109 runners and 11 first timers take part in the Portrush Parkrun

The conditions at Portrush were much improved from last week, by contrast, on the way back the strong tailwind caught the runners and accelerated their stride, meaning they had to physically concentrate on their running action, to prevent them from over-striding, which can lead to injury!

Fergal Mackle was congratulated on being nominated Portrush parkrunner of the month for January. This week there were 109 runners, of whom 11 were first timers and 10 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 8 different athletics clubs took part.

It was a Springwell 1,2,3 for the men, with speedster Jonathan McKee finishing in 17.21 closely followed by the strong running Glenn Millar, who is showing very good form at the moment and then ex-club captain Bryan Edgar. Bryan is preparing for the Mizzen-Malinhead cycling challenge of 400 miles in 4 days plus a fell walking challenge, along with the good lady Margaret and some other club members including Cathy Bell-Allen, Shirley Jackson and Richard Baker to name but a few!

There was a Springwell 1-2 in the ladies, with first Lady home Karen McLaughlin in 21.36 ahead of injury-hit team-mate Sonia Knox in 22;00. Top runner, our own Chris Denton, took first place at the Limavady parkrun where Warren and Kerrie McIlmoyle crossed the line holding hands with both recording identical PB’s of 20:03, as well as Kerrie being first lady home! Congratulations also to Carolyn Crawford who ran another PB of 27:57 at Comber.