MORE than 120 runners took part in the first actual Ross-on-Wye parkrun for 497 days on Saturday, as the national 5km event finally saw runners all stepping out together again in England.

Many travelled over the border from Wales, where parkruns won’t restart until mid-August.

Spirit of Monmouth’s Rob Nicholls was fastest in 18.41, just under a minute ahead of Adrian Lewis from Aberdare Valley.

Fastest woman was Spirit runner Leanne Meek in a PB of 23.22 as several runners and organisers donned fancy dress, including event director Cat Lane in a giant green alien suit.

Ross parkrun posted: “A huge well done to our 122 runners this morning. We are so pleased the rain held off and we had much cooler temperatures.

“It really felt amazing to be back out doing what we love so you can do what you love.

“Congratulations to our first timers who graduated on their first 5k event! parkrun we have missed you!”

While virtual events have taken place throughout the pandemic, Cat posted: “Seventy weeks passed by, some quickly, some slowly. If I am honest, I loved having my Saturday mornings back doing other things.

“Being an event director there is always a little job here or there to do; a section of the course to tweak, updating the risk assessment, checking weather forecasts and keeping an eye on emails etc. The guilt was real, had I fallen out of love with parkrun?

“No! Of course I hadn’t! I, like others, was feeling the strain of a global pandemic. Physically and emotionally drained after 16 months of nothingness but with all the worries of everything of the unknown, I needed something to focus on.

“When parkrun announced the restart date I tried not to get too excited and peak too early (like with England v Italy).

“With a bit of hesitation we decided to attempt to fill the rota. With a new course, featuring a cornfield, it just made sense to dress for the occasion…

“Volunteers. Wow, just wow. An email and social media post were sent out and within 36 hours the rota was 95 per cent full.

“An incredible response that ignited parkrun fever in me. That’s all that was needed. I was now talking about parkrun to everyone again.

“If there was a parkrun song I would have been singing it from the rooftops. Maybe there is a market niche right there, a way to hit fame and fortune?

“If you would like to wear a pink bib and help volunteer please get in touch as we can only put on these events with your help. Drop us an email at [email protected]

“We would be delighted to have you on the team.”

She added: “We were joined by 122 parkrunners whom ran, jogged and walked the course.

“We had 66 first timers to Ross of which 15 were running their first ever parkrun!

“Chris Allen was one of our regulars at our virtual parkfun events we held during lockdown so it was fantastic to see him clocking a very respectable time at his first official event.

“Fifteen recorded new PBs and representatives of 32 different clubs took part, mostly Welsh clubs.

“Andrew Leeman was one of the people who responded to a shout out to help with clearing the paths in the week leading up to our return.

“I am pleased to announce that Andrew ran his 50th parkrun event today and we all know this means he has earned his free milestone t-shirt.

“It didn’t go unnoticed that tourist Claire Thomas is very close to earning her 250th shirt either.

“I wonder if anyone has noticed we were in the presence of a 500th shirt earned by Chris Beard?

“Well done to Carol Sands who was our highest age graded runner today with a whopping 77.23 per cent, making her PB that she earned today that little bit sweeter.”

Weekly runs take place at Ross Sports Centre on Saturdays at 9am.

For more information, see www.parkrun.org.uk/rossonwye and Ross-on-Wye parkrun on Facebook.