Queensway parkrun is a relatively recent addition (it started in June 2026) and although it is in no way my NENDY (it was around number 60 on my list), for Branka and Holly it was much closer. As we are planning a Netherlands trip that may well involve a parkrun beginning with Z, we started looking at second alphabets (which are NOT a thing), however we realised that this could be a second Q for us all, and then we would not need that many letters for our second alphabets. So, off to Queensway we went!
There are a few requests from the core team around car parking, so as not to upset local residents, as it is in a very built up area, so if you are driving there, make sure you read the course page as they have an up to date list of suitable places. I had driven to Branka’s, and then she had driven the rest of the way, picking up Holly en route. The car park we were originally aiming for was no longer in use for that Saturday, so we headed to the Queensway medical centre as they were allowing parkrunners to use it (it seemed to be closed at the weekend so no need to worry that you would be parking where someone would need a space). As we drove towards the centre we passed a section of the park and could see cones and signs being set up so it is quite close (although of course as we walked down the road we went the wrong way initially).
It was a gorgeous sunrise that morning
There are toilets near to the start, in Glamis Hall (a community centre), so we headed there before going to the start area for some pop up pics. What was quite fun there was that they had a mini pop up sign (I think because their main one hadn’t arrived in time?)- I had seen it online but thought it was photoshopped but no, it’s real!
Some pop up photos from before, and some from after
As it was quite new, they held a briefing for brand new parkrunners, and explained the course during the main briefing. The RD had a headset with excellent sound quality, and this (and maybe that the main briefing also explained the course) meant it was very well listened to. There were a few notices (such as one person was using a wheelchair and could not use the grass, so faster runners were asked to give way to them on the path section) milestones (including someone doing her 250th parkrun, 250th volunteer- writing the run report- and 100th different event) and then it was 3,2,1, parkrun!
The course sounds quite complicated, because you begin by doing an anti-clockwise lap of the field on the grass, and then go back around the field clockwise but this time on the path, then you head away from the field to where there is an out and back section, before going around the field again for a lap and a quarter. However there were lots of cones and signs out- I was running with Holly and we were having a lovely chat- the only place I got slightly confused was when we returned from the out and back section, as we merged onto the field to begin our lap and a quarter along with people doing their final quarter. However once I realised what we were doing this was fine.
A few mid run photos including the field with faster runners coming towards us, the underpass towards the out and back section, and a photographer capturing Holly and me
All the volunteers that we encountered out on the course were fantastic- really encouraging and enthusiastic. Despite it being a relatively new event, it felt like the community knew each other (maybe lots from a local running club or something else?). You can see from the photos that it is very close to loads of houses, so hopefully more of the local residents will get involved as well.
After we finished, we got some pop up photos together, and then headed back to the car. I think they have tea and coffee in the community centre, but there didn’t seem to be an obvious cafe around. There was a Co-op where the car was parked, so you could get coffee from the Costa machine inside. (I had brought a cereal bar and water with me as I didn’t think there were any options for me)
Vutie Beets in Letchworth not only do incredible buns (I had some of mine for breakfast the next day as they are so huge) but they do fabulous matcha (none of that pre mixed liquid like some coffee shops do).
On my way home I did stop off in Letchworth to get myself a matcha and to get us some buns for the weekend, although I couldn’t hang about too long as we were heading into London in the afternoon for the London Podcast Festival.
Onto the stats: that was parkrun 467 and location 167, and even though multiple parkrun alphabets are not a thing, it’s my second Q. I just need a second Y and a second Z, so any suggestions welcome! (I have been to York parkrun so that’s out).
Voronoi before and after- a little chunk added
Up next? Would you believe it, more tourism? This time en route to Southampton
