Weekend Roundup - Saturday 11 July 2026

🏃 Parkrun

A brilliant spread this weekend, and a hot one at that. With the heatwave in full swing and temperatures well up, 23 of us still got out and about across 12 different venues, from the North Wales coast to the grounds of a Norman castle. Hats off to everyone who took on a Saturday morning in that heat. Here's how everyone got on.

Laura Tomkins had a superb morning at Bolton, coming home as 3rd woman overall on the day, with Josh Young also out on the course and enjoying the Moss Bank Park loops.

John Bradford was first back for the group at Clarence and made it a real morning to remember, clocking a course PB and finishing top of his age category into the bargain. Paul Cox and Paula Crosland were both there too, spinning the legs over ahead of a bigger day to come on Sunday.

Tracy Wroe made the trip out to the Ribble Valley for Clitheroe Castle, a tarmac course set in the castle gardens beneath the town's ancient Norman keep, one of the smallest surviving in the country.

A good crowd flew the flag at Heaton, led back by Dale Richards, with Cheryl Stewardson, Paul Jenkinson and Steve Sweeney all putting in fine runs on home turf. Lovely to see Chris Chris back out on the Heaton course too. Chris Grayshon, meanwhile, had the best reason of all to take it steady, run/walking round alongside his son Josh, who was taking on his very first parkrun. A brilliant father-and-son morning, and hopefully the first of many for Josh.

Kath Biddle enjoyed a steady run/walk around Kingsway Park in Urmston, out with the group for another Saturday morning.

Aaron Stones and Christopher Kinsey made the longest journey of the weekend between them, heading well south to Luton's Wardown parkrun, where Aaron finished top of his age category.

Paul Heathcote had a solid outing at Peel, enjoying a morning on one of our nearer venues.

Andrew Whitehead and Alison Whitehead ventured out to Pendle for the first time, taking on a new course in the shadow of the famous witch country hill.

Derek Case and Fiona Case made a first visit to Preston together, exploring a new parkrun on the banks of the Ribble.

Julie Smith flew the flag over in Leeds at Woodhouse Moor, one of the original parkruns and a proper piece of the event's history.

Delphine Bugarel took on Worden parkrun over at Leyland, enjoying a lap of the lovely Worden Park.

Bernie Boardman made the trip over to the North Wales coast for Y Promenâd at Rhos on Sea, a flat seafront course running right along the promenade with the sea for company.

🏅 Races

What a weekend of racing to go alongside it all.

Saturday 11 July

Tracy Wroe, Ken Smith and Stephen Crowe took on the Tolkien Trail Race at Stonyhurst, a scenic route through the Ribble Valley winding past Stonyhurst College and along the River Ribble. It's Tolkien country in every sense, the landscape said to have helped inspire Middle Earth during the author's stays at the college. A wonderful, atmospheric one to take on.

Lucie Tighe, Charlene Leyden, Sarah Wilson, Mark Taylor, Chris Mihalyi and Laura Aiken tackled the 23k at the Lakeland Trails, part of a much-loved series set amongst some of the most beautiful fell and lakeside scenery the Lake District has to offer. A big group effort on a stunning course.

Jane Grantham took on the Lakeland Trails 55k, the ultra's other big distance and a serious undertaking in its own right, 55 kilometres of Lake District trails and climbs in the heat. A tremendous effort out on the fells.

Michael Aiken took on the enormous challenge of the Lakeland Trails 100k, a proper Lake District ultra covering 100 kilometres of fells, trails and relentless climbs, made all the tougher by the soaring temperatures. An absolutely huge achievement, and a special weekend for the Aiken family with Laura out on the 23k too.

Sunday 12 July

Paula Crosland and Paul Cox lined up for Race the Train, the wonderful local challenge of trying to beat a steam locomotive along the East Lancashire Railway heritage line from Bury up to Rawtenstall through the Irwell Valley. No mean feat in this heat. Nick Coleman was there too in the important role of tail runner, making sure everyone got round safely and no one was left behind, the very best of the group spirit. A proper day out, and a double for Paula and Paul after their parkrun at Clarence the day before.

From seaside promenades and castle gardens to Lake District ultras and racing a steam train up the valley, what a wonderfully varied weekend of running. Every single one of you did the group proud. 💜🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️