Gemma Steel and Kieran Clements ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this week (6th August).

Our weekly parkrun top ten is sponsored by 1001 Running Tips by our editor Robbie Britton. Want to run faster at parkrun or your next marathon then order your copy today.

Normally the parkruns in August are a wee bit impacted by the heat of summer, but it seems today was a fine day for running fast. I mean, if this particular Saturday morning was good enough for a Commonwealth Games 1500m record then we guess it must be a quick one.

Gemma Steel was once again the fastest lady, clocking 16:24 at Watermead Country Park, another rapid time for the in-form distance runner. Only nine seconds away from the Charnwood AC athlete’s best at the event, Steel has been racing left , right and centre this year, with great success. Not even Power of 10 can keep up with her efforts!

Kieran Clements is another world class endurance athlete, with a sub 14 minute showing for both 5k on the road and 5000m on the track. This weekend saw a 14:35 at Bushy Park, home of the parkrun “world record” so not a course record for Clements, but strong enough to beat everyone else in our rankings. June and July saw a decent amount of track racing for the Shaftesbury and Barnet runner, with a 13:51.03 PB at BMC Grand Prix in Watford one of the highlights.

Six others under 15 minutes

Potentially in a tie for our most runners under 15 minutes in one week, it as seven in total this sunny August day. Second fastest was Matthew Crehan, who some might remember from his interesting pacing strategy at Manchester Marathon this spring. At one point it looked like Ben Connor’s pacing duties might involve some crowd control too. This weekend Crehan ran 14:50 at Croxteth Hall parkrun and we’d put money on it not being a negative split.

Holly Alexandra Archer was another athlete under 17 minutes and only just seven seconds behind Steel in 16:31. At Storey’s Field there is often quick runners and this weekend did not disappoint with two others in out rankings too. Archer started the year (well, in March) with a new half marathon PB of 73:20 at the Cambridge Half and has been using that endurance to great effect on the track since.

Also at Storey’s Field was Norman Shreeve, who ran 14:53. A new parkrun best for the 2:16 marathoner, and well ahead of second finisher Jonathan Escalante-Philips, who crossed the line in 14:59, which, strangely, was only good enough for seventh in the rankings.

Jessica Gibbon, of Reading AC, was third fastest female in 17:01 at Higginson parkrun, Marlow. After winning the southern and National cross-country Champs it wasn’t any surprise that 2022 had other PBs following for Gibbons, with new marks over 5k, 10k, 5000m and 10,000m for the cross country queen.

Fastest course?

Storey’s Field wasn’t the only course with three runners this week, Edgbaston Reservoir also had a strong trio lining up, but with 2nd, 3rd and 7th compared to 5th, 6th and 8th, Storey’s Field takes it in the count-back.

Women’s top 10

Mens top 10

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