parkrun Centurions Celebrate At Cramond

17 OCT2011

Edinburgh parkrun celebrated its centenary run with a bumper turnout of 284 on a fine autumn morning. Conditions were good - dry and cool - and the easterly breeze meant an easy run to halfway but a tougher shift after the turn. Harmeny AC's Ryan Riddell led the big field around the flat even course crossing the tape on 16:50 ahead of Darin Dougal (17:32) while Portobello RC's Yana Thandrayen (19:51) was fastest woman.

Gordon Ackerman (24:56) was the midpoint runner and sweeper Fiona Crawford closed the run on 39:11. Veteran Gala Harrier Robert Marshall's 18:49 was the standout age/gender performance and numerous runners were helped to PBs by the Carnegie Harriers team of pacemakers.

Edinburgh parkrun isn't strictly run in a park although big open spaces with mature trees on the other side from the shore provide the necessary green credentials. What it does have is a superb flat scenic route - wonderful vistas across the Firth of Forth - that heads east along Cramond/Silverknowes Promenade and a natural turning circle at halfway.

There was a party atmosphere at Edinburgh parkrun 100, lots of pre-race congratulations and post-race cake and refreshments at the event gazebo. It was with considerable regret that 'Racespy' had to forego a full evaluation of event catering however it looked as if Edinburgh was living up to its high reputation in that department.

On the run your correspondent decided to take advantage of the pacer facility and eventually spotted the 24 minute man who he managed to stick with until halfway. Battling into the wind heading home proved a losing battle despite some sneaky attempts to tuck in behind other runners. However it looked as if pacer Iain Thomson - using the morning run as a warm-up for more serious cross country action in the afternoon - was easing a small pack of runners to good times.

The pre-run warm-up, the kilometre markers and other logistics (a big free car park at Cramond close to the start and clean public toilets close by) are features of a great event. So how can they do this for free? A couple of important sponsorships are a factor but the key thing is a crack team of organisers and officials - all enthusiastic volunteers. A special mention for one who looked no more that 9 or 10 but provided much appreciated encouragement on the way out and again on the way back.

For full results go the parkrun website. For jokes, poetry, political philosophy and the official Edinburgh parkrun 100 report go to the parkrun news page. For great images of Edinburgh parkrun 100 see Berit Inkster's album or Carnegie Harriers' album on flickr.