Weekend Roundup - Saturday 8 August 2026

🏃 Parkrun

24 of us were out across 10 venues on Saturday morning, from the Derbyshire trails to the Anglesey coast, and there was a very big number to celebrate at Heaton.

Julie Smith flew the flag on her own in Derbyshire, ticking off a brand new venue at Black Rocks near Wirksworth. It is run entirely on the trail paths of the old High Peak Trail, three out and back sections that take in the historic railway engine house, the National Stone Centre and a stunning view out across Matlock Gorge.

Josh Young and Ros Dines both had fine mornings at Bolton, a course the pair of them know inside out by now.

Paula Crosland was in excellent form at Clarence and came away with a course best on her 5th visit there, which is a lovely way to round off the week. 💜

The biggest gathering of the weekend, with 12 of us at Heaton, and the morning belonged to Mark Taylor. Saturday was his 250th parkrun, and it came just two days after he clocked up 150 runs with the group on Thursday. Two landmark numbers inside three days is some going, and it could not have happened to a more consistent runner. 👏

Michael Aiken was first of the group home, with Aaron Stones and John Bradford running strongly behind him and Christopher Mihalyi not far back. Paul Cox worked his way round steadily through the middle of the field. Stephen Crowe and Chris Chris were both on pacing duty, Stephen taking the 30 minute group and Chris the 45, which is one of the most generous jobs going on a Saturday morning and makes a real difference to the people running alongside them. Paul Jenkinson and Derek Case both had good outings, and Anna Swailes kept things ticking over nicely. Lucie Tighe had the best company of anyone, running the whole way round with her daughter Grace. And a big thank you to Chris Grayshon, who was volunteering alongside his son and grandson. Three generations of the same family giving up their Saturday morning so everyone else could run is exactly what makes parkrun work. 👏

Dale Richards made the trip over to Urmston for a first visit to Kingsway Park, always a good excuse to see somewhere new.

A family trip to Anglesey for the Sweeneys, with Thomas finishing well up the field at Nant y Pandy and Steve enjoying his first visit to the nature reserve at Llangefni, where the route winds through woodland and out over the marsh on raised boardwalks.

Paul Heathcote was on the Anglesey coast too, taking on the sandy forest trails at Newborough.

Rachael Fiske and Angela Pradena both had good runs at Peel, with Rachael ticking off a venue she had not visited before.

Christopher Kinsey represented the group well at Stretford and put in a solid effort.

Andrew and Alison Whitehead kept their touring habit going with a first visit to Sutton Manor in St Helens. It is an undulating out and back through forest that has grown up over the old colliery, with fast gravel tracks, some proper climbs, views across Cheshire and North Wales on a clear day, and the enormous Dream sculpture watching over the whole thing.

🏅 Races

A big weekend away from parkrun too, with a day in the Welsh hills and a first half marathon.

Saturday 8 August

Three of us headed to Wales for a big day out on the hills. The event starts in the village of Talybont-on-Usk and climbs straight into the Beacons, heading out past Talybont Reservoir before a scenic loop around Talybont Forest and up over Bwlch y Ddwyallt and Waun Rydd.

Delphine Bugarel and Clive Koffman took on the 24k, a proper mountain route with big open views for most of it. Kath Biddle went for the 51k, which breaks away from the shorter course to climb Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain, before rejoining the trail for the rest of the way. A serious day in the hills and another brilliant one from Kath. 👏

Sunday 9 August

Laura Tomkins completed her first ever half marathon on Sunday, at the Windmill Half over on the Fylde coast. It is a flat two lap route organised by Fylde Coast Runners, starting and finishing on Lytham Green and running out along the front at Lytham St Annes and Fairhaven, with the Ribble Estuary on one side and the old windmill watching over the finish. A first half marathon is a proper milestone and a brilliant one to tick off. Huge congratulations Laura. 👏

From a 250th parkrun to a first half marathon to the top of Pen y Fan, that is quite a weekend. 💜🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️