Lauren Heyes and Dan Jarvis ran the fastest parkrun times in the UK this week (1st & 4th January)

Our weekly parkrun top ten is now sponsored by the Coggiola Endurance Centre, a residential coaching and performance facility in the Italian Alps. Follow on Instagram for more updates in the new future. 

This week’s top-ten includes parkruns from New Year’s Day (1st January) and Saturday (4th January).

Lauren Heyes topped the women’s rankings this week with a 16:54 clocking at Millfield parkrun. That time is a fair way shy of her 5k PB of 15:22, set at the Mid Cheshire 5k last August. However, it is a good opener for 2025 in her first visit to the course. Lauren is a regular to the Fast Running round up, and has topped these rankings many times before.

Dan Jarvis was quickest of the men racing this weekend. The Bedford & County athlete finished in 15:00 at the new, but fast, Battersea parkrun. The South London venue is well known for producing fast times, and the introduction of parkrun has been no different. That time is his fastest parkrun since 2019, with bests of 15:22 and 16:26 in 2024 and 2023 respectively. Dan raced sparingly last year, so it is great to see him returning to form.

Best of the Rest

Olivia Green clocked 17:10 at Bromley in south London, which puts her second on the rankings this week and is a parkrun best. That time is significantly faster than her 5k PB, although that was set in 2018.

Completing the women’s top-three is Charlie Thornton, who ran 17:19 at Yarborough Leisure Centre. It is the Lincoln Wellington athlete’s equal third fastest parkrun, having run 17:06 at Market Rasen Racecourse in November. Charlie is more often seen at Doddington Hall, but her time this weekend was almost two and a half minutes faster than her last visit to Yarborough Leisure Centre, in July 2023.

Amongst the men, Jack Pickett’s 15:09 clocking at Shrewsbury saw him take second this week. Jack is a parkrun regular, taking part in an impressive 37 events last year. He has a fastest time of 14:43, set at Telford last October, which equals his road PB. Shrewsbury is his regular course, and this time is his second fastest at this venue.

Luca Messenger-Jones sits third on the men’s rankings, after running 15:11 at Dulwich. The south London venue is a frequent visitor to the top-ten rankings, but this week Luca had a solo effort. He finished over one minute ahead of everyone else taking part.

Fastest Course

With four appearances, including the fastest men’s time, Battersea parkrun takes the honours of the fastest course this weekend. The event may be in its infancy, but it is becoming a regular within these rankings.

Women’s Rankings

Men’s Rankings