Budgett's boost after long nine months of racing austerity
Having done the off-road half-marathon countless times over last two decades, Budgett enjoyed the fine weather, firm, runnable underfoot conditions and a refreshing river crossing.
It was a successful comeback for the veteran, as she breezed round in a time of 2hrs 16mins to take the FV60 category prize.
The Harriers other super V60, Adrian Bramham, was 11th overall and first MV60 (50:44) at the 6.3-mile (984 feet elevation) Boulsworth Fell Race, near Trawden, Burnley.
Personal bests abounded on the track at the Trafford AC Grand Prix on Tuesday as Rob Hope continued to mix it up, sampling a 3,000m race. His 9:26.81 was a PB for the fell man as he continues to sharpen his speed on the orange oval. Hope's daughter Emma leapt 4.17 in the long jump to finish an agonising fourth place, just off the podium. The young aspiring heptathlete also took part in the 800m, netting a PB of 2:46.81.
U17 Emily Hyder also clocked a lifetime best in her 3,000m heat, stopping the clock at 10:45.42. Isaac Battye was in action in the 1500m where the U23 rang in yet another PB with his 3:55.18.
Marcus Taylor recorded an outstanding top-10 result at the City of Preston 5-mile race last Sunday. His time of 30:28 also netted him second V50. Chris Charnley (1:23:00) ran two laps of the same course in the 10-mile race.
If all the world's a stage and all the men and women are merely players, Rob Jackson's role is to clock 18-and-a-half minutes at parkrun to finish first in his age category and first in overall age-grading.
The veteran did not let his weekend in Stratford upon Avon disrupt his usual parkrun script. Unlike the course of true love, Jackson ran smoothly despite the carnage of lapping runners on the three-lap course.
Another Robert, Seddon, came fourth at Clarence Parkrun, in a time of 19:39, while Mark Seddon recorded 25:21 in his 52nd parkrun.
At Worden, Gordon Stone ran his fastest time at that venue, ducking under the half-hour mark in 29:25, followed by Michael Salmon (25:36), Linda Webb (27:16) and Tony Hesketh (29:30).
In lieu of his nephew Rob's attendance, Steve Jackson (32:12) took to the latter's usual haunt of Peel for his 51st parkrun, while Richard O'Reilly set off from the back of the field at Haigh Woodland and picked his way through the crowds to finish 21st in 22:06, just ahead of Chris Charnley, in 22:52, who was saving himself for his race the day after.
Georgia Heath was first female finisher at Worsley Woods in a time of 21:05, while Lyn T Smith (38:14) and Lesley Dadidson tipped up to Barrow and Jason Middleton (26:03) and Isaac Parker (22:57) stayed close to home in Bolton.
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New York Times
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