While many were tucking into mince pies or assembling toys, a determined group of runners chose a more energetic start to Christmas Day by taking part in parkruns across the country – proving that festive spirit and fast feet go hand in hand.
At Bolton Parkrun, the yuletide cheer was out in force as runners embraced the occasion with smiles, determination and even a touch of fancy dress. Leading the way was Andy Laycock, who clocked an impressive 26:38, closely followed by Jay Smith in 27:07.
There were plenty of standout performances, including Rachel Hancock, who finished in 29:19 and claimed 1st place in her age category, while Rachel Stevens, radiant in an angel costume, floated over the line just seconds later in 29:21 – a heavenly effort.
The festive fun continued with Carol Ensol finishing in 31:50, Bev Atherton-McKenna in 32:41, and a special mention for Alan Atherton-McKenna, who completed his first ever parkrun in the same time – a fantastic Christmas milestone. Another age-category triumph came from Gillian Caldwell, finishing in 33:33, with Markus Stevens rounding off the Bolton results in 33:53.
Behind the scenes, Christmas Day wouldn’t have happened without the generosity of volunteers. Huge thanks go to Sheila Garewal and Tony Maxwell for giving up their morning to marshal and support the event, and a special thank you to Dawn Francis for taking photographs.
Festive running wasn’t limited to Bolton either. At Keswick Parkrun, Emma Chadwick delivered an extra Christmas treat by securing a new 5k PB of 26:42, a superb achievement. Further north at Aviemore Parkrun, Katie Edern added sparkle to her Christmas Day with a 29:20 finish, earning 1st place in her age category.
There is no better way to earn that Christmas dinner!
