RUNNERS took on their parkrun course of choice for the first time in over a year.

Those who took part welcomed the slight dip in temperature during their run after a scorching week-long heatwave.

Helen Rann, organiser at Ulverston’s Ford parkrun, said the 5k event on Saturday was a huge success.

They used a staggered start time to ensure social distancing, and they also used a brand new system, allowing parkrun volunteers to use their phones to upload results to the parkrun site in record time.

She said: “It was a really good turn out, we normally average in the 80’s and we got 62 runners which for the first time back after 70 weeks off was really impressive.

“There were some really good moments on Saturday, we were a little nervous about the social distancing, and how the equipment would work for the first time on the new system, but it all worked brilliantly!”

Over at Barrow parkrun, Sean Roberts finished the course first in 18 minutes and 39 seconds, an unknown runner finished in second place and Ian Sadler came in third with a time of 20 minutes and 2 seconds.

Eight new personal bests were set out of 136 runners at the Barrow course.

At Ford Park Owain Clark set a personal best whilst being the first to cross the finish line in 19 minutes 46 seconds, Richard James Vowden finished second in 20 minutes 18 seconds and Ronnie Haddow finished third in 20 minutes 38 seconds.

An impressive 13 personal bests were achieved.

Finishing first at Fell Foot parkrun was Reuben Copley in 16 minutes and 42 seconds, second was Dylan Cater in a personal best of 17 minutes and six seconds and third was Matt Sims in 17 minutes and 54 seconds.

24 runners achieved their personal best running time.

At Rothay parkrun, Iwan Thomas finished first in 18 minutes and 25 seconds, Steven Pugh finished second in 19 minutes and four seconds, and Sarah Flaherty finished third in 19 minutes and 12 seconds.

A respectable eight personal bests were set out of 96 participants.

Almost half of all runners at Millom parkrun were able to beat their personal bests, with 19 out of 53 runners achieving the goal.

Crossing the finish line first in Millom was David Fulford with a personal best of 16 minutes and 41 seconds, second was Sam Moore with a personal best of 18 minutes and 50 seconds, and Simon Chapman came a close third with a personal best of 18 minutes and 51 seconds.