"The rain falls hard on this humdrum town" and didn't it just. The heavens opened on Parkrun eve as if to welcome Andy Rourke to audition at the pearly gates for a place in heavenly Indie history. For many of us the timing and rhythm of our angst ridden youth and the earworm that takes us back, with fondness, to our favourite ever pair of Pepe jeans.
Yesterday's rainfall gave way to a glorious sun drenched (is that an oxymoron?) morning. As runners gathered at the start the last few drops of moisture were losing their grip on the grass and save for a few muddier bits charged by the rain the course was pretty spot on.
As the first cars park up, KWP transforms and fills with busy runners. The early birds are first to appear. Arriving early enough to get a couple of warm up miles done around the park. The newbies are usually next to rock up often relieved that the £4.95 to park turns into £2 for Parkrun. The toilet runners next leaving just enough time for 'one more wee' before the off despite having had six since waking up an hour ago. Club colours steadily fill the field as runners buzz to the start like bees to a new queen. As the chatter amongst runners builds the 'last minuters' play 'out of order parking ticket machine' pinball as they hurriedly try to arrange their parking fine avoidance and get to the start line on time.
There are of course the slightly late crew. Bashed on the bonce with the full cost of parking they're seen running from the car park and straight through the start line as they chase down the back of the pack that is already disappearing through the first line of trees. Last but by no means least the long runners will run through whenever they're ready as they include parkrun in their Edinburgh (insert appropriate marathon depending on time of year) prep. He won't be at Parkrun next week as he'll be on the road to Edinburgh to pop his marathon cherry for his belated 50th birthday present but today Neil 'The Stallion' Taylor * incorporated KWP into his last long run and hit a 2023 KWP PB.
* the nickname decision was lengthy and drawn out due to various representations to our lawyers.
Getting to the nitty gritty of the day Ben Witham saw off a Max Kent surge to finish first by just 4 seconds which would seem like an eternity compared to the 1 second that saw Howard Bush push Benjamin Musson off the podium. Bethan Padbury led from the off to finish 43 seconds ahead of Emma Koppe with Trudi Pike just a minute further back. There was a noticeable contingent of young runners clocking some impressive times. Alexander Haywood led the way and was only 14 seconds off the top 10 with an impressive PB run.
Big contingent from team Unknown saw 13 finishers between 45th and 251st.
29 volunteers made it all possible without whom you would all be resigned to a morning on the sofa in your pants eating poppadoms only able to dream of awesome. Instead, on this sunniest of sunny May days, you soaked up your vit D, got out, got moving, topped up your endorphins and turbo charged your body, mind and soul.
For the 427th time, KWP enabled 299 of you to run the lakes of which 47 dabbled for the first time and 40 of you blazed a trail to a new PB. Two Villans came away with milestones. Gav Clinton reached an impressive 250 just 410 shy of Charlie Aitkins appearance record. Tim Holmes clocking his 50th to match Pongo Waring's record for goals in a season. He was in good company with John Padbury, Amy Bywater and John Child. Hazel Thomas perfectly negotiated the tricky single required for her century. Will Rhodes & Nicola Lyndon got in on the action with volunteer milestones of 25 a piece.
A recent trial system of having a roving reporter on the course meant our man, Bill Waring (no relation) grabbed a few nuggets from a few of you happy to chat.
Gaz Jolly on being 2 mins off his PB: "heaven knows I'm miserable now"
Catching her breath Annie Mulvey on her nip and tuck but ultimately unsuccessful bid to catch Sheelagh Evans in 123rd: "Sheelagh take a Sheelagh take a bow"
Last word should really go to one of our winners, sorry leaders, I mean person that reached the finish token zone first but by no means in any kind of race other than within the confines of ones battle within oneself.
Bethany Padbury on being first female into the finish token zone: "William it was really nothing".
On the day we all celebrate Buster Rhymes' 51st birthday I think that's a neat wrap for Kingsbury Water Park Parkrun number 427. Until the next one. Sid.
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