RUNNING: Running Forever and Longrun Meadow Parkrun celebrate big weekends

Hannah Taunton was first member home (in her TAC kit) in 1.20, breaking her half marthon PB by 30 seconds!

She was 29th lady home out of more than 9,000, and 208th overall out of more than 19,000 runners.

Following her over the line were Caroline Norris (1.32) and Sam Wharton (1.35).

Duncan Gordon was next with his 1.44 finish and Phil Parsons sprinted for the line in 1.59 for a well-deserved PB. Malcolm Boon, Paul Cooper and Vicky Hanna were next with 2.04, 2.05 and 2.06 respectively.

There wasn’t even enough time for a sneaky Welsh Cake before Cheryl Gerrard, Mark Gerrard, Louise Mills and Lara Bolduc all earned their medals in 2.09.

Charlotte Cross was next in 2.13; Helen Moffat in 2.15 then Sam Cross (2.18). Nikki Hill made it home in 2.28, followed by Kirsti Nelson (2.36) and Ali Wasey (2.37).

Keeping it local, a trio headed for the Burnham-on-Sea Half.

Great performances from Kate Drew (1.23 in her TAC guise), Trevor Stowe (1.49) and Sally Tuer (1.56).

TRIO: Trevor Stow, Sally Tuer and Kate Drew at the Burnham Half.

Tackling the same distance but in Bournemouth were Andy Staples (1.28) and first time Half Marathoner Darren Purchase, who was chuffed with his 2.09 finish.

New member Saz Henderson headed for Salisbury Half and crossed the line in 1.37. It was a 1.36 finish for Mike Threlfall for the same distance in Oxford.

Chris Gunn travelled to Budapest for their marathon; a scenic run round the city in 4.15 earned Chris a few celebratory pints and a medal.

Plymouth 10K attracted a couple of members; Chris Brown was 25th overall with his 37.37 time. Pat Pike also took part and finished in 1.13.

Ian Bawler took on the Votwo Atlantic Challenge of three marathons in three days, raising money for MND. It took him 19.58 hours in total and sounds exhausting.

Kathy Thompson was third lady in the Gower Ultra Bach race, in 7.14.

A trip up to Warwickshire saw Sue Lewis add a bit of swimming and cycling to her running in their Sprint Tri where she finished in 1.16.

This weekend’s parkrun tourists went to Plym Valley, Falkirk, Stratford, Worthing and Gloucester City.

Seventeen ran at Longrun Meadow, where John Allaway earned a PB.

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HYDRO Harriers’ Andy White recorded a fine 20.11, and ninth spot, at Longrun Meadow Parkrun.

A 2am start put paid to Rowland Lyons’ Valentine’s run, resulting in a poor 24.39.

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PRIZEWINNER: Jerome Timbrell the woodsman at Longrun Meadow.

LONGRUN Meadow parkrun celebrated its fifth birthday on Saturday.

Since the first run on October 5, 2013, 9,002 different participants have completed 71,625 parkruns covering a total distance of 222,754 miles.

This is a staggering nine times around the equator and nearly as far as the moon!

Parkrun has been a huge success nationally and now there are 570 events across the country that start every 9am on a Saturday morning.

Parkrun is not a race, it’s a timed event where participants can run, jog or walk.

To register, go to www.parkrun.com to get your individual barcode - just print it off and show it at the finish.

Saturday was event number 263, and 270 people ran, jogged and walked the two-lap course in the rain.

There were visitors from Brisbane, Australia, Plymouth and Gloucester.

As the fifth anniversary is traditionally associated with wood, runners were asked to come in themed fancy dress.

People came as trees, owls, foxes, rabbits, and a woodsman.

The fancy dress prizes went to Craig Whitemore, who ran with a willow wig with a pigeon nesting in the top, Jerome Timbrell the woodsman and Jenny Palmer who was covered in leaves.

The first male to the finishing post was Marcus Albano in 18.15.

First female was Kirstie Booth with a time of 20.31.

Sallie Durman ran her 100th parkrun and Adrian Byrne his 50th.