For our first Park Run Challenge of the year, we presented the cheque to St Luke’s from the Christmas lights fundraiser evening where we raised £2010 + Totley AC’s contribution of £750. Well done everyone!
Totley AC Parkrun Challenge round 1 2026:
Grabbing life by the Walls
Of all the points on offer in our first Parkrun Challenge of 2026, the Wall family took 22 of them. Alex, Rachel, Susie, Jacob, Rory and Felix all ran. Therefore, here are a few song lyrics including the word ‘wall/walls’. This is of no relevance or consequence to the topic of this article but you can now select your favourite tune and hum it while you read the rest.
“Cause maybe, you’re gonna be the one that saves me. And after all, you’re my wonderwall.”
“Governments crack and systems fall, cause unity is powerful. Lights go out. Walls come tumbling down.”
“All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall.”
The morning of Saturday 7th March had ideal weather for competitive running. Not too hot, not too cold, not too sunny, not very windy and not rainy. 64 members entered Parkrun Challenge Round 1 at Graves. The lowest percentages were myself at 39.83% and Ruth Garbutt at 37.37%, but both of us were pushing a buggy or a wheelchair so mitigating circumstances (you’re welcome Pat Goodall and Renee Robinson). At the top end, Rory Wall destroyed Paul Grayson with his 77.34% and Maggie Gorman knocked out a casual 73.17%.
The highlights of the morning were threefold. First, for the 8.50am photo we were joined by Lucy Mills from St Lukes Hospice for the presentation of our £2010 fundraising efforts during December. Sharon O’Leary was worried that she might not locate Lucy among the hundreds of people at the start but a person carrying a six foot by 2 foot cheque isn’t exactly inconspicuous.
£2010: bloody hell, we’re a generous bunch aren’t we! Either that or our club age demographic is such that we’re worried we might need St Lukes in the coming years.“Paying it forward”, I believe it’s called.
Second, as I started to run, Martin Robbins ran past me and complained that he, Stuart Raynes and Mandy Moore had gone to Millhouses and had only just made the start. He then proceeded to blame my poor communication for his error! He’s currently in the lead for Totley AC’s newest award for 2027 – Lost Passive Aggressive Sheep.
Finally, after the run it was fantastic to see our club dominate the Rose Garden Café. At one point 8 tables were taken, all with members slurping on drinks, eating cakes or sausage butties, and chattering away. It is a testimony to the great community spirit in the club. As Isaac Newton reportedly once said, “We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”
The next Parkrun Challenge is at Hillsborough on Saturday 11th April.