This had been my NENDY for a while, so it was good to finally visit, and it was a great option in the hot weather. Branka had suggested it earlier in the week, and as it was going to be my last parkrun with my dad for a while, I’d suggested it to him and he was very keen (although it was dependant on him getting home on the Friday without any train issues so it was going to be a last minute confirmation). Branka decided to head elsewhere in the end, but as Dad was keen and had the time we decided to still go there. We drove which wasn’t too bad- the traffic in the morning wasn’t too busy, although finding a parking space wasn’t too easy. I had pinned a car park but when we got there the gates were closed and it looked like a private one, so we had to hastily find another. We used the tiny Jubilee Pond Car Park on Lake House Road- at 8:40 ish when we arrived there were a few cars parked but still a few spaces, although it only took payment via Ringo, there was no way to pay at a machine at all which of course is always fun when the app signs you out and then makes you set a new password…
Anyway, the walk from the car park to the start was quite short, and so we arrived in enough time to visit the toilets (in the little changing room block at the start) and hear the first timers welcome (2 laps).
Poddington and the gigantic pop up/ the start area on the flats by the flats/ their token sorting table all ready/ pop up pic
We had somehow both worn our Ellenbrook Fields tops (unplanned) so we had a few people ask about our event and one person thought we had toured because it was not on today, rather than it sadly being cancelled. Lots of people had hung their bags on the fencing by the building, but others had left their bags in the building (it was very open at the front) so I did that so it wasn’t in the hot sun while we were running.
We got someone to take our photo by the sign (she asked us to stand closer together and we had to explain that we wanted the sign in the photo!) and then it was time for the main briefing. It was already so warm and we were glad to hear that the route went through woods as well as around the scrub land.
A few photos from the run- we are trying to keep in the shade where we can!
The route was two laps, it’s very flat but the ground was uneven in places, both with little divots in the grass but also with lots of tree roots in the wooded section (which we were warned about)- as it was so hot it was definitely a day to enjoy the route and not worry about a fast time. The section through the woods was so lovely and cool, and there were a few parts of the more exposed section that you could still be in the shade if you kept to the side. It reminded me a lot of Wormwood Scrubs – a more wild area rather than cultivated parkland. I can imagine that it would be quite muddy in the winter so a summer visit was definitely a good idea.
The route:
There was a little section where you passed runners heading back towards you but it was nice and wide so this wasn’t an issue.
A few more photos of the course- the shade was so good in the woods
It didn’t feel like too long before we were heading past the start/finish area ready to do the second lap. We spent some time pondering if it was called Wanstead Flats because of the flat land or because of the big blocks of flats right by the park…
And then we were heading into the finish. They had a long funnel set up but with about 270 participants it wasn’t busy when we finished.
A blurry token photo showing the flats in the background/ a final pop up picture/ the little building that housed the toilets and token sorting and bag storage.
We didn’t hang around too long at the end as we had to be aware of when the parking ran out (I really wish car parks just did pay when you leave as who knows how long you will be?), plus we were hoping to get back to see my brother for breakfast as well. However we noticed that in the little building they had a little self service tea and coffee station (a jar of coffee, paper cups etc) – lots of these older London events seem to have this sort of communal facilities at the end as there didn’t seem to be a cafe nearby. I really enjoyed it and would be happy to revisit.
Voronoi update:
A very satisfying update now I have filled in that little hole!
So that was parkrun 457 and location 159
Lon-done progress: 42/65 (64% complete)
Up next? A bit of touring to celebrate Branka’s 300th parkrun, and then hopefully a parkrun on holiday so long as the weather plays ball.
