Running parkrun

Market Harborough

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First time for me parkrun touring in the county of Leicestershire in the stunning market town of Market Harborough.

Welland Park

Today’s parkrun event is held at Welland Park that is the largest park in Market Harborough with the river Welland beautifully framing the north side of the park.

Park Life Mentions

Visually Impaired Support

When I can volunteer as a VI guide at my home parkrun at Luton, Wardown and after speaking to Vanessa and her guide Martin it is great to hear the level of VI guide support Market Harborough parkrun provides for their local patrons. Very well-done MH on this endeavour, I salute you all.

Parkrun Milestone

Not an official parkrun milestone, but a big well done to my top friend & parkrun tourist buddy Martin Ball who reached 200th parkrun on Saturday at Market Harborough. Top stuff mate 🙂

Course

Market Harborough course map

The course is a simple 3 clockwise laps of perimeter of Welland Park that starts near the park entrance of Welland Park Road, after a sharp turn left you start the first of three laps that includes an out and back section at the far end of the course.

Run England parkrun course map
Gravel section
Tarmac path by river Welland
Out & back section

There is very little elevation to talk about with the terrain a combination of well-maintained hard tarmac and gravel footpaths.

Points to note:
  • This is a very popular parkrun so place yourself on the start line where you think you are going to finish timewise as it’s very hard to overtake for the first half of lap one.
  • Important to keep to the left-hand side of this course especially on the out and back section.
  • This is definitely running trainers type of course.
  • First for me running through their parkrun finish area on the first shortened first lap, before it is conned off and you start the two bigger laps 🙂

This is a flat very fast course that you can get a fast parkrun time on. My time though was 39:40, but the most important thing for me was being out there and happy 🙂

Facilities

Getting there

There are two free small car parks available inside Welland park and we decided to choose the Welland Park Road one that is right next to the parkrun start line, postcode LE16 9DW.

If you are going to use one of these two car parks, I would get there before 8:30am to not be disappointed. They also recommend pay & display car park a short walk away at The Common that costs £1.50 for up to 2 hours postcode LE16 9DB.

Toilets

Great to see there are public toilets inside the park that are right next near the start line, plus they open before the start of the event.

Post run coffee

We retired to The Cafe inside Welland park for a well-earned coffee & cooked breakfast and full English option was delicious 🙂

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week’s run director Amanda, the Welland Valley Tri Club hi viz heroes’ takeover team for being very welcoming and doing an excellent job on the morning.

So, my friends if you want to visit a top friendly parkrun that has a fast 3 lap course and all the facilities a tourist needs then Market Harborough parkrun should be high on your list to visit 🙂

For me I am staying local for the next few weeks, but I will be back touring again in May starting with a trip back to one of my favourite counties Essex 🙂

So, until next time, happy park running everyone,

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Brooklands

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Great to be back touring again inside the M25 with this week visiting Weybridge, Surrey.

Brooklands History

Brooklands is steeped in both automobile & aviation history boasting the worlds first purpose built motor racing track in 1907 with its famous banking and one of the first aerodromes in the Britain building 18,600 new planes between 1908 and 1987 link here

Today’s parkrun is located at 60 acres Brooklands Community Park that opened in 2006 that incorporates part of the old race circuit, aerodrome runway and taxiway.

Parklife Mentions

First up a big well done to Tara who ran her 200th parkrun and I would like to wish you all the best on your future parkrun adventures.

My very good friend and parkun tourist buddy Martin who makes me a good parkrun morning even better 🙂

Finally, I hope lady runner who fell heavily I little way behind me is OK and it was great to see so many fellow parkrunners supporting her afterwards.

Course

The course is a simple two anticlockwise laps of Brooklands Community Park that incorporates the old aerodrome runway, former go karting track, wooded section, and taxiway before you come back to finish your lap.

The course is extremely flat and made up entirely of hard surfaces.

Points to Note
  • Even with the winding go cart track section this is a very fast course.
  • Apart from the woodland section there is plenty of places to overtake if needed.
  • Even though I think I took the shortest route the course is just over 5k in length.
  • Footwear 100% running trainers course.
Pacers week

Love pacers week at parkrun and I would like to give a big thanks to the 38 minutes pacer today Janice who kept me honest and I ended up with a time of 37:46 🙂

Facilities

Getting There

There is free parking available at Brooklands Community Park postcode KT13 0YU right near to the start.

Toilets

There are a couple of toilet cubicles inside the park, but as they state a queue could form for them just before parkrun starts, so the alternative they offer is the Tesco’s superstore that is just a 3 mins walk away from the start.

Post Run Coffee

For our post run coffee, we retired to Tesco superstore for well-earned full English breakfast that was very delicious and reasonably priced.

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week’s run director Daniel and his team of hi vis-hero’s for making us all feel very welcome on the morning, top stuff team Brooklands 🙂

I would go on to say this is destination event to stay after parkrun to explore at your leisure and soak up all the history Brooklands has to offer including Brooklands and London Bus museums.

So, in summing up Brooklands is a friendly very popular attended event with a super-fast flat course, a great fun go-kart section that I can highly recommend to my tourist friends.

So, until next time, happy parkrunning everyone,

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

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Running parkrun

Banbury

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Always a pleasure to be back in Oxfordshire this time to the historic market town of Banbury on the river Cherwell.

Today’s Venue

Banbury parkrun is located at the beautiful 26 acres Spiceball Country park that has a very interesting beginning, “……It dates back to the 1880s when High Street butcher Thomas Hankinson, who was town mayor in 1894, donated a plot of land so that the ‘poor people of Banbury’ could have a recreation area. Hankinson was renowned for his hand-made meatballs, known throughout town as ‘spiceballs.’ link here

Parkrun Cancellations

With the very high levels rain we have had over February with Banbury having to cancel 3 recent events due to flooding of the park it’s amazing to see how much the park has recovered in a short period of time.

Spiceballs course in February

Please remember always check either via the events social media or parkrun UK cancellations web page to see if the event you are planning to run is on.

Course

The winter course we run is a simple 3 anticlockwise laps of Spiceball Country park that incorporates a small loop back over onto an island.

The course terrain is almost flat and running surface is made up of a mixture of grass, gravel, and tarmac footpaths.

Points to Note
  • There are a few of pinch points on the course that include at the start leaving the field turning left onto the tarmac footpath and the wooden bridge on and off the island. To be fair these areas were well marshalled and not really a problem on the day.
  • They say a few areas can get very muddy after extremely wet weather, so trail running shoes are advisable in these occasions.
  • Love the multi terrain surface, running over bridge with the river Cherwell & Oxford canal beautifully framing the route either side 🙂

Overall, an enjoyable winter course to run, all I need to do now is get myself fit again time 38:55.

Facilities

Getting There

There is a free small car park next to the park with a What 3 Words reference of bridge.maps.moving

Also, there is pay and display long stay cark park at Riverside Vehicle Park operated by APCOA and the station number is 3708 and as I like to stay around for a while after parkrun the cost up to 3 hours is £3.

Toilets

There are no toilets inside the park, but they do recommend using the local leisure centre facilities that is a 5 minute’s walk from the start of the parkrun.

Post Run Coffee

For the post run coffee we retired to the lovely recently opened Connies cafe that is situated inside Banbury Museum & Gallery for a well-earned full English bap and latte, heaven 🙂

The cafe is situated next to the Oxford Canal, so in the warmer weather you can sit outside and watch the narrow boats and world go by.

Oxford Canal

Conclusion

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart this week’s run director Diane, Lisa CoEvent director and their team of volunteers for making me and my friend Martin very welcome on the day, top work guys 🙂

Special mention to Oscar who with his mum was volunteering for the first time on Saturday as a marshal, top work sir.

Finally, I can highly recommend Banbury to my tourist friends as a top parkrun event to visit on your travels 🙂

So, until next time, happy parkrunning everyone,

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Leavesden Country

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Great to be back touring again this time at my NENDY (nearest event not done yet) at Leavesden, Hertfordshire.

Leavesden Country Park

This event is located at beautiful 57 acres Leavesden Country Park that was built on the site of Leavesden Hospital that closed down in 1995.

The park was officially opened in July 2019 with 1.2 million pounds of funding to improve the lives of the local community that includes a Heritage Trail depicting through art sculptures important events in local Leavesden history.

Memory Lane

Not my first visit to the park as back in November 2019 I was here to help good tourist friend Wai Meng celebrate her 100th volunteering event at Leavesden Juniors and we all celebrated with loads of cake 🙂

Course

Start off running around the perimeter of the main playing field, then you go on to run 3 clockwise laps that incorporates a woodland trail path, small vintage orchard, and a football field.

Once you completed the final lap you turn back onto the playing field where the finish funnel awaits.

Woodland trail
Orchard view
Towards finish

The course incorporates multi surfaces that includes tarmac, gravel paths and grass fields.

Even though my Garmin watch showed a total ascent of 31 meters to me a majority of the course was flat with only 2 short steady inclines of any note!

Points to Note
  • Trail running shoes should be used after prolonged period of wet weather.
  • In the right weather this could be quite a fast multi terrain course

I made a big mistake in not running in trail shoes and after the first slip early on decided to mainly walk around the course, lesson learned. Time 45:51

Special mention to the barefoot runner, sorry I don’t know his name, but complete respect you made it look easy running in those conditions.

Facilities

Getting There

Free car parking is available at Leavesden Country Park postcode WD5 0NX.

They do recommend getting there early as the car park is not very big and if you can car share.

Toilets

There is an outside facing unisex toilet available before 9am that is attached to the YMCA building that is always welcome sight for us tourists.

Post run coffee

I retired to the YMCA Woodlands cafe for a much-needed, hot coffee and a bacon sandwich.

During my visit to the cafe, I had a lovely chat with Gareth and Jane Jones from Tring about everything parkrun. I found out that for a while their local was my home parkrun of Luton, Wardown, small world.

I would like to wish Gareth all the best on his 100th milestone event when he plans to run Etna parkrun in a few week’s time.

Conclusion

I would like to give a very big thank you to this weeks run director Fran and her team of volunteers for enduring the inclement weather and making us all feel extremely welcome on the morning, top stuff 🧡

This is one local event I’m coming back to revisit in the summer in the better weather.

Finally, I would highly recommend Leavesden County parkrun to all my tourist friends to visit.

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Thames Path parkrun, Woolwich

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Great to be back in the capital after 10 months away with today’s visit to Woolwich, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Southeast London.

Woolwich History

The name Woolwich derives from, “The Anglo Saxon place name ‘Woolwich’ alludes to a trading settlement or port used for wool, which may have come from sheep raised on the marshes of Plumstead.‘

You can find out more why Woolwich became an important royal naval dockyard and later on largest munitions producer in the county here

Town on Tour

Always a pleasure of mine touring with my friends and today I was joined by Bridget, Martin, Simon, Lorraine, Will and Sylvia.

Well done to Bridget it was her 300th parkrun and Martin’s 150th different parkrun event on Saturday. Congratulations guys 🙂

Special Mentions – Luton Legends

Big congratulations to Geoffrey who celebrated his 80th birthday who has over 250 parkrun volunteers days to his name setting up our Luton, Wardown course every week and Dave run his 500th parkrun both at Luton this Saturday. This is just two of many reasons why I love my home parkrun so much 🙂

Course

The course is a very simple out and back along the lower river Thames that incorporates the now famous walnut whip mound at its furthest point located in Gallions Reach Park.

Lower Thames path
Gallions Reach Park mound
Mound path
Gallions Reach Park
Upper Thames path

The terrain is very flat and the run up to the top of the mound is very gentle as you run spiral path around it.

Points to note:

  • On the upper footpath on the way back stay on the designated pedestrian side of the path.
  • All the different path surfaces are in good order to run on.

On the day I decided to walk around the course with my good friend Will so the time was not important it was just the excellent company.

Facilities

Getting There

For me and my friends it was so much easiest to come by train from Luton with one change at Farringdon onto the Elizabeth line to Woolwich with the station only a five-minute walk from this events meeting point.

Toilets

Woolwich Works kindly makes toilet facilities available at 8:30am in the morning and on this event website they say please use the small door near the statues to gain entry.

Post Run Coffee

There are two cafes available right next to the events finish point and we decided to go retire to Visitors Book Cafe, inside Woolwich Works for a delicious, cooked breakfast 😊

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week run director Martin who I first met at Charlton parkrun last year where he was in training for the start at Woolwich and his team of Hi-Vis heroes for making us all feel very welcome on our visit.

Love this event definitely coming back and I highly recommend Thames Path parkrun, Woolwich, and its walnut whip mound to all my tourist friends 🧡

So now I am LonDone again with 62 events completed and I can’t wait until my next capital adventure with this part of the world being very close to my heart 🧡

Until next time, happy parkrunning

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Review 2023

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This year has really been an enjoyable one that I will remember with fondness in years to come

Virtual challenges

I know that I said at the end of 2022 I wouldn’t complete in any new virtual run/walk challenges, but they are a very useful tool in keeping you motivated throughout the year 🙂

This year I completed the North Coast 516 miles that started & finished in the beautiful city of Inverness.

Final virtual challenge I always dreamed of completing the run/walk the length of the Grand Union Canal from Little Venice, London and finishes in Birmingham.

On this challenge I had to run the last 5KM on the canal itself and I could not chosen a better place than to do this than Canal Broadwalk Milton Keynes.

parkrun

This year it’s been a even mix of touring, volunteering and revists so I can update these blog reports

Even though I’ve only toured to 13 different event this year, I’ve been to some stunning locations in places such as Dunstable Downs and Clare Castle

Dunstable Downs
Clare Castle

Lon-done again

The year started off with a mission to complete the 4 remaining Greater London events before my birthday and they were Southall, Charlton, Stockley Country and finally Lordship Recreation Ground

Southall
Charlton
Lordship Recreation Ground

Event updates

Where I can I will try to keep my parkrun event reports up-to-date and visited free part runs to update my blog report.

These parkruns in question were St Albans, Great Denham and Millennium Country, where they either modified or change the direction of their course.

Holiday events

First stop me and my good friend Martin visited Morecambe in Lancashire, but unfortunately for us their parkrun was cancelled at the last minute due to safety concerns, but Lancaster parkrun was a brilliant substitute with very beautiful course to run around.

We did, though afterwards run the freedom run later in the morning on the Morecambe Prom course, and in true Eric Morecombe tradition we run the course, but not necessarily in the right order and we had to refuel in Eric’s cafe afterwards 🧡

Next up late summer I run at Seaford Beach West Sussex on a lovely weekend away with mum to Eastbourne. I must admit I have a soft spot for running at seaside parkruns.

Coaching

Another enjoyable year coaching started with our annual beginners course at my running club Stopsley Striders supported by the groups co-coach Graham. I would like to wish graduates Raycent and Michelle all the best in their running futures.

I was also lucky coaching five friends from my faculty at the University of Bedfordshire and helping them complete the NHS Couch to 5K program with their graduation parkrun at Luton, Warddown on the 2nd of December.

Well done too Marie, Lizzie, Sheila, Patricia, and Isabella, you all done magnificently well and we have to do a reunion parkrun together early next year 🧡

Special mentions

First up is to the parkrun community of Southall, All I can say is that you’re the most loveliest bunch of people I’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting outside of my own home parkrun event of Luton, Wardown.

Next up is Louise, who I’ve bumped into multiple times this year and is a true inspiration to us all who recently completed her 100 marathon and has run at over 400 parkrun events all doing so as a VI runner.

Walking

This year we created a walking group at the University of Bedfordshire that now both over 60 members with 5K that go out every Tuesday lunchtime for 1 hour walk .

Conclusion

Its been really an enjoyable last 12 months and one that I will remember with fondness in years to come.

Apologised in advance to anybody/events have missed out on this blog report. You’ve all been special to me and you can read all my blog event reports here for this year 🙂

So what’s next for me, well I’ve signed up for 1000 mile virtual run walk challenge and will carry on visiting new parkruns and writing about my new adventures.

Have a happy 2024

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Henlow Bridge Lakes

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It’s great being back in my home county of Bedfordshire at my NENDY (nearest event not done yet) that is Henlow Bridge Lakes 🙂

About Henlow Bridge Lakes

This week’s event is based around family friendly Henlow Bridge Lakes campsite that includes 4 beautiful fishing lakes with the river Hiz flanking one side of the site. Link here

Jordans Lake
River Hiz

Happy Birthday

Huge congratulations to Henlow Bridge Lakes parkrun on reaching your second birthday this weekend and I must admit your delicious celebration cakes went down a treat afterwards 🙂

We also found out during the run briefing 4 of this week’s Hi-Vis heroes were celebrating their own birthdays, so happy birthday guys 🙂

100 Not Out

Big well done to Henlow Bridge Lakes event director Gordon, who simultaneously celebrated running his 100th parkrun and volunteer day at today’s event, top stuff sir!

Can I add a big thank you to Gordon and the core team for starting this most beautiful of parkrun events with us all 🙂

Small World

It was great to see James and Alison again at Henlow as they were my neighbours back in Stopsley, Luton before they moved away from the area.

I hope you both enjoyed volunteering as parkwalkers today and I look forward to bumping into you both again in the future 🙂

Course

The course is a very simple anticlockwise 2 1/2 laps around Henlow Bridge Lakes that run on trail paths with no elevation to talk about.

Points to Note
  • In winter or after prolonged period of bad weather this is a 100% trail running shoes course.
  • In most places on the course the paths are easily wide enough for you to be able to overtake if you need to.

Really love this flat course with beautiful scenery to feast your eyes on as you run around.

My time 36:18

Facilities

Getting there

Traveling by car there is paid parking available at Henlow and Arlesey railway station car park that on weekends is a flat daily £3.30 charge postcode SG16 6DD.

If you wish to pay in advance, you can use the paybyphone smart app and the car park’s location number is 800968. Please note sadly there is no provision for cash payments at this car park!

If it was not for the fact of the train strike and me living very local, I would’ve liked to have visited by train with Arlesey railway station only a 5 minute’s walk away from the start of this parkrun.

Toilets

There is toilet/shower block near the main entrance of Henlow Bridge Lakes and is available before the start of the parkrun that is always welcome to us tourist.

If you do decide to you use the toilets on arrival, please allow at least 10 mins to walk to the start line of this event.

Post run coffee

For the post run coffee, I retired to the campsite shop with hot drinks available via a self-service machine.

There is outside covered seating area available to chat with fellow parkrunners afterwards and I took the opportunity to have a lovely chat with a couple of fellow tourists from Huntingdon.

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week run director Laura who I first met at Charlton parkrun earlier in the year and her team of Hi-Vis heroes for making us all feel extremely welcome, well-done team Henlow 🙂

I must admit I am seriously thinking of having a mini break at this campsite in one of their cabins, run the parkrun and do some fishing, heaven 🙂

So, if you are looking for a flat beautiful course to visit then Henlow Bridge Lakes has to be high on your parkrun tourist list, you have been told 🙂

For me today was my 140th different parkrun event, I feel privileged to have met so many lovely positive people along the way and running on such an interesting diverse mix of parkrun courses, I feel truly blessed.

So finally, until next time, happy parkrunnning everyone,

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Seaford Beach

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On a beautiful sunny early autumn morning it’s always a pleasure to run by the sea with this week event held at stunning location of Seaford, East Sussex

Colourful History

Seaford in the Middle Ages was one of the main ports for Southern England, then the town was burnt down twice by the French and in the 16th century the townsfolk had a reputation of looting ships that were wrecked in the bay.

Finally in the 19th century the town had a revival with coming of the railway connecting Seaford to Lewes Link here

Course

The course is a very simple flat out and back along Seaford promenade that starts and finishes outside the towns sailing club house that running surface is made up entirely of concrete paths with almost no elevation to talk about.

Points to Note
  • On the very odd occasion when the beaches stones get washed up onto the promenade, they do have an alternative course.
  • There are a couple of sets cycling barriers (cyclists have their own cycle path set a bit further back) placed on a course you need to keep an eye on, but to be fair these points are well marshalled.
  • Great feature running around either side of the towns Martello Tower
  • In the right conditions a very fast course to get an excellent time on.

Special mention to Simon Heath who broke the course record by 2 seconds on Saturday in a very impressive time of 15:06

Facilities

Parking

There is free parking near the start at Buckle car park postcode BN25 2QR

Toilets

There are toilets available next to Buckle car park which are open before the start of the event that is always welcome.

Post Run Coffee

For refreshments after the parkrun, I retired to the delightful Newhaven & Seaford Sailing club for a well-earned bacon sandwich and coffee 🙂

I have been told though by one the patrons that this coming November the Sailing clubhouse will be closed for major maintenance work.

During my coffee it was lovely to chat to fellow parkrunner Anthony about everything parkrun and football and I wish him well in all his future parkrun adventures 🙂

Accommodation

Due to distance from Luton this parkrun was always going to be part of mini holiday break and we stayed at the delightful Bo’s Holiday Cottage, Eastbourne that I can highly recommend to you all.

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week run director Joel and his team of high viz heroes for making us all feel very welcome on the morning, well done guys 🙂

Finally it has been great joy of mine over the last month visiting both Morecambe & Eastbourne on mini weekend holiday breaks especially as I am a keen walker with stunningly beautiful national parks on your doorstep in the Lake District & South Downs.

So, until next time, happy parkrunning everyone 🙂

best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Lancaster

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So today on a mini holiday break I was delighted to visit the beautiful city of Lancaster that is the county town of Lancashire 🙂

Williamson Park

Today’s parkrun was located in 54 acres of stunning parkland at Williamson Park that before 1870 was a disused quarry, but the then local millionaire James Williamson Snr (work carried on by his son set out a plan to transform this area into a public park that was handed given over to the people of Lancaster in 1881 link here

Eric Morecambe

The main purpose of my holiday was to visit Morecambe the hometown of much-loved legendary comedian John Eric Bartholomew better known by his stage name Eric Morecambe.

There is an unbreakable link between my hometown of Luton and Morecambe through Eric’s love to both football clubs 🙂

I still have happy memories watching his Morecambe and Wise plays and referencing Luton Town at random points to make us all laugh.

Eric when we build our new stadium, I hope the erect a statue of you sir with maybe a subscription on the base, Bring me sunshine 🙂

Special Mentions

Cowell Club

I would like to congratulate good parkrun tourist friend Callum Burrell who completed his 100 different parkrun events (Cowell club) at Philips Park, Manchester on Saturday, and yes of course he run in his camel costume, top stuff mate 😊👍🏻

Small World

I had a great chat to with fellow Luton Town supporter Richard Bye us hatter-s fans are everywhere and lovely to meet you mate. COYH 🧡

Course

Lancaster Course

The course consists of two hilly clockwise laps around Williamson Park that surface is made up of a mixture of tarmac and trail paths in equal measures.

Points to note.
  • The course can get very muddy on the trail section through the woods.
  • Just be careful of your footing while running looking of for any stones or tree roots on the trail section.

I really loved running on this very beautifully designed course through the park that is a visual feast for your eyes 🧡 My time 39:21

Freedom run – Morecambe Prom

Our original parkrun destination was to be Morecambe where we were staying, but it was cancelled the night before quite rightly on unforeseen safety grounds.

So, after getting back from Lancaster we decided run a freedom parkrun on Morecambe Prom out and back course and yes, we had to have our photo taken with Eric 🧡

Morecambe Pro course map
Turn point of 5km course route
Morecambe Prom
Me and Martin with Eric 🙂

Had to smile on the run thinking about one of Eric‘s most memorable comic lines were, “I am playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order.”

Well, we took a leaf out of his book and started our freedom run from the furthest point of the from the parkrun start that was very close to our hotel where we were staying.

Great logic, it saved us an extra 5K getting to the start and then walking back from the finish afterwards. Eric you are a genius sir 😊🧡 My time 37:02

Facilities

Getting There

Coming by car there in free parking at Wyresdale Road car park up to 10:30am if you leave, you’re a copy of our parkrun barcode on your car’s dashboard Sat Nav LA1 3DY

I have also been told there is free street parking along Quernmore Road if you want to spend a bit more time exploring Williamson Park after the parkrun.

Toilets

There are toilets available inside the park’s cafe before the start at 9am that is always welcome for as tourists.

Post Run Coffee

For the post run coffee Lancaster parkrun patrons retire to the parks delightful Pavilion Cafe.

Accommodation

Due to the distance travelled from Luton, I was always going to least stay overnight before the parkrun. I would like to recommend Craigwell Hotel, Morecambe for being great hosts for us weary parkrun tourists 🙂

Conclusion

I would like to thank this week run director Jim and his team of Hi Vis heroes for making us feel extremely welcome during the morning. You made the day even more special for us all.

So, if you are looking to run a very scenic beautiful course in the company of a very friendly parkrun community. Then Lancaster parkrun has to be very high up on your tourist list if you are visiting in the area, you have been told!

I can also highly recommend this area to stay as a holiday base with Blackpool to your south and the Lake District on your doorstep, simply brilliant.

Finally, I would like to thank my top buddy Martin Ball for being great company over the weekend, Thanks Mate 🧡

So, until next time happy park running everyone,

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Running parkrun

Coldham’s Common

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After a month away it was great to be touring again with today’s event being held at Coldham’s Common, located in the beautiful city of Cambridge that for the record was number 8 on my lucky dip tourist list 🙂

History

Coldham’s Common is 39.6 hectares in size and stretching around its boundary is Coldham’s Brook.

The history of the common goes back as far as the year 1400 depicted on field maps and by 1700 was designated as the green common we all know today.

Sadly, between the years 1665-1666 the local residents went down with the plague and the then government gave permission that the common was to have pest houses build on it to isolate the infected from the rest of the local community.

Luckily with the need passing these pest houses were never built on the common. link

Hi-Vis Heroes

Special shout out to Coldham’s Common and all the different parkrun event volunteers yesterday that had to endure the worst storm Antoni weather had to offer, to me you are all legends!

Course

The course is a simple 2 flat anticlockwise laps of the perimeter of Coldham’s Common that is run entirely on grass.

Points to note:

  • Even though there has been a lot of rain this past month the course was not muddy at all, and I felt comfortable to run in trainers, but it may be a different story in the winter though.
  • There are a few rabbit holes on the course to be wary of, but to be fair the core team place bright training markers on a majority of them.
  • In the right dry conditions this course could be a very fast time wise one to run.

I would like to thank the volunteer 35-minute pacer who got me round in a time of 34:41

Facilities

Getting there

There is free car parking at Abbey Leisure Complex postcode CB5 8NT that on the morning of the visit seemed to have enough parking spaces for both the patrons of the leisure centre and parkrun.

Toilets

There are toilets available inside the leisure centre complex, just ask at their reception that you need to use them.

Post run coffee

They state normally a mobile refreshment van is available onsite in the morning, but maybe because of the weather it wasn’t present yesterday.

Conclusion

I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart this week’s run director Sarah and her team of hi-vis heroes for cheering us all along in the most challenging of weather conditions, outstanding work guys!

So, if you are looking for a fast flat grass course to run, supported by a very friendly parkrun community then Coldham’s Common must be very high on your tourist list of events to visit!

Finally, last but not least a special mention to my mum, I am glad that for once I listened to you and packed a dry set of clothes in the car otherwise it would have been a very dump 40 miles trip back to Luton 🙂

So, until next time, happy parkruning everyone 🙂

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

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