HMS Queen Elizabeth hosts her first 5k park run

Royal Navy personnel aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth put on their running gear for the carrier’s inaugural flight deck five-kilometre park run.

The event saw 72 athletes from all departments, squadrons, ranks and rates, complete 12-and-a-half 400m laps around the flight deck.

The event was the brainchild of the ship’s club swinger Chief Petty Officer (Physical Training Instructor) Daz Hoare, who said: “I was on the bridge closed up in specials for a Replenishment-at-Sea and was talking to the captain about what we could do to make use of the no-fly day the following day.

"A five-kilometre run is relatively quick and easy to organise. Seventy-two people took part, all ranks and rates from every department, which was a good effort given it was mostly advertised by word-of-mouth.

“We’ve got a seven-and-half month deployment ahead of us, so it’s something that can build and hopefully turn into a league.”

Fastest aboard the ship were Engineering Technician Jack Watts, who completed in 19 minutes and 9 seconds, and for the women, Able Seaman Jessica McLenaghan, of 820 Naval Air Squadron, who finished the 5k in 20 minutes and 27 seconds.

CPO(PTI) Hoare said the event was the first in a planned series, with the ship eventually hosting a 10k run during her Carrier Strike Group deployment

It also served as great practice for those personnel planning to take part in the virtual London Marathon on October 3.