ON JULY 23, Barry Island parkrun held their 64th event.

Amongst the 93 runners were 18 newcomers, seven junior runners and representatives of 16 different clubs. Since it started on May 2, 2015, 1,636 different runners have now completed 5,739 runs covering a total distance of 28,695km.

With summer in full swing, it was another busy time on the promenade with preparations underway from early Saturday morning for the Isle of Fire, weekend. For the second successive week, the parkrun used its three-lap alternative prom-free 5km course. This takes in the colourful promenade gardens to offset running up Heartbreak Hill three times instead of the usual twice.

Before the run started, run director Julie Broughton, was applauded by the runners and volunteers to mark her 50th volunteer outing at Barry Island on her 50th birthday weekend. Suitably adorned for the occasion, Julie led a family tail-running volunteer team around the course to high fives and a special welcome from a ‘celebrity’ volunteer at the top of 'Heartbreak Hill'.

It was also 50-up for runner James McNabb, who joined the 50 parkrun milestone club this week. Sons Rhys and Oliver from the parkrunning family are hot on his heels, too. Continuing the family theme, there was also a sizeable turnout as runners, volunteers, buggy pushers and passengers from the extended Arbuthnot family and friends.

It was business as usual for Oli Williams (Les Croupiers RC) after several weeks away, leading the field right from the start to finish first in 18:25. Oli has finished first in all 15 of his Barry Island parkrun appearances and holds the course record of 16:16.

Adam Edwards (Pontypridd Roadents AC), was second over the line in 19:54 and visitor David Hanna (from Carnethy Hill-Running Club in Scotland) was third in 20:14.

For the women, first across the line (24th overall) in her second Barry Island parkrun was Louise Hunt (Penarth and Dinas Runners) in a time of 25:06. Helen Hodges was the second woman home in 26:17 and Martha Horner third in 26:45.

Amongst the course personal best times this week were Mark Gronow (25:56) and Susan Williams (29:56). Eight people tackled their first ever parkrun.

At the other end of the scale, it was noticeable that the first seven finishers had racked up more than 1,000 parkruns between them.

An increasingly common sight around parkruns these days is the distinctive apricot-coloured parkrun running gear, which many runners and volunteers personalise with the name of their home parkrun. Runner Matthew Watkins was sporting a rare apricot Barry Island vest as he tackled 'Heartbreak Hill' with a smile this week.

In a typical week at Barry Island, the youngest runners come from the junior 4-10 age category, with the oldest running in the 70-74 category. The average runner’s age this week was 50, with seven juniors and seven over-55s.

Nearly 40 per cent of the field were women runners. Haydn Hartnell, who finished in fifth place, from the VM50-54 age category, recorded the best age graded score of 72.1 per cent for his time of 21:08.

Next Saturday, July 30, will see a return to the regular course for a few weeks.

Barry Island parkrun is a free, weekly 5k timed run and is open to anyone of any ability - runners, joggers or walkers alike. It starts at 9am every Saturday morning, usually under the Eastern Shelter of Barry Island promenade, near the beach huts.

Find out more on the run website at parkrun.org.uk/barryisland. It’s entirely run by volunteers. Anyone wishing to help out can get in touch by sending an email to barryislandhelpers@parkrun.com.