WITH lots of events taking place at Barry Island over the summer months, it sometimes becomes necessary for Barry Island parkrun to give way and make room for other events to use the Promenade.

This week was one of those occasions.

The alternative course gives the runners the chance to enjoy the testing part of the course affectionately known as ‘Heartbreak Hill’ three times as the 5km route now becomes a three lap challenge winding its way through the Promenade Gardens before heading back out to Nell’s Point.

Nearly a hundred runners took their places at the start of the 63rd running of Barry Island parkrun including Harry Bryant (Forest of Dean AC) who chose Barry Island for his 100th different parkrun.

With 172 runs behind him and now 100 different venues he said this about Barry Island: "Thanks for the very warm welcome at Barry today, it was the perfect place to run my 100th event and one of the most picturesque of them all. Will definitely have to come back again.”

Barry Island parkrun is inclusive regardless of ability and to cement this, this week saw the first visually impaired runner take part. Lisa Marie Medcalf-Woodward (Forest of Dean AC) ran the course in 43:32, her 64th parkrun and first at Barry Island assisted by her guide Peter Woodward.

Among the 22 visitors this week were a group from Hyde Park Harriers in Leeds that had travelled to South Wales for a wedding in Penarth and decided to visit Barry Island before the ceremony. Unfortunately, the groom failed to show up for the 9am start but he did show up for the wedding ceremony later that day.

The alternative course is designed to be slower than the regular route and this was reflected in the times as first over the finish line in a time of 19:23 was Gareth Poston of Port Talbot Harriers, Anthony Aimon of Hyde Park Harries was second in 19:52 and Matthew Ryan in third place with a time of 20:25.

For the ladies it was first timer Helen Close that crossed the line first, stopping the clock after 24:13, second was junior runner Harriet Kehl in 26:30 and third place for the ladies was Sue Gershenson in a time of 28:33.

It was a milestone run for Barry Island resident John Dyer as he completed his 50th parkrun and joins the parkrun 50 club.

This weekend sees the start of the summer weekend events and the popular Isle of Fire Weekend. This means it’s the alternative course again and another chance to experience 'Heartbreak Hill’ three times.

Barry Island parkrun is free to take part in and only requires registration which can be done at parkrun.org.uk/register

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 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