Emma Mitchell and Jamie Price ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this week (5th February).

Our weekly parkrun top ten is sponsored by 1001 Running Tips by our editor Robbie Britton. Order your copy today.

It looks like the Belfast Victoria parkrun record has gone again, for the third time since December 2021 and it’s possibly an Irish al comers parkrun best too. Emma Mitchell crossed the line first finisher overall in 16:20 this Saturday morning.

In a quiet 2021 Mitchell ran a near PB 72:36 for Valencia half marathon in October and was actually quicker than her road 5k PB at parkrun this morning, although her 5000m best on the track is a rapid 15:50.55.

Another regular fastest event is Cardiff parkrun and Jamie Price took advantage of that today with a 14:51 first finisher. We have two Jamie Prices on Power of 10 that could be the runner in question, both with Cardiff Met Uni as their second claim club, but one with Swansea as a first claim and the other Taunton.

At first glance they could both be capable of the time, with one a decent sprinter in his youth having returned to more distance running in the last couple years. The more likely is the lad from Taunton, who returned from a five year gap in 2020 to run 3:57.40i at the Inter Varsity Meeting at Lee Valley Indoor track.

Sharp running in Pegwell Bay

Our usual sub heading quality is lower this week due to the writer being tired from a Friday long run, but that takes nothing away from Chloe Sharp’s performance this weekend. After an excellent 15th at the South of England AA Champs last weekend the Woking/Kent Uni athlete wasn’t far off her parkrun best of 16:52 (2019) at Pegwell Bay with 17:03.

Second fastest male was Daniel Haworth of Keswick Matlock AC (update your club on parkrun people) with 14:56 at Monsal Trail parkrun. It looks like a huge PB of 44 seconds from Haworth’s previous best of 15:40 in 2018 at Long Eaton. Given Haworth was 3rd at Northern Counties Champs last weekend it’s no surprise to see a PB and you’d hazard a guess at it being the first of many for the year with that kind of form.

The cross country showing PBs to come

Rachel Gifford and Hannah Cox were both virtually neck and neck this week, albeit in different locations, with both running 17:32 to finish joint third in our rankings.

Gifford ran at Warwick Racecourse for a new parkrun best by six seconds, whereas Cox was at Osterley parkrun, also clocking a parkrun PB but by a whopping 65 seconds. Once again, the form was shown last weekend with a 13th at South of England AA Champ just ahead of Chloe Sharp above.

Reece Ashfield ran 15:15 at Telford parkrun to finish third this weekend. A parkrun PB of 20 seconds, but also quicker than Ashfield’s 5k best so a new PB on the road could be incoming too.

Fastest event?

Which park wins the title of fastest parkrun location this weekend then? Two events featured twice, Warwick Racecourse and Burgess parkrun, but with a 6th and joint 3rd Warwick take the crown this week.

Men’s top 10

1) parkrun: Cardiff
Jamie Price, 14:51, Cardiff Met Uni
2) parkrun: Monsal Trail
Daniel Haworth, 14:56, Matlock AC
3) parkrun: Telford
Reece Ashfield, 15:15, Western Tempo
4) parkrun: Chelmsford Central
Stephen Strange, 15:24, Tonbridge AC
5) parkrun: South Manchester
Ben Brunswick, 15:26, Dorking & Mole Valley AC
6) parkrun: Warwick Racecourse
Callum Hanlon, 15:28, Leamington C and AC
7) parkrun: Gloucester City
Ben Robinson, 15:29, Bristol & West AC
8) parkrun: Dulwich
Nicholas Torry, 15:31, Serpentine RC
9) parkrun: Bromley
Tom Webb, 15:32, North Herts RRC
10) parkrun: Burgess
Euan Gilchrist, 15:34, Sale Harriers Manchester

Women’s top 10

1) parkrun: Belfast Victoria
Emma Mitchell, 16:20
2) parkrun: Pegwell Bay
Chloe Sharp, 17:03, Central Park Athletics
3=) parkrun: Warwick Racecourse
Rachel Gifford, 17:32, Birmingham Running Athletics and Triathlon Club
3=) parkrun: Osterley
Hannah Cox, 17:32, Fulham RC
5) parkrun: Hackney Marshes
Beth Hawling, 17:37, Cheltenham & County Harriers
6) parkrun: Comber
Rebecca Rossiter, 17:39
7) parkrun: Northampton
Sophie Harris, 17:40, Herne Hill Harriers
8) parkrun: York
MHelen Warburton, 17:44, Gosforth Harriers & AC
9) parkrun: Exmouth
Hannah Taunton, 17:47, Taunton AC
10) parkrun: Burgess
Julia Bijl, 17:48

If you would like to run faster at parkrun we highly recommend 1001 Running Tips by Robbie Britton, found here.