(With Me Now had a Blur theme for their published post which led me to think of a comment filled with Blur songs- MOR by Blur just fitted perfectly but Morden was certainly not middle of the road)
A trip to Morden had been arranged with Branka and Holly for a while, with Holly aiming for an event number for her Wilson Index (I think), and although I knew it would be a bit of a journey, I had not really properly looked into travel times, putting it off because I knew it would be an early start. I knew I would be meeting the two of them at some point in London as we come in on different train lines, and Branka looked up options for me as well (very kindly). I’d need to get a train at 6:25 to Kings Cross, walk over to St Pancras and then the two of them would get on the train I was on at Blackfriars. Simple, only on Friday night Andy noticed that the train companies had posted of likely disruption due to staff illness and absence. Hooray. We at least knew we would have options and so if times were getting tight we could get off early and divert to a nearer parkrun. After one of those sleepless nights that you always have before an early alarm (I mean, 5:15 feels too early for a Saturday!) thankfully the trains we all needed were showing as on, and on time, so we were a go.
Very empty London station and the water refill machine
So I drove to Hatfield (easier than running to WGC and I really didn’t fancy leaving enough time to run there), sorted the parking, got my ticket and then stood on the platform in the dark, questioning my life choices. But of course once the journey got underway my enthusiasm appeared.
I had a gap of 20 minutes to change from Kings Cross to St Pancras, and if you’ve been there you will know they are across a road from each other, so I had plenty of time- I visited the (award winning) toilets, saw a water refill machine and mooched around a bit before going to the platform- the next train came and after a few stops, Holly and Branka got on and found me.
We got off at Morden South, which is on the overground train, and this was a very easy walk around to the start of the parkrun. We walked to the leisure centre first and used the toilets (open to parkrunnners) and noted the cafe as we said we’d pop there after. The walk to the parkrun was through the car park and then into the open parkland.
Volunteers by the building, pop up sign with the touring crew, the start line and the finish funnel
The parkland reminded me a lot of Wormwood Scrubs- not manicured city centre parkland but much more wild, with huge oak trees and plenty of wide open space.
The volunteer team were all gathered around an old building (which reminded me of Canons Park), and they had a whistle which they blew for the volunteer photo, first timers welcome and the main briefing. I really liked this and it added to the cross country feel of the place. There was a tarpaulin of trust by the building, so we left our bags there and took the photos with the sign before it got too busy. I realised that I recognised one of the volunteers as I follow them on Insta (the parkrun couple)-of course I was too awkward to say hello in person but I did comment on their post after as it was a great event.
The welcome was great, although I had thought it was two laps so was a bit surprised to hear them say it was three laps. Then as soon as that finished, we moved over to the start area (which was on the other side of the hedge to where we were) and without too much waiting the whistle was blown and we were off.
Lone purple pop up photo and some photos taken mid run– I loved how you could see parkrunners stretched out into the distance
Branka was running intervals, and I ran with Holly, having a good chat on the way around. The course really surprised me in a good way- three laps can sound not the most exciting on paper, but each lap was shaped like a figure of eight (or a butterfly), zig zagging around the parkland, and it meant that you could always see lots of other runners ahead and behind.
The course map- also how impressive is our pacing? Getting a little quicker for each mile! You did the lower section first in a backwards w shape if that makes sense.
They had warned us we would be lapped in our second lap, but the course was wide enough for this to be fine and not an issue. At the centre of the figure of eight were two marshals, standing back to back at times so they could cheer on the sets of runners on either section of the course. It was undulating with one uphill part, but nothing too steep or long, and although it was grassy and my trainers picked up a fair bit of mud, it wasn’t slippery or boggy (although I imagine it would be much tougher after a spell of wet weather). The volunteers were wonderful- each one giving praise as we ran past (even on our third time) and the people in the finish funnel did not stop heaping praise on the participants as they finished. After scanning, Holly and I stood by the finish funnel cheering in other people and the enthusiasm of the volunteers in the finish funnel did not wane at all. They were fantastic.
A few more mid run photos and more pop up signs including my selfie (still working on them but so much better at getting the sign in the background now)
Branka had looked up trains for the journey home (very thorough) so we didn’t hang around too long- we walked back to the leisure centre to get hot drinks to take to the station, and then had our drinks and cereal bars on the platform and train.
Shoes before and after- I did have some big twigs attached as well!
Mid run photos, the finish funnel in action, token photo
On the way back we had fun looking at the 5K app and spotting other parkruns close by. Tooting Common was closer to Streatham station so we have put that as a potential trip for next year. After Branka and Holly got off the train for their connection, I stayed on to go back to St Pancras, and as I had just missed a connecting train (I had not looked up return journeys as those trains are every 30 minutes) and Branka had reminded me of our trip to British Patagonia, I decided that rather than wait in the station for the next train, I would walk up to Upper Street and get some pastries and a tea from Bird and Blend. This detour added on a fair bit of time so I got home around 1:20, but I feel I made the most of my trip into London.
Peanut chocolate pastry enjoyed at home in the warm (from British Patagonia), the leisure centre building by Morden, take away tea for the train and my new 5K app buff, and a matcha latte from Bird and Blend
Realising how relatively easy the journey was (I am aware that train travel is not always this easy) has meant that some of the further away London parkruns are a bit more within reach now, so I think they are going to be my main touring from home, as in other directions there are long drives involved to reach a new one. Branka pointed out to be that as a patreon of the 5K app, I could import challenges from other people rather than manually add them, so I have now added the Lon-done challenge to my app. Currently I have been to 25 of 64, so about 1/3 of the way there. Something to work on over the next few years.
After and before- not sure why it’s that way around! You can see the after screenshot was taken on the train as the blue dot shows the location!
So, that was my 381st parkrun and location 121, and a great one at that.
Are you a fan of train travel? I get a bit stressed getting to stations, but once I am on the train I much prefer it as you can just relax and look out the window or listen to a podcast.
