Lahlal flying at Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun

The Victory Athletics Club member has been running strongly and getting faster in recent weeks after a spell out injured.

His progress was confirmed on Saturday with a powerful run in warm, humid conditions.

It was another excellent event at Lakeside, North Harbour.

Event director Rob Hall gave the pre-run briefing and then everyone charged off along the slightly slick path, due to recent rain, towards the Hilsea roundabout.

The section around the lake was dry and the mixture of trail and tarmac path certainly adds to the appeal of the course.

Great views of the lake are also a boost for the runners.

The volunteers at all the marshal points were very friendly and encouraging.

Lahlal finished first with a time of 16min 57sec.

He has done the majority of his 59 parkruns at Havant but has been getting faster at Lakeside.

Lahlal said: ‘I was very pleased with my time considering I haven’t run sub-17 since last year due to a injury.

‘I found Lakeside much easier to run a personal best because it is flatter than Havant’s course.

‘Hopefully I’ll be running sub-17 at Havant soon.’

Lahlal joined Julian Manning (16.28) and James Baker (16.14) as the third runner to go under 17 minutes.

Pete Collins, of Portsmouth Joggers finished second on Saturday, just outside his personal best for Lakeside.

It is proving a popular parkrun for Portsmouth Joggers at the venue where they hold their training nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

University of Portsmouth runner Ryan Whatling ran the course for the first time and finished with a time of 19.03.

Saturday also saw runners from Victory, Havant and Denmead Striders among other clubs.

Denmead duo Patrick Stephenson and Gary Armstrong finished in 17.45 and 18.01 respectively.

Their club-mate Sue Rattley set a new personal best of 30.43.

Out of the 125 runners on Saturday, 50 were first timers to Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun.

Julie Gadsden, of Petersfield Triathlon Club, beat the target set by her coach as she recorded a time of 29.33 on her first appearance.

Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am at Lakeside North Harbour, Western Road, Portsmouth, PO6 3EN.

The course starts adjacent to the Lakeside North Harbour business complex, near to the short-stay car park.

For more information about the parkrun see the website parkrun.org.uk/portsmouthlakeside/