18/10/2026
Weekend Roundup - Saturday 17 October 2026 💜
21 of us were out across 8 parkruns this weekend, from Stoke-on-Trent to plenty of home favourites, with a 400th parkrun, a course best and a couple of age category placings to celebrate. Thanks as always to those who gave their mornings to volunteer.
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CLARENCE
Paula Crosland was first back for the group and had a brilliant morning, finishing top of her age category. 👏 Michael Aiken and Laura Aiken ran the whole way round together with their son Owen, the 3 of them crossing the line side by side. Anna Swailes made her first visit to Clarence and had a great outing on a new course. Stephen Crowe volunteered as parkwalker on his home course, walking the course to make sure everyone at the back had company. That brings him to 100 volunteer credits at parkrun. That's a huge amount of time given back, and we're really proud of him. 💜
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HANLEY
Julie Smith headed to Hanley Park in Stoke-on-Trent for the first time, a course on a mix of tarmac and gravel paths through the park, and ran strongly on her visit.
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HEATON
A big day at Heaton, with Andrew Whitehead leading the way for us and running his 400th parkrun! 🎉 That's an incredible number of Saturday mornings, and a real milestone to mark. Paul Jenkinson, Paul Heathcote and Josh Young all ran well, Chris Grayshon and Steve Sweeney were in good form, and Alison Whitehead was out there too on Andrew's big day. Dale Richards volunteered as a guide runner. Thank you, Dale. 👏
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PEEL
Laura Tomkins and Aaron Stones ran together at Peel once again, with Laura finishing 2nd in her age category.
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SALE WATER
Kath Biddle had a fine morning at Sale Water and ran well.
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STRETFORD
Jamie Dobson and John Bradford both made their first visit to Stretford and had a good morning of it.
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WORSLEY WOODS
Chris Chris ran brilliantly at Worsley Woods and set a new course PB. 👏
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WYTHENSHAWE
Delphine Bugarel tried Wythenshawe for the first time and had a great run there.
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RACES - SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER
ABINGDON MARATHON
The Abingdon Marathon has been a fixture of the Oxfordshire running calendar since 1982. It's still run by a volunteer committee drawn from local clubs, and every penny of surplus goes to local charities. The route starts and finishes on the track at Tilsley Park, then heads through Abingdon town centre, out along the Thames and through the villages south of the town before winding back for the finish. Paul Cox took it on and saw his autumn marathon block through to the end in a lovely setting. Well done, Paul. 👏
OLD MOTHER SHIPTON'S SOFT SHOE SHUFFLE, KNARESBOROUGH
Over in North Yorkshire, a big group of us headed to Knaresborough for the 10k at Old Mother Shipton's Soft Shoe Shuffle, put on by It's Grim Up North Running. The route sets off from the Beryl Burton Cycleway, climbs gently through parkland and follows the old railway line between Knaresborough and Harrogate. It's fully marshalled, with a lively start and finish area, a bespoke medal and hot food and cake waiting at the end. Chris Mihalyi, Lucie Tighe, Laura Aiken, Michael Aiken, Mark Taylor, John Bradford and Stephen Crowe all took it on, flying the flag in their Radcliffe AC colours, and had a brilliant day out together. 👏
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A lovely weekend of milestones, volunteering, marathon miles and Yorkshire trails. Brilliant running, everyone! 💜🏃♀️🏃♂️
