Sonia Smauels and Simon Crawford ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this weekend (10th June).

Our weekly parkrun top ten is sponsored by 1001 Running Tips by our editor Robbie Britton. Want to run faster at parkrun in 2023 or your next marathon then order your copy today.(PBs not guaranteed, but very likely).

We’re sorry the results are late this week, I’m currently over in the US supporting an athlete towards a 100 mile race and the time zones have thrown everything out of kilter. So without further ado…

Once again we have two female athletes under 17 minutes, with GB&NI marathoner Sonia Samuels continuing her excellent recent form with a 16:44 parkrun at Watermead Country Park. This is just three seconds off Samuels’ parkrun best from 2012 and much like her 2:28:15 marathon last year that was only 11 seconds off a 2015 best it is great to see the International athlete in such fine form.

Simon Crawford is a 2:26 marathoner and sub 15 minute parkrun athlete, but all that must pale into insignificance with topping our weekly chart. It seems this year has had a slightly slower start than 2022 for the Long Eaton runner, with HM and Marathon times a wee bit down, but everything is moving in the right direction it seems.

The best of the rest

Reading AC’s Jessica Gibbon was the second fastest female in 16:53 at Prospect parkrun and this is actually where she set her 16:37 parkrun PB last year. 2023 so far has seen three parkruns for Gibbons, moving in the right direction each time up to last weekend’s speedy outing.

Marshall Smith has been bouncing from PB to PB this year, but 15:16 at Ashford parkrun isn’t a new best for the local lad. That’s fine though, as we’re sure he’s content with shiny new half (66:41) and full marathon PBs (2:24:05).

Louise Small just canne stop racing and finished third quickest this week with 17:20 at Bushy parkrun. The 2:31 marathoner has been in strong, consistent form this year and it’s exciting to see what is coming next for the AFD stalwart!

At Folkestone Harry Lawson ran 15:32 to just take third spot by one second. It is a new parkrun best and quicker than the Holland Sports runner’s 5000m track and 5k road times so they could be in danger this summer. Just the weekend before Lawson took over four minutes from his 10 mile PB at Dorking 10, so let the good times roll.

The fastest course?

It seems a lot of the fast times were run in the South of England this weekend, but that just could be my own southern bias recognising more of the names. But it was Alexandra, Moss Side and Bushy Park that shared the honours with two names each in our rankings.

Women’s Rankings

Men’s Rankings