IT WAS a perfect spring morning with the birds singing and the sun shining to greet the crowd of 58 walkers and runners gathering for Gloucester’s 179th parkrun in Gloucester District Park on Saturday 9 November.

There were visitors from as far away as Christchurch and Brisbane, joining others from Fingal Bay, Port Macquarie, Armidale and Cronulla.

The group included those doing their first Gloucester parkrun – Lyndsey James, Karl Velde, Paul Freed, Lorraine and Kerry Renkema, Jude Burza and Sarah James.

Welcome!

Mark Gay and Greg Davis were both doing their very first parkrun (in the 70-74 age group – so it is never too late to start doing parkruns), alongside another first timer, Charles Youness.

Tim Dyall from Armidale was the first male home in a time of 23.21, with a new personal best in his 341st parkrun, overtaking Eli Soupidis in the last lap.

The first female was local Lily Sansom in 25.19, just missing out by 3 seconds on her personal best time.

It only took a call of encouragement (maybe it was a yell) from the Run Director to get young Olley Murray from walking the last few hundred metres to sprinting home – and a personal best time!

There were more personal bests across the morning – including Colby Howden, Anke Smit (who walked with her two young daughters), Raelene Dyall, Cheryl Pittard, Robyn Beggs, Michaelie Fry, and John and Elizabeth Casey.

The volunteers this week included three who were doing their jobs for the first time – Chris Murray as timekeeper (wearing a moon boot to explain why he wasn’t running today), Trish Pindsle on tokens and Don Richardson as scanner – what a team! Others helping this week were Rod Eckels, Carolyn Davies, Pat Burrows, Kim Haschek and Trudie Murray.

Thanks to all who make this free event happen each week.

By Carolyn DAVIES