parkrun – 03/01/2026

7 January 2026 - By Steven Alder

And the first Saturday of 2026 has taken place, but we’ve already had 2 parkruns this year! All services back to normal with just Saturdays though, which certainly makes it slightly easier for me trying to catch up on all the parkrun reports. I have enjoyed seeing all the photos though.

This week, Witham RC was found at Finsbury, Wanstead Flats, Whitstable, Maldon Prom, Winchester, Chelmsford Central, Great Notley, Hockley Woods, Loch Leven, Markshall Estate, Rendlesham Forest and ARU Writtle. Quite a few locations ended up closing this weekend due to frost and ice around the country, but Essex seemed to have been ok for parkrun choices!

Suffolk saw Giles Sowerby at Rendlesham Forst (hopefully the aliens didn’t get him) completing the course in 19:46. The other direction from Essex down in Kent saw Dawn Shilling completing her 20th time at Whitstable parkrun, completing that in 32:02. Further away were the Beazeleys in Hampshire, attending Winchester parkrun – Nichola completing it in 26:20 and Chris in 48:10.

London was visited by Steven Alder, although his first three choices were all cancelled so he ended up at Finsbury parkrun where he avoided the ice patches and completed it in 30:07. Also in London was Claire Collins at Wanstead Flats in 27:01. Starting at the slightly later time of 09:30 was Tony Wallen running in Scotland at Loch Leven in 23:46.

And much closer to home we had lots of Witham RC members at Maldon Prom – Tyler Hodges (20:52), Ian Cuthbert (22:23), Dean Whittaker (22:56), Steve Hookings (25:14), Vicki Riley (25:38), Andrew Lager (25:44), Claire Lucas (26:51), James Attenborough (28:14) and Joe McEwan (for his 200th parkrun in 51:12). Over in Chelmsford Central was Kevin Harper (25:18) and at Hockley Woods was Ross Silverton (37:31).

Great Notley had a few visitors, including Simon Parsons (22:51), Gus Maby (23:55), Shane Ketteridge (33:05), Lysia Jiggins (33:16) and Mike Struthers (56:31). Markshall Estate, supported by Monty who was volunteering (pictured abover on the Finish line), had Adam Hocken (24:52), Dominique Harts (31:02 – course PB), Genella Lock (33:06), Ann Johnson (36:14), Patrick Hinchliffe (37:38), Dionne Radley (43:11) and Kerry Townsend (43:14).

And finally, at Essex’s newest parkrun at ARU Writtle was Clive Smith (21:37) and Fiona Collins (30:52).

The full set of results for this week can be found on the parkrun website here – make sure you add Witham RC on to your profile to appear in these results! Also, please send in your photos to get them to appear in these posts.

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The Pirate Challenge

Did you know that various challenges have been coined by parkrunners over the years. One example is The Pirate Challenge. To do this one, you have to complete seven different parkruns beginning with the letter ‘C’ and then one beginning with the letter ‘R’ – so you can sail the seven seas – arrrrrrrrr