The sun shone in lovely Lough Key Forest Park, Roscommon yesterday as parkrunners gathered for the inaugural Lough Key 5k run.
By Deirdre Parnell, Lough Key parkrun team
Event Director Patricia Kelly was in the Park very early along with her merry band of volunteers to set up the start and finish and mark out the course.
The 5k course consists of one lap starting near the Zipit course and the Park centre. After the start the runners cross the Fairy Bridge and then its onto Drumman’s Bridge and a lap of the island before crossing Drummans bridge again and heading to the right. The finish is near the centre and under the tree walk. Like all parkruns Lough Key attracted runners and walkers of every ability to take part and everyone was very welcome.
Male placings
Kevin MCGLONE (VM45-49) of Sligo AC, was first over the line in 18:25 – first appearance.
Matt SHIELDS (VM60-64) of North Belfast Harriers, was second over the line in 18:28.
An unknown runner was third.
Female placings
Cora REGAN (VW35-39) (Unattached) was first (12th overall) over the line in 22:31 – first appearance.
Ann WYNNE (VW45-49) (Unattached) was second (14th overall) over the line in 22:58.
Roisin WYNNE (JW15-17) (Unattached) was third (15th overall) over the line in 23:03.
This week there were 152 runners, of whom 109 were first timers and 0 recorded new Personal Bests. Representatives of 6 different athletics clubs took part. Today’s full results and a complete event history can be found on the Lough Key parkrun Results Page.
parkrun organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, and are safe and easy to take part in. These events take place in pleasant parkland surroundings and parkrun encourage people of every ability to take part; from those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; everyone is welcome. Lough Key parkrun takes place very Saturday at 9.30am in the Forest Park. If you wish to take part you must register online at www.parkrun.ie/register/ . You will receive a printed barcode which you must print off and take to each parkrun with you. Without a barcode you will not be included in the results emails.
People are also urged to become involved as volunteers. Every time you volunteer you earn points towards your volunteering t-shirt and without volunteers parkrun could not exist. Pat Newham, Griffeen Parkrun says that “The parkrun system is run by a very efficient engine. And the power to that engine comes from the people who volunteer. The brilliant system that is parkrun would be useless without the people who step forward each week to power that engine.”