Burgess parkrunners show their medals! - Burgess parkrun #612 - 02/05/26

Marta is a Burgess regular who sometimes leads the warm-down at the end. Photo credit Geoffrey.

With the London Marathon, a 26-mile race taking place on 26th, in the year ending 2026, it was always destined to be a special one. World Records in the men's and women’s races, two sub-2-hour marathoners and a marathon attendance pb lead the list of firsts from the day. Behind these extraordinary headlines, there were so many stories of triumph and success, with Burgess parkrunners playing their part, making the London Marathon 2026 truly memorable and humbling, and setting a new fundraising record! 

A sprinkling of the achievements from Burgess parkrunners includes;

Burgess parkrun regulars who contributed to an incredible London Marathon. Photo credit Geoffrey.

Madeleine (on the left), one of our Run Directors, started Marathon day by doing a Jasmin Paris (feeding her very young son) before completing her second marathon and first at London with a personal best.

James (on the right) was on pacing duties. Pacing for a 4hr 20min finish, James spoke about how amazing the crowd was and the incredible feeling of helping others to achieve their time goal. 

James was doing pacing duties. Photo credit Simon at simonrphotography.com

Suzzane (fourth from right) started her parkrun journey back in January 2019 with 116 parkruns under her belt. Suzzane was part of the team running to raise awareness and funds for the charity Refuge. Refuge raises support for the survivors of domestic abuse, an issue many of my clients have either witnessed or experienced. 

The Refuge cheer squad. Photo credit Refuge.

Pip, (second from left) who, as recently as 2024, was the world record holder for running a marathon dressed as a piece of fruit, a bunch of grapes, was back at it. Donning her grape attire again, Pip ran to raise money for the Anthony Nolan charity, which matches stem cell donors to those in need of transplants and treatments.  

Karen, (third from left) another mum with 152 parkruns to her name, added the London Marathon to her RideLondon 100k and two-mile Swim Serpentine to complete the London Classics!

Each event attracts it's own medal and then the big medal once you've completed all 3.

Martin and Aman were invited to Kennington junior parkrun to run with and inspire the next generation. Aman had completed his first Marathon and finished in under 3hrs! Martin had returned for redemption following a difficult experience in 2022. Martin and Aman combined to pace some juniors to new PBs. Who knows, one of them might go on to break the world record in the future. 

Martin and Aman were guests at Kennington junior parkrun. Photo credit Kennington junior parkrun

Parkrun can help established runners and provide an entry point for anyone wanting to increase their exercise and enjoy the instant success of being outside and moving more. It can be a run, a walk or cheering others along. Everyone at parkrun is a winner.  

Happy running, walking and volunteering.  

www.nuhorizons.uk

You can still support Suzzane raising money for Refuge by clicking here

You can still support Pip, raising money for Anthony Nolan by clicking here

You can contact TCS about becoming a pacer by emailing; pacing@londonmarathonevents.co.uk

You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book ‘One Small Step’, The Definitive Account of how a run became a Global Movement by clicking here.