Record number of runners at parkrun

More than 400 runners took part in the free 5km timed run, which has been held on Greenham Common every Saturday at 9am since February 2012.
Organisers say that the free event has grown steadily since its inception, with an average of 202 runners in 2012 rising to 428 crossing the line in the first weeks of 2014.
Newbury parkrun holds a year-long points competition where runners are awarded according to their weekly finishing position and the number of times they volunteer to help run the event.
This year’s male and female winners were husband and wife, Mike and Karen Grinsted while Rob Saunders was named runner-up in the male competition and Carrie Collins in the female contest.
Charlie Harding won the junior male points prize and Abi Scarlett was crowned junior female prize winner for the second year running.
Scooping the volunteer of the year award was Andy Woodman, with special recognition trophies presented to Sue Bennett, Alison Dixon, her daughter Beth and the Jarman family.
The event was started with financial support of West Berkshire Council and local athletics club, Team Kennet.
True to form club member Alex Hanson was the first to cross the line with a time of 17minutes and 17 seconds, with Sandra Bowers from Winchester and District AC finishing first lady in 17:45.
Event director, Rachael Elliott, said: “I am stunned yet ecstatic that the event has grown so much since that snowy day back in February 2012.
“It is wonderful to see that so many runners who joined us two years ago for our very first event are still running the event each week, with many running times faster than they ever dreamed possible, whilst others have achieved monumental weight loss and fitness goals after parkrun kick started them into a regular fitness regime.”