James West and Abbie Donnelly ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this week (28th August).

We don’t know if he’ll count it, but today’s 14:18 looks like it might be James West’s first PB of 2021. The sub 4 minute miler has had a pretty solid track season focusing on 1500m racing, with a 6th place at the British Champs in June. Based in Oregon, the Tonbridge AC athlete posted his new parkrun best at Pegswell Bay this weekend.

Lincoln Wellington’s Abbie Donnelly was the fastest female with an excellent 16:19 at Doddington Hall. With a 33:31 PB 10,000m win at the Midsummer Night 10000m Classic in June and three 5000m runs under 16 minutes, Donnelly looks in great form and it could mean an exciting cross country season this autumn.

Sub 15 minute club

Ross Gray, of Inverclyde AC, was the only other athlete under 15 minutes this week up at Greenock in Scotland. In a relatively quiet season Gray competed at the Scottish National 1500m champs in August, but looks to have gone out in the heats with a 4:05.08 for 7th.

Another athlete with strong performances at the Scottish national XC champs, this might be where Gray’s focus is turning as the summer comes to a close. parkrun is always a good workout for those getting ready for the mud.

Second fastest female was also up in Scotland, with Grace Molloy first home in 17:12. The Forth Valley Orienteer was one of three athletes who ran well at Edinburgh parkrun with two male runners also making the top ten at the city event. We know parkrun isn’t a race, but we can race it ourselves, whether against the clock or our peers, and then we do rise to the challenge.

Well done to everyone who got out to parkrun this weekend. It is great to see the community event back and thriving, not just in the UK, but overseas too.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Pegswell Bay
James West, 14:18, Tonbridge/Oregon
2) parkrun: Greenock
Ross Gray, 14:57, Inverclyde AC
3) parkrun: Croxteth Hall
Matthew Crehan, 15:03, St. Helens Sutton AC
4) parkrun: Poole
Alexander Miell-Ingram, 15:07
5=) parkrun: Edinburgh
Ben Miles, 15:09, Pont-y-pwl and District Runners
5=) parkrun: Rother Valley
Daniel Bradford, 15:09
5=) parkrun: Fountains Abbey
Toby Osman, 15:09, Ripon Runners
8) parkrun: Poole
James Knockton, 15:10, Sale Harriers Manchester
9) parkrun: Edinburgh
Alex Parsons, 15:11, Team Bath
10) parkrun: Poole
Rowan Miell-Ingram, 15:17, Radley AC

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun:  Doddington Hall 
Abbie Donnelly, 16:19, Lincoln Wellington, AC
2) parkrun: Edinburgh
Grace Molloy, 17:12, Forth Valley Orienteers
3) parkrun: Salisbury
Daisy Baker, 17:15
4) parkrun: Sandy Water
Sioned Howells, 17:25, Amman Valley Harriers
5) parkrun: Long Eaton
Georgina Weston, 17:29, Notts AC
6) parkrun: Cannon Hill, Birmingham 
Bryony Haines, 17:33, Birchfield Harriers
7) parkrun: Chelmsford Central
Rosa Prideaux, 17:34, Chelmsford AC
8) parkrun: Bushy
Nancy Scott, 17:40, Aldershot, Farnham & District AC
9) parkrun: Southsea
Cassie Thorp, 17:41
10) parkrun: Tonbridge 
Katherine Hobb, 17:52

If you would like to run faster at parkrun, top tips to help runners of all abilities can be found here.