March 2016 Seapark parkrun round-up

5^th March

It was a good weekend for getting a PB on 5^th March.  Carrickfergus was attended by Charlie McCormick, Robert Steele, Jonathan Beattie, Jonathon Bell PB (course PB of 22:10), Lynda Shannon (1^st lady home), Gareth Hamill, Patrick Hughes PB (parkrun PB of 23:54), Neill Harper, Alyson Sangster PB (parkrun PB of 30:03), Alyn McChesney PB (parkrun PB of 31:21), Julie-Ann Mitchell and Jennifer Jackson PB (parkrun PB of 35:58).

Seapark went on tour to Victoria on the 5^th March.  Mark Welsh PB (course PB of 22:00) was the first Seaparker home and was followed by Bobbie Irvine, Ruth ‘Overtake me at your own peril’ Hawkins, Trevor Lamb, Derek Kane (1^st run at Victoria), Karen Waring, Alison Welsh, Rebecca Tester (1^st run at Victoria), Alan Poag, Julie Kelly (1^st run at Victoria), Michael ‘Sprint Finish’ Kane (1^st run at Victoria), Geraldine Kane (1^st run at Victoria) and Carol Downey (1^st run at Victoria).

The only other bit of parkrun tourism on 5^th was by Ann McCracken who was the sole Seaparker at Ormeau.

12^th March

It was another weekend of PBs on 12^th March.  Carrickfergus was attended by Gareth Hamill, Neill Harper, Clive Gray, Karen McMaster PB (course PB of 29:22), Julie-Ann Mitchell and Phillip Poag.

There was a 22 parkrun group outing to Ecos that was attended by Derek Kane (1^st run at Ecos), Trevor Lamb (1^st run at Ecos), Alan Poag, Geraldine Kane PB (1^st run at Ecos + a parkrun PB of 30:27), Michael Kane (1^st run at Ecos) and Susan Kane (1^st run at Ecos).  Now Geraldine’s PB was a whopping 48 seconds faster than her last PB.  On the one hand that’s a a huge improvement, on the other it’s 47 missed opportunties for other PBs.

The other 22 group members didn’t attend Ecos as some had already done it for the challenge (showing how competitive they are in the process).  Instead Rebecca Tester went to Armagh for her 1^st time (being the first member of the 22 parkrun group to complete it this year), Allan Grant attended Cookstown for his 1^st time (again, the first member of the 22 parkrun group to complete it his year) and Karen Waring PB went to Waterworks (obtaining a course PB of 26:38).  Another member of the 22 group, Bobbie Irvine PB, went to Wallace (achieving a course PB of 20:41).  He was accompanied by Ronald Simms PB, who obtained a parkrun PB of 19:29.

Robert Steel PB went to Victoria, obtaining a parkrun PB of 21:23.  While at Ormeau we had Gary Craig, Ann McCracken PB (course PB of 28:22) and Ross Gilmore PB (course PB of 32:57).

And over on the mainland Gavin Irvine made his 10^th appearance at Hull parkrun.

19^th March

It was the weekend of the Larne Half and with 48 Seaparkers attending that event there wasn’t much park running going on for most, but Jonathan Beattie kept the Seapark AC banner going at Carrickfergus with his 49^th parkrun (and 41^st at Carrickfergus).

Three members of the Larne Cheer Squad, and three others who ran the Larne Half after, attended the Larne parkrun.  The Cheer Squad members where Robert Murray PB (course PB of 22:06), Ruth Hawkins (1^st run at Larne) and Glenda Murray. While the three not so wise men who ran 4km to the Larne parkrun, 5km for the parkrun itself, another 4km back to the Larne Half Marathon start and then the half itself (34.1 km/21.2 miles total) were Bobbie Irvine, Gavin Irvine PB (course PB of 27:02 for his 75^th parkrun) and Neil Harper (1^st run at Larne).

Ormeau was attended by Derek Kane (1^st run at Ormeau), Ann McCracken and Susan Kane (1^st run at Ormeau).  While Gary Craig and Julie Kelly PB (achieving a parkrun PB of 28:08) attended their 1^st run each at Ecos.  Elsewhere Alan ‘Magnus Magnusson’ Poag returned to the scene of the crime and completed the full Queens course for the first time.

26^th March

The last Carrickfergus parkrun of March 2016 was attended by Jonathan Beattie (on his 5o^th parkrun.  The red t-shirts are coming, the red t-shirts are coming), Allan Grant (who is now in the VM50-54 category), Gareth Hamill, Robert Steele, Clive Gray PB (with a parkrun PB of 27:10), Andrew Smyth and Karen McMaster (on her 75^th parkrun).

The 22 group is starting to fracture as everyone is trying to get in as many different parkruns as they can.  The main group went to the Bangor cakerun, with Mark Welsh PB (course PB of 22:41) being the first Seaparker home.  He was followed by Ruth Hawkins (1^st run at Bangor), Karen Waring, Alan Poag (1^st run at Bangor), Alison Welsh, Rebecca Tester (1^st run at Bangor) and Glenda Murray (1^st run at Bangor).

Other members of the 22 group went to Citypark, Limavady and Waterworks.  Citypark, Craigavon was attended by Bobbie Irvine (being the first member of the 22 parkrun group to complete it this year), Gavin Irvine (1^st run at Citypark) and Elise Park (1^st run at Citypark).  While Derek Kane (again, the first member of the 22 parkrun group to complete it this year), made his 4^th appearance at Limavady and at Waterworks we had Gary Craig PB (course PB of 26:01) and Julie Kelly (1st run at Waterworks).

While that was going on Iain Hunter attended his 1^st run at Comber and at the second cakerun of the week (Ecos) was attended by Sara Johnston PB (1^st run at Ecos with a parkrun PB of 27:05) and Marie Nicholson (1^st run at Ecos).

In Wales Neill Harper and Trevor Lamb made their 1^st appearance each at the Cardiff parkrun prior to the IAAF/Cardiff University half marathon later that same day (at least it didn’t start to 2:10 pm).

It appears that Neill can no longer do a half marathon on its on, instead he has to run to a parkrun (3.2km in this instance), do the parkrun and then run back (3.5km back, detour) before doing the half (32.8 km/20.3 miles total). Trevor on the other hand wasn’t so mad and walked 3.5km to the parkrun, ran the parkrun, walked 3.5km back and then ran the half (only 26.1 km/16.2 miles total).

Race to 100

Oh, it’s getting really close.  Only 3 parkruns between them.

Karen McMaster PB (AKA Team Chair) is at 75 parkruns as off 26/03/16.

Allan Grant (AKA Team Barcode) is at 74 parkruns as off 26/03/16.

Trevor Lamb (AKA Team Wolf) is at 74 parkruns as off 26/03/16.

Glenda Murray (AKA Team Devious) is at 72 parkruns as off 26/03/16.

Official hashtag #Raceto100

Seapark charity parkrun challenge

We now have 17 confirmed participants for the 22 NI parkrun as Mark Walsh has jointed the challenge. As of 26^th March it looks like this.

Bobbie Irvine PB (12)
Antrim, Carrickfergus, Citypark, Comber, Ecos, Larne, Ormeau, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Allan Grant (10)
Antrim, Carrickfergus, Comber, Cookstown, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Derek Kane (10)
Carrickfergus, Comber, Ecos, Limavady, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Valley, Victoria & Wallace.
Trevor Lamb (10)
Antrim, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ecos, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Glenda Murray (10)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Comber, Larne, Ormeau, Queens, Stormont, Wallace & Waterworks.
Karen Waring PB (10)
Antrim, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Comber, Ormeau, Stormont, Valley, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Alan Poag (7)
Bangor, Carrickfergus, Ecos, Queens, Victoria, Wallace & Waterworks.
Robert Murray PB (6)
Carrickfergus, Antrim, Larne, Queens, Wallace & Waterworks.
Rebecca Tester (6)
Antrim, Armagh, Bangor, Carrickfergus, Ecos & Victoria.
Alison Welsh (6)
Bangor, Carrickfergus, Ecos, Queens, Stormont & Victoria
Geraldine Kane PB (5)
Queens, Ecos, Valley, Victoria & Wallace.
Julie Kelly PB (5)
Queens, Ecos, Valley, Victoria & Waterworks.
Michael Kane (3)
Ecos, Victoria & Wallace.
Mark Welsh PB (3)
Bangor, Ecos & Victoria.
Colin McCrum (2)
Antrim & Carrickfergus.
Megan Kane (0)
N/A
Carol Woods (0)
N/A

The two charities are Brainwaves NI and Macmillian Cancer Support.  Remember that if each of the two charities reaches the £2500 target then Michael Kane and Trevor Lamb will get their legs waxed and then run a 10K with nice waxed legs.  You know that the suffering of others will make you feel better so dig deep.

Just Giving Link

Official hashtag #AllNIparkruns2016

Andy’s parkrun challenge 2016

March saw the return of Andy’s parkrun challenge.  Between 26/03/16-29/10/16 participants have 32 weeks to complete three different parkruns, plus volunteer at Carrickfergus at least once.  The parkruns are Carrickfergus, Larne and the third one will be any of the participants own choosing.  Age grade percentage will decide the winner.

Official hashtag #APC2016