn’t do 5K she’s of to a great start. Bobbie Irvine’s lack of a 1^st place podium spot may have been due to his back to back marathons on 30^th and 31^st December, but I’m guessing that Julie-Ann Mitchell would disagree. Anyway, he was the 2^nd Seaparker home and was followed by Alan ‘DFYB’ Grant (1^st run at Comber), Trevor Lamb (1^st run at Comber), Derek Kane (1^st run at Comber), Karen Waring (1^st run at Comber), Glenda Murray (1^st run at Comber), Jonathan Beattie (1^st run at Comber plus needs to be pointed out was beat by Emma Beattie) and Susan Kane (1^st run at Comber).

One hour (and some rain) later 500 people attended the Stormont parkrun on New Year’s Day, the largest attendance of any NI parkrun to date.

Charlie McCormick was the first Seaparker home on his 1^st run at Stormont with 20:13. Don’t worry Ian Cleland, your time of 19:34 still stands as the fastest for a Seaparker at Stormont. He was followed by Clive Weatherhead (1^st run at Stormont), Brendan Rice (1^st run at Stormont), Bobbie Irvine (with a new Stormont PB), Julie-Ann Mitchell (new overall parkrun PB of 26:37, 2^nd PB in as many hours), Allan ‘DFYB’ Grant, Derek Kane (1^st run at Stormont), Trevor Lamb, Alison Welsh (1^st run at Stormont), Karen Waring (1^st run at Stormont), Karen McMaster (new Stormont PB), Glenda Murray, Jonathan Beattie (1^st run at Stormont and beat again by Emma Beattie) and Susan Kane (1^st run at Stormont).

2^nd Jan 2016

There was no rest for the dedicated as the next parkrun was the following day.

The first Carrickfergus parkrun of 2016 was attended by Charlie ‘I could get used to being 1^st’ McCormick who was the first Seaparker over the line. He was followed by Ian ‘I don’t understand the concept of coming in 2^nd’ Cleland, Richard Hethering, Gillian Strudwick (on her 2^nd run at Carrickfergus), Trevor Lamb, Derek Kane, Clive Gray (completing his 1^st parkrun ever), Karen McMaster and Glenda Murray.

A few other Seaparkers decided to do some parkrun tourism on 2^nd with Allan ‘I remembered my barcode this time’ Grant and Gilliam Grant attending Antrim, Clive Weatherhead, Brendan Rice and Ryan Weatherhead going to Victoria and Bobbie ‘What’s a rest day?’ Irvine and Karen Waring running at Valley.

9^th Jan 2016

The roles where reversed at Carrickfergus on 9^th Jan as Ian Cleland was first over the line and Charlie ‘I should be used to 2^nd place’ McCormick coming in, well, second. They were followed by Ryan Weatherhead, Gareth Hamill, Paul Daniels, Andrew Smyth, Sara Johnston, Rebecca Tester, Neill Harper, Julie-Ann ‘I’m going to leave Harry at home so I can get more PBs in 2016’ Mitchell and Susan Kane.

Bobbie Irvine travelled to Ecos parkrun (it was this 3^rd appearance at Ballymena) while others stayed a bit closer to home. Robert Murray, Alison Welsh and Glenda Murray went to Queens while some thought that even that was too far and went to Valley instead. Derek Kane was the 1^st Seaparker home at Valley (on his 1^st run there) and was followed by Karen Waring, Julie Kelly (1^st run at Valley) and Geraldine Kane (1^st run at Valley).

While that was going on over on the mainland Gavin Irvine and Elise Park attended York (both for the first time) for its 4^th birthday cakerun.

16^th Jan 2016

A lot of parkruns had been cancelled on 16^th.

Thomas Dunlop, Derek Kane, Susan Kane and Nicola McKay attempted to go to Carrickfergus but where send home by volunteers Charlie McCormick and Andy Smyth. Trevor Lamb was also supposed to volunteer at Carrickfergus but only made it half way down the North Road before turning back (yes, he knew it was cancelled).

Bobbie Irvine wanted to do Bangor parkrun prior to the B2R 10K at Mount Stewart but it was also cancelled.

Trevor Lamb got his own back on Glenda Murray (who if you remember from the last parkrun report got the Colin Glenn parkrun cancelled) and contacted Queens to get it cancelled for the first time ever. He used the flimsily excuse that the course was covered in ice. Really?! Who would believe that there was ice in NI in a January? So Glenda Murray rushed from Queens to Stormont (which had stated on Facebook that it was on) just making it in time. As Dick Dastardly would say ‘Drat, Double Drat & Triple Drat!’

Geraldine Kane also went to Queens but didn’t make the trip to Stormont after it was cancelled. Instead she did a freedom parkrun on the very icy Queens parkrun course.  While Gary Craig and Ross Gilmore avoided all the running about nonsense and played it safe by attending a very icy Ormeau parkrun.

The dreaded 59:59 time returned to Victoria for the umpteenth time on 16th. At least this time runners where informed of the 59:59 time prior to starting the run (it was decided not to record the times to stop people from running fast as it was still very icy). Allan Grant, Julie-Ann Mitchell, Karen Poag (1^st run at Victoria) and Philip Poag may have all got the 59:59 time but then technically they all came in joint first. Every cloud.

Back in England Elise Park completed her 1st run at Hull with Gavin Irvine.

23rd Jan 2016

Charlie McCormick may have been the second person over the line in Carrickfergus on 23^rd but he was the first Seaparker to finish and obtained a new overall parkrun PB of 19:12. That’s 8 seconds faster than Bobbie Irvine’s Carrickfergus PB if anyone’s keeping track. Charlie was followed by Brendan Rice, Gillian Strudwick (with an overall parkrun PB of 23:41), Gareth Hamill, Ruth Hawkins (with an Carrickfergus PB of 25:55), Derek Kane, Philip Poag, Colin ‘Casanova’ McCrum, Alison Welsh, Neill Harper and Julie-Ann ‘I didn’t get a PB because I didn’t leave Harry at home’ Mitchell.

Over at Ormeau Bobbie Irvine was ‘taking it easy’ but still managed to be the first Seaparker to finish. He was followed by Gary Craig (who obtained an overall parkrun PB of 25:30), Allan Grant (who hurt his ankle when he overtook Trevor Lamb at the 2 mile point), Trevor Lamb (who didn’t care that Allan Grant had bested him as he got an Ormeau PB of 26:13), Karen Waring (who’s nearly at 100% fitness again and will be overtaking everyone in the next few weeks), Glenda Murray (who was on her 1^st run at Ormeau) and Karen McMaster (who also achieved an Ormeau PB of 29:21).

While over at Queens Julie Kelly was the first Seaparker home (on her 1^st run at Queens) and was followed by Geraldine Kane (1^st run at Queens if you don’t count the freedom run the week before, with an overall parkrun PB of 31:15) and Susan Kane (1^st run at Queens).

Robert Steele didn’t get the message that everyone was going to Ormeau (or Queens) and was the sole Seaparker at his first run at Victoria. It didn’t really matter to him that he was on his own as he got an overall parkrun PB of 21:42. Maybe the lack of distractions brought him focus?

While back on the mainland Elise Park and Garvin Irivne followed the second star to the right and went straight on ‘til morning to get to the Peter Pan parkrun. I’m not sure how much pixie dust was used but it must have worked as Elise got an overall parkrun PB of 32:07.

30th Jan 2016

Do I even need to say who was 2^nd over the line at Carrickfergus on 30^th? Of course it was him. His time was 19:18 which was 6 seconds slower that his PB last week, but still 2 seconds faster than yer other man’s PB at Carrickfergus. So that’s got to count for something. He was followed by Brendan Rice, Robert Steele (with a new Carrickfergus PB of 21:57), Jonathan Beattie, Philip Poag, Derek Kane, Karen Poag, Rebecca Tester, Karen McMaster, Neill Harper and Marie Nicholson.

 

For the last bit of tourism of the month it was back to Ormeau for Gary Craig and Antrim for the rest of the parkrun tourists. Bobbie Irvine, Robert Murray, Trevor Lamb, Karen Waring and Glenda Murray where all in attendance at the very cold and windy Antrim parkrun. And no, the wind didn’t help anyone get a faster time.

Andy’s parkrun challenge 2016

It’s back for another year. The rules are the same but the courses are different. Between 26/03/16-29/10/16 participants will have 32 weeks to complete three different parkruns, plus volunteer at Carrickfergus at least once. The parkruns will be Carrickfergus, Larne and the third one will be any of the participants own choosing. Age grade percentage will decide the winner.

I think you’ll need to do Larne a few times, as the first time you’ll do it you’ll want to cry (unless you completed the Cultra 10K on 31/01/16, nothing scares those folks now).

Seapark charity parkrun challenge

Michael Kane’s Seapark charity parkrun challenge has got off to a great start. All 15 confirmed participants will have to run at least once at all 22 of the NI parkruns in 2016. People may run the same course more than once but it’s the different courses that are being counted for the purposes of the challenge. Some have yet to start but it’s still early days. I wonder if there’s a prize for the first one to finish the 22?

Bobbie Irvine (6) Antrim, Comber, Ecos, Ormeau, Stormont & Valley.

Glenda Murray (6) Antrim, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ormeau, Queens & Stormont.

Allan Grant (5) Antrim, Comber, Ormeau, Stormont & Victoria.

Trevor Lamb (5) Antrim, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ormeau & Stormont.

Karen Waring (5) Antrim, Comber, Ormeau, Stormont & Valley.

Derek Kane (4) Carrickfergus, Comber, Stormont & Valley.

Alison Welsh (3) Carrickfergus, Queens & Stormont.

Geraldine Kane (2) Valley & Queens.

Julie Kelly (2) Queens & Valley.

Robert Murray (2) Antrim & Queens.

Becki Tester (1) Carrickfergus.

Megan Kane (0) N/A

Michael Kane (0) N/A

Alan Poag (0) N/A

Carol Woods (0) N/A

The charities are Brainwaves NI and Macmillian Cancer Support. Here are the links to each of the Just Giving pages.

Brainwaves NI

Macmillian Cancer Support

It has been suggested that each participant should donate £2.00 per parkrun. Non-participants can also donate. It’s only a suggestion so I won’t mind if you want to donate more, your choice.

Race to 100

Team Trevor (AKA Team Wolf) is at 67 parkruns as off 30/01/16.

Team Glenda (AKA Team Devious) is also at 67 parkruns as off 30/01/16.

Both did the Comber/Stormont double on 1^st, Carrickfergus on 2^nd, Ormeau on 23^rd and Antrim on 30^th but Trevor being the good sportsman he is took two weeks off so Glenda could do Queens on 9^th and Stormont on 16^th so both parties where equal as of the end of January.

Now the gloves come off.

The Race to 100 participants have now been extended to include Allan Grant (on 69) and Karen McMaster (on 70) as off 30/01/16.

Allan Grant also complete the Comber/Stormont double on 1^st, Antrim on 2^nd, Victoria on 16^th and Ormeau on 23^rd while Karen McMaster make the unfortunate choice to go to Waterworks on 1^st (which was cancelled) so only did Stormont on 1^st, plus Carrickfergus on 2^nd, Ormeau 23^rd and Carrickfergus on 30^th.

I was thinking Team Barcode for Allan and Team Chair for Karen but any other ideas are welcome.

TTFN.

05/12/15

A few Seaparkers braved the weather on 5^th December to attend the home parkrun at Carrickfergus.  Charlie McCormick was 2^nd over the line (+ first Searparker) and was followed by Clive Weatherhead (who achieved a 1 second PB of 19:58 on his 75^th parkrun), Brendan Rice, Robert Steele, Jonathan Beattie, Gareth Hamill, Derek Kane, Marie Nicholson, Glenda Murray and Michael Kane.

Quite a few Seaparkers went to the third B2R event in Loughgall on 5^th December, but that didn’t stop Bobbie Irvine and Neill Harper going to the Citypark parkrun in Craigavon beforehand.  This was their 2^nd appearance each @ Craigavon.  Neill Harper even managed to get a PB of 25:46 for the course.  His overall PB is still 24:18 (@ Victoria) so he must have been walking the Citypark course the first time if 25:46 is a PB for him.

Craig and Ross Gilmore both attended their 1st Waterworks parkrun.  They’ve only did a few parkruns each so far but it’s beginning to look as if they’re going to be parkrun tourists, having attended Antrim, Carrickfergus and now Waterworks in the last few weeks.

Robert Murray and Trevor Lamb both went to the hill(y) Valley parkrun.  Will the Back to the Future puns ever end?  Robert was the 7^th athlete home.  Not bad for his 75^th parkrun and 6^th run @ Valley.  This was Trevor’s 4^th appearance @ Valley.  The last time he went was in March 2015 and achieved a time of 27:51.  This time he missed out on his Valley PB by 2 secs (!!!) and got 27:53 (for those that can’t count).  He wasn’t a happy bunny.  Shouldn’t that be wolf?

12/12/15

Charlie McCormick gets another mention (as lets face it, he’s the talk of the town) as he completed his 50^th parkrun (and his 46th @ Carrickfergus) on 12^th December.  Not a PB but his Carrickfergus parkrun time is still 1 second faster than Bobbie Irvine, so in the end that’s all that matters.  He was quickly followed by Brendan Rice, Jonathan Beattie, Gareth Hamill, Andrew Smyth, Derek Kane, Neill Harper and Marie Nicholson.

Bobbie Irvine, Philp Poag, Trevor Lamb, Alison Welsh and Michael Kane attempted to go to Colin Glen but it was cancelled due to Glenda Murray poisoning all the volunteers so Trevor Lamb couldn’t run.  I think that’s what happened.  It was either that or black ice, one of the two.  Anyway the Famous Five had 15 minutes to get to the nearest parkrun (which was Falls) and only Bobbie knew the way.

Luckily they got to the (not as hilly as Larne or Valley, never said it was flat) Falls parkrun with over 5 mins to spare.  Bobbie Irvine was the first over the line (Go Seapark!) and was followed (noticed I didn’t say quickly followed) by Philp Poag (first run @ Falls), Trevor Lamb, Alison Welsh (first run @ Falls) and Michael Kane (first run @ Falls).

The devious Glenda Murray (not knowing that her plan to stop Trevor Lamb from running had failed) went to Queens with Robert Murray (PB @ Queens of 21:22) and Karen McMaster (PB @ Queens of 29:38).

The 12^th also saw Karen Waring return to Valley, knocking over a minute of her time from a few weeks back @ the same location (31:59 on 21/11/15 and now 30:53 on 12/12/15).  Getting back to form Karen!

19/12/15

The Christmas Tree medal for B2R’s Tollymore wasn’t enough to deter the hard-core parkruners as a few still managed to make a parkrun on the 19^th December.

Clive Weatherhead, Robert Murray, Jonathon Bell, Derek Kane and Glenda Murray did the Carrickfergus home parkrun on this date.  There was no PBs this week but it didn’t matter as there was very festive upside down pineapple cake on offer for everyone who attended.

For parkrun tourism the 19th was a weekend of firsts as it saw Karen McMaster partake in her first Hampstead Heath run, Robert Steel his first Ecos run, Gary Craig his first Ormeau parkrun + Philip Poag, Karen Poag, & Allan Grant completing their first (not at all hilly) Stormont parkrun.

Trevor Lamb and Julie-Ann Mitchell also went to Stormont on 19th but because it wasn’t their first run there no one really cares.

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day Seaparkers had the choice of either Waterworks or Victoria.

The turkey was on the loose @ Waterworks with Charlie McCormick (yes, him again) dawning the infamous outfit from last Christmas.  Gobble? Gobble? went the turkey but no-one was biting.

Robert Murray was the first Seaparker home and was the only one not to be McTurkeyied (not sure how to spell that but spell check wants me to change it to McMoisturised) by Charlie McCormick who was the 2^nd Seaparker home.  They were followed by Trevor Lamb, Karen Poag (with new Waterworks PB of 25:59), Bobbie Irvine (running with Jog’s Nicola Irvine), Karen McMaster (who thanks to a Christmas miracle got an overall PB of 29:08), Glenda Murray, Karen Waring, Philip Poag, Elise Park (on her first run @ Waterworks) and Gavin Irvine.

Christmas miracle’s weren’t restricted to Waterworks because they got one at Victoria also.  Andrew Smyth got an overall PB of 23:20 on his 50^th parkrun (and 10^th @ Victoria).  You really can’t make this stuff up people.  Andy must have been on the good list but I don’t know why.

First Seaparker over the line at Victoria on Christmas Day was Ryan Weatherhead & he was followed by Clive Weatherhead (though technically he could have been first as both got 20:04), Alanah McCombe, Lynda Shannon, Jonathan Beattie, Andrew ‘Still grumpy even with a PB’ Smyth, Aimee Weatherhead and Ann McCracken (with a new Victoria PB of 26:44).

Boxing Day

There was no Christmas Day parkrun @ Carrickfergus but on the 26^th December quite a few Seaparkers stayed for the home parkrun (unfortunately there was no upside down pineapple cake to be found).  Ian Cleland was the first runner home with 19:07 (Congrats).  He was closely followed by Charlie McCormick, Mark Welsh, Jonathon Bell, Robert Steel, Allan Grant, Philp Poag, Derek Kane, Trevor Lamb, Karen Poag, Carol Woods, Alison Welsh, Karen Waring, Marie Nicholson, Glenda Murray, Karen McMaster, Rebecca Tester, Michael Kane, Susan Kane and Julie-Ann Mitchell.

Karen Waring got a PB of 28:13 for Carrickfergus + Karen McMaster’s Christmas miracle continued into Boxing Day as she got a Carrickfergus PB of 29:26.  No PBs for anyone else.  So you can use the excuse that you where still full from your Christmas dinner and/or you where saving your energy for the Seapark AC Boxing Day Forest run a hour later.  Either excuse is valid with me.  Though I know a few of you want to say that your shoe laces came undone (yes, that old chestnut).  You know who you are.

Sara Johnston made up for missing out of the Christmas Day parkrun @ Waterworks by going there on 26^th, obtaining a PB for Waterworks of 29:45.  While Richard Hetherington went on his first visit to Ecos parkrun, Ballymena on 26^th and Bobbie Irvine & Gavin Irvine finished of the 2015 parkrun year with a very foggy Stormont parkrun.  Maybe Gazza can do a remix of Fog on the Tyne?  Fog on the Hill has number one wrote all over it.

Looking forward to 2016

We are still waiting to hear back about Andy’s 2016 parkrun challenge but there have been a few other challenges announced.

Michael Kane has put forward the suggestion that we should do a Seapark NI parkrun challenge.  All participants will have to run @ least once @ all 22 of the NI parkruns in 2016.  Let’s hope they don’t add any new ones.  So far we have Vivien Davidson, Carol Downey, Allan Grant, Derek Kane, Geraldine Kane, Megan Kane, Michael Kane, Julie Kelly, Bobbie Irvine, Trevor Lamb, Glenda Murray, Robert Murray, Becki Tester and Karen Waring showing interest.

A Seapark AC 2016 NI parkrun challenge Messenger group has been set up (so as not to overflow the Facebook group).  If you would like to be added to it let either Michael Kane or Trevor Lamb know.  You may not want to do all 22 but you probably want to go to as many cakeruns as you can.

Some of you may be wondering why the devious Glenda Murray would want to stop Trevor Lamb from running.  Well, the 2^nd parkrun challenge is specific to Glenda Murray and Trevor Lamb.  Both of them ran their 50^th parkrun on 15^th August, so the race is on to see who reaches their 100^th first.  At the end of December Glenda is at 60 while Trevor is at 62.

Race to 100 Team Trevor (AKA Team Wolf) and Team Glenda (AKA Team Devious) t-shirts will be on sale soon. Choose you side wisely.