BLUE skies and sunshine meant that the Island resembled Rio on Saturday morning for the 111 runners and 18 volunteers at Barry Island parkrun number 66.

Despite the heat, there were some strong performances which included 23 personal best times and 26 new runners listened attentively to the new runner briefing, delivered this week by regular parkrunner Michael Elliston.

The briefing, for visitors and first time parkrunners, explains the course, safety requirements and what to do at the finish.

Isaac Elam of Hastings AC, in his first ever parkrun, crossed the line in a red hot time of 18:21 and topped this week’s age grading at 79 per cent. Isaac, running in the JM11-14 category, was just pipped to the post by veteran parkrunner Ed Donovan. Ed, from Les Croupiers RC, finished just four seconds ahead to take the first finish token in a course PB time of 18:17.

Barry Island regular John Magee, also from Les Croupiers RC, was third over the line in 20:42.

In the female placings this week, Louise McKee of Eton Tri was first (ninth overall) over the line in 22:26 - her third time in five Barry Island parkruns. Second was first-time visitor Ruth Donovan in 22:59 with Vicky Fear from Lliswerry Runners third in 24:22.

Whilst parkun is not a race, all parkrun events use age grading to allow runners to roughly compare each other's results. Age grading takes a runner’s finish time and uses the corresponding age and gender world record time to generate a percentage score. This score allows runners to compare their personal performance against other runners’ performances even though they might be a different age and gender. The higher the score the better the performance.

First time visitor Sue Graves (VF60-65) from Farnham Tri Club, was third in the age graded results this week with 73.4 per cent, corresponding to her time of 28:52. Sue was just behind Isaac Elam (JM11-14) in 18:21 with a 79 per cent score and Louise McKee (VW50-54) in 22:26 with a 77.6 per cent score. The age grade course record is held by Angharad Mair who recorded an 88.5 per cent run (19:55) in September 2015.

Tackling the undulations of the Barry Island course this week were several members of CDF Runners from Cardiff. It was a special day for Dhana Caple and Gerda Tallon who both took part in their 50th parkrun. Craig Gardiner of SMR (Barry) also celebrated his 50th run and topped it off with a PB of 23:25. All three will now receive their coveted 50 club milestone t-shirts from parkrun.

Members of Cardiff-based White Rock Runners were also out in force - ‘rockers’ David Sinclair and Dave Shields both posting course PBs. Dave, who is a member of the Barry Island parkrun core volunteer team and a frequent Saturday morning Elvis impersonator, took full advantage of the warm weather and the high tide by cooling off in the sea following his run - all recorded on video.

Rebecca Marytsch was also among the PB’s posting a second consecutive personal best time. Beverley Ooss, one of the SMR (Barry) group and a regular volunteer, posted her tenth PB in 15 Barry Island parkruns. Bev’s time of 33:09 was exactly four minutes quicker than her first run on Boxing Day 2015.

With their club takeover only a few weeks away, there was once again a strong showing from Seriously Mad Runners (Barry), getting in some volunteer practice. Some of them, including Ryan Price and Martyn Parsons, gave up their regular parkruns and took to the course early this week - known as a ‘freedom parkrun’ - so that they could then volunteer as course marshals.

After the run, it was back to the usual post-parkrun base at Marco’s café with a near-perfect set of results being processed and uploaded to parkrun HQ in double quick time. Post-run meet-ups between runners and volunteers are an essential part of the parkrun community experience at Barry Island and around the rest of the country on a Saturday morning.

Thinking of joining the parkrun community and are unsure of what to do? Then just register with parkrun (parkrun.org.uk/register), print a barcode and go along for a run or join the volunteer team.

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 takes around 20 volunteers to put on Barry Island parkrun every week and the organising team’s always on the look-out for more. Anyone wishing to help out can get in touch by sending an email to barryislandhelpers@parkrun.com. Just like parkrunning, age is no barrier to volunteering and children, accompanied by an adult, are always welcome.