23/08/2026
Weekend Roundup - Saturday 22 August 2026 🏃
21 of us were out at 7 different parkruns this weekend, and the map was a lovely one: Manchester parks, a Welsh seafront, the Tyne valley and the Thames estuary all in the same morning.
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CHALKWELL BEACH
Josh Young was our man on the Essex coast, taking on the seafront paths at Westcliff-on-Sea with the wide Thames estuary alongside him the whole way. Hard to imagine a flatter, breezier 5k.
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COFTON PARK
Christopher Kinsey added a new venue to his collection down at Northfield on the southern edge of Birmingham, a mix of grass and trail paths in the shadow of the Lickey Hills. A fine morning's work on unfamiliar ground.
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HEATON
Our biggest turnout of the week, with 9 of us there. Jamie Dobson led the way for the group and capped it with a personal best, and finished 3rd in his age category into the bargain. John Bradford made it two PBs for the group on the same morning, which is no small thing on a course he knows as well as anyone. Mark Taylor was in good form, Paul Jenkinson and Stephen Crowe both had solid mornings, and Jacqui Warden ran strongly through the middle of the field. Lucie Tighe had the best company of anyone, running in with daughter Grace, who took a new PB of her own. Ros Dines and Steve Sweeney rounded off the Heaton contingent.
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PEEL
6 of us made the short trip to Salford. Mark Kirschstein was quickest of the group on his first visit to Peel, and Aaron Stones followed him home with a personal best, his second strong outing there in a matter of weeks. Laura Tomkins was in great form, Paul Heathcote put in a good honest effort, and Derek and Fiona Case ran the whole thing together and crossed the line within a few seconds of each other.
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TYNE GREEN
Anna Swailes flew the flag furthest north, out at Hexham on a mix of tarmac and trail paths running alongside the River Tyne. A proper Northumberland morning.
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WORSLEY WOODS
Chris Chris kept the group represented at Worsley Woods, winding round the wooded paths on a course that always rewards you for turning up.
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Y PROMENÂD, ABERMAW
Andrew and Alison Whitehead kept their touring habit going in some style, heading over to Barmouth for a first visit for both of them. The course runs along the promenade with Cardigan Bay on one side and the Mawddach estuary and the Rhinogydd rising behind the town. Alison topped her age category as well, which is a lovely way to mark a first visit.
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GM RINGWAY, STAGE 13: BURY TO BROMLEY CROSS
The Ringway project rolls on. Having done Norden to Bury a fortnight ago, Delphine Bugarel, Clive Koffman, Kath Biddle, Paula Crosland, Ken Smith, Neil Naisbitt and Paul Cox picked up exactly where they left off and took on Stage 13, around 11 miles from Bury out to Bromley Cross. It starts gently enough along the Irwell before the day properly begins: up through the tree-lined valley at Holcombe Brook, a steep pull onto Holcombe Hill under Peel Tower, then down through the old woodland and waterfall at Redisher, over to the ancient cross at Affetside and out past Jumbles. Riverside, woodland and moorland in a single morning, and a big one to have in the bank.
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Parks, promenades, riversides and a proper day on the hills. Not a bad weekend at all. 💜🏃♀️🏃♂️
