Today it was like visiting an old friend as Wormwood Scrubs until this challenge was the only London parkrun that I have ever run before and it did not disappoint!

The reason why I originally run this event was the novelty factor of saying that I have run behind a famous old London prison, but now I have grown very found of the challenge of running on grass and natural surfaces!

Today I met my first ever barefoot runner today, Brad complete respect to you running in the most purist way possible, top man!

Course

The course is 2 and a bit anticlockwise laps of scrub parkland run entirely on grass! As you can guess the course was rock hard with the serve lack of rain we have had for a prolonged period of time, a consequence of this on the back part of the course quite wide cracks in had formed in a few places that you needed to be careful with running around!

I would defiantly call this a course of 2 halves with running gently downhill section to the far end of the course and a more steeper uphill slope back to finish of each lap!

Personal Stats

My parkrun time was 30:09 which is a new PB for me running on this event by 12 secs and to date is now my fastest Capital parkrun time!

Important info

There is free weekend parking available at the back of the Hammersmith Hospital near the finish of the course!

Toilet facilities may not be available before the start of the race, but there is a lovely clubhouse owned by Thames Valley Harriers that is inside the grounds of the Linford Christie athletics stadium and I thoroughly recommend the flapjacks and the company!

Final Verdict

What I lovely bunch of people who made me feel at home during my visit, excellent organisation from Ben the run director and his team of volunteers manning the event!

Ben (in green) we are proof that Luton and Watford football supporters can get on together and I hope you cherish my gift of my slightly sweaty hatters wristband mate!

Definitely come back in the future to beat that 30min barrier!

Extra News

As of this afternoon I have reached my fundraising target of £500 for this capital challenge, eight months before it has finish!

I would like to thank everyone who has donated to my chosen charity Keech Hospice Care, run with me and last but definitely not least the staff and students at the University of Bedfordshire  who help with the man in a dress campaign that finish last week at Harrow parkrun!

I am one very lucky man!

Report on 08-10-2016 (second visit)

Best

Mark