Myself and family made the journey to Eastbourne knowing it was due to be a beautiful weekend, and Eastbourne parkrun was one we’ve not run yet and looked like a lovely course.

Saturday came we woke up to clear blue skies the weather reports hadn’t let us down this week! And most excitingly it was parkrun day! Yippeeee

My Husband and daughter volunteered to parkwalk today as our eldest doesn’t really enjoy running, this is one of the things we love the most about Parkrun it’s so inclusive.

We arrived early so we could listen to the first timers briefing, and know about the course which Adrian delivered fantastically.

There we’re some first timers to parkrun this morning a warm welcome to them and also quite a few tourists doing Eastbourne for the first time some having set out on a 7hr journey from Manchester!

We then headed over to listen to Mike, the RD for today’s briefing.

There were a few milestones being celebrated today.

Poppy CHARLWOOD celebrated her 25th parkrun

Joanna CAIN, Julie DEAKIN, David NUGENT and Sanaa MESKALAIL all celebrated their 50th parkruns

Andy JAMES Ran his 100th parkrun

Steve DAVEY run his (unofficial) 200th parkrun

Well done you all, fantastic achievements!

The run which was the winter course due to some still unsafe areas, which is an out and back on mostly tarmac paths which is great for us as we have a buggy as well. Being in the country park you feel emersed in nature which is simply wonderful. Plenty of things to see on course. The bits of Lake were all glistening in the sunshine. There were plenty of smiling marshals.

While my husband and daughters walked, I ran and thoroughly enjoyed the course. Though it was rather warm even at 9am!

Congratulations to Ross BROCKLEHURST who was first finisher in 16:37 with a new PB! There were a further 34 runners who gained shiny new PBs absolutely fantastic running from all of you!

I'd like to say a big thank you to all of the High Viz Heroes today –

Adrian LAING • Alicia BARROW • Ben PAWLEY • Bobbie MCVEY • Ceridwen PARKER • Daisy DAVIS • David KITCHENER • Debbie SUMMERS • Evelyn GRANT • Evie PEEL • Graham MERRITT • Ian PRATT • Jamie MARTIN • Jemma LANDER • Jenny RHODES • Jeremy LOWE • Joanne FRENCH • Laura PEEL • Leanne SMITH • Leon GRECK • Melissa MARSHALL • Mike THOMPSON • Milena KAVULOKOVA • Nicholas PEEL • Richard MEYER • Sharon PALMER • Steve DAVEY

If you’ve never volunteered before, please consider doing this if you can – week in, week out people give up their time to make parkrun events happen for FREE! There are so many roles that you can volunteer to do some that mean you can run as well as volunteer.

Thank you to all involved at Eastbourne a super friendly and very lovely route in nature.

Happy parkrunning Everyone!

Laura Peel