By way of introduction, this week's run report has two authors, Caitlin Alton and Harry Richards. Both ran at Montrose for the first time and both are parkrun tourists, one from Ellon and the other from Ayrshire. I think they exemplify the full range of parkrun enthusiasts, male and female, younger and older, stats junkies and location lyricists. Also I'd like to take the opportunity to congratulate my co-Run Director Archie Shepherd on his performance and his final volunteering role as part of his Duke of Edinburgh.
Caitlin (C): This week 129 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 21 were first timers and 17 recorded new Personal Bests.
Harry (H): A couple of months ago it dawned on me that my birthday on April 27th would coincide with my 100th parkrun (if I didn't miss any), I also had some holidays from work that had to be booked or lost ! So I decided to travel from home on the west coast (Ayrshire) and visit with my daughter who lives in Laurencekirk. So I had to decide which of the several parkruns in the area to attend for my 100th 'milestone'. I'm happy to say that Montrose was decided upon, for no other reason that it was on the way to some sightseeing we had planned a few miles to the south later on Saturday.
H: Anyway, managed to find the car-park, plenty of spaces, and the toilet in the nearby football club was a very welcome sight. A quick warm-up/stretch around the start/finish area and I made it to the first-timers briefing. Happy to hide myself amongst about a dozen or more people listening to the brief, and very happy to see a couple of parkrun newbies making their very first ever parkrun, hopefully they will be as inspired and awed by everyone running as I was 99 parkruns ago.
C: Running their first Montrose parkrun were the following:
Gordon Esslemont- 20:07
Graeme Carracher- 21:33
Gabriel Corrigan- 21:45
Aidan Adams- 23:05
Harry Richards- 23:22
Isambard Goodbody- 23:57
Samuel Lewis- 23:58
Jill Findlay- 24:11
Kieran MacSweeney- 24:26
Gordon Allan- 25:08
Robbie Nicoll- 25:46
Samantha Asmar- 28:27
Andy Leaver- 28:47
Archie Nicolson- 28:53
Caitlin Alton- 28:54
Scott Nicolson- 30:28
Pual Page- 37:00
Sarah Kemlo- 38:52
Tim Cooke- 42:19
Alanna Duncan- 42:21
Mason Page- 47:20
Congratulations to everyone who decide to make today their first ever parkrun or even just their first time at Montrose, I hope we get to see you all again.
H: We had a brilliant RD brief by a young chap who was completing his Duke of Edinburgh volunteering stint and it was clear to see that he and his efforts were held in very high esteem by the locals. By more coincidence it was 'pacer-week' and the blue bibs were running and hopefully leading some runners to achieve their time goals by giving encouragement and confidence that normal everyday runners can push themselves to better times or better pacing, something I always struggle with.
C: New PB's were set by:
Katy Newell- 21:44
Ian Prosser- 21:47
Waqas Majeed- 22:15
Logan Adams- 22:52
Ethan Brown- 23:32
Brodie Adams- 24:47
Leanne Smart- 26:04
Rachel Spink- 26:04
Robert Cargill- 30:16
Rhona Broadley- 30:18
Liz Tait- 31:00
Brody Page- 37:00
Michelle O’Grady- 38:04
Amy Ford- 39:58
Jonathen Blackburn- 41:09
Jenna Page- 47:26
Neil Cooper- 51:00
Huge congratulations to everyone!
H: After a quick route around the grassy park we went onto the abandoned air-field proper and I managed to find some sort of rhythm and before I knew it I had sheepishly overtaken the 24 minute pacer, he gave some words of encouragement as I got alongside and I hoped I hadn't peaked too soon and would see him and his posse of 24 minute runners overtake me in the last km!
H: So some final thoughts, if you are thinking of coming to Montrose parkrun....don't think, just come and do it, it was a really great experience, very well organised, friendly and helpful volunteers and all the usual things we want from a parkrun, flat course, wide running area, no pinch-points, free toilet nearby, free parking nearby, coffee/snack bar nearby. Thanks very much Montrose parkrun, I will return one day 
C: Thanks to this week's volunteers:
Arabella RICHARDSON, Archie SHEPHERD, Averil THOMSON, Caitlin ALTON, Colin HERALD (and Betty), Colleen DAUGHERTY, David SIMPSON, Denis RICE, Donald HISLOP, Donna MCINTOSH, Donny ANDREW, Emily CLELAND, Gavin MCQUISTAN, Gordon BAXTER, Gordon ESSLEMONT, Graeme THOMSON, Hilary MURDOCH, Iain REID, Ian PATERSON, Jamie KINGHORN, Jen PICKETT, Jillian SIMPSON, Karen ADAMS, Lexi MCINTOSH, Pam RICHARDSON, Paul SCOBBIE, Samantha ASMAR, Scott MURRAY, Stanton PICKETT, Valerie THOMSON, Wanda ARTHUR and Harry RICHARDS
Huge thanks to the volunteers that helped on Saturday, I am sure you would enjoy helping too. If you want to in the future, email us at montrose@parkrun.com.
