WE always say that with parkrun it’s all about the taking part. It doesn’t matter if you’re Mo Farah or someone from ‘Barra’, it’s all about having fun, getting some exercise and starting your weekend in the best way possible.

That said, somebody is always going to be first across the line and for the past three years the course record at Barrow has stood at 15:49, an incredible time when you think of how hilly the course is. Well this Saturday it was time for that record to tumble, but the same runner keeps the honours, after Phil Waite beat his record and posted a stunning 15:12.

I mentioned Mo Farah, his parkrun record is 15:06 on the flat route of Bushy parkrun, in Teddington, London, so this time from Phil is right up there with the best of them.

Local youngster Fraser Symon was second over the line in 18:18 – and Craig Dawes was third over the line in 19:38.

The annual points tables are still only two weeks old, so the top of the table is dominated by volunteers, with parkrunners being rewarded 100 points for volunteering for up to three events per year.

For the flying local ladies, Emma Broadbent was first (20th overall) over the line in 22:37, Janice Callister crossing second and earning a new personal best time of 22:55. Rebecca Shuttleworth was third (25th overall) over the line in 23:29, also a new PB.

It was obviously ideal weather for running as the morning sun struggled to burn through the mist that shrouded Barrow park, 38 people from the 163 runners recorded PBs and eight people made their first ever appearance at Barrow, welcome aboard!

Parkrun is completely free to enter, just register at www.parkrun.org.uk , print out your barcode so you can receive an official time and meet at the bandstand in the park at 8.45am every Saturday for a 9am start. Children under the age of eleven must be accompanied (within arm’s reach) throughout the run by a parent, guardian or appropriate adult of the parent’s choice.

Barrow parkrun started on September 24, 2011, and since then 2,457 different runners, including participants from 215 athletics clubs, have completed 21,816 runs covering a total distance of 109,080 km, and there have been 4,472 new personal bests.

The female record is held by Lizzie Adams who ran in a time of 16:24 on January 21, 2012 (event number 17). That performance also earned her the age grade course record of 90.24 per cent.

See you Saturday!