A true test of a park runner resolve is being prepared to run in all kinds of weather conditions at 9am on a Saturday morning and 263 brave souls were prepared to run in temperatures barely above freezing at Finsbury Park, North London today!

Well done guys!!!

Another aspect of parkrun that always inspires me to become a better person is the strength of human spirit! Today a lovely blind lady with her guide walked the 5k course, it was my pleasure to wait for her to finish and cheer her over the line!

The smile you gave was enough to warm the coldest of days, you are a true inspiration to me and this is another reason why I am in love with parkruns!

Course

The course is almost 2 complete anticlockwise laps of Finsbury park, that is run almost entirely wide tarmac roads/paths that are inside the parameter of the park! The route starts by the cafe with a steady downhill section, you then complete a sharp left turn running a very long steady incline parallel to Seven Sister Road!

Once the incline has been navigated, there is a refreshing downhill section that recovers you for the short sharp shock of quite a steep short hill, at the top you proceed to complete a lap of the boating lake. On the end of lap 2 you finish next to the track near to McKenzie Pavilion!

This is a great parkrun test with plenty of room to overtake, testing inclines and great recovery sections!

Personal Stats

I seem to be happy with running 35 minutes in the comfort zone at present, not feeling still 100% recovered from this chest infection but can I use this as an excuse time 34:45

Need to decide weather I am just happy to run the remaining courses steady or an I going to go for times in the final events!

Important Info

Parking is available inside the park via the Hornsey Gate entrance, you are parking on the wide perimeter road sides. The parking fees do not start until 10am on Saturday and only 50p for two hours then after that is very reasonable!

There are public toilets at the cafe next to the start that open from 8:30am that is always welcome addition to us parkrun tourists!

The post run Finsbury park cafe has a great buzz about it with all the park runners merrily chatting above their running adventures with a great community feel to the place!

Final Verdict

I would like to thank Alison and her team of volunteers for giving us all a warm welcome today in such cold conditions! First for me on this challenge was a lovely selfie with top volunteers! Special mention to the marshals on the course stationed at the top of the first incline, love the music guys!!! 🙂

So Finsbury Park is a must for any parkrun tourist who likes a challenge!

Best

Mark aka Silent Runner

Run on 11/02/2017