As we were in Cambridge for Friday night, I looked up the nearest parkrun and it turned out to be Coldham’s Common, one I had not been to before. It was 1.7miles from the hotel, so a nice distance for a parkrun sandwich but also meant I could be back early enough for a shower and breakfast before checkout without feeling rushed.
I was surprised when I got to the common (the route there was along a main road, then past an industrial estate before getting to the common) to have to walk over cattle grids and to then see a load of cows in the field. It turned out it was a proper old fashioned common.
Brooks were also there, with people having reserved trainers to try out during parkrun, so the start area was busy.
Cows on the common and the Brooks stand
Before the start, I ended up chatting to a couple of tourists from Wanstead Flats parkrun- it’s always good to chat about the random challenges and have someone else understand why you head off to different events and complete these arbitrary challenges!
Pop up photo and the view as everyone headed off around the first field
After the pop up photo, it was time for the first timers welcome (2 laps- mind the rabbit holes) and then onto the main briefing. Despite the large number of people (417) the briefing was well-listened to and I could hear all the milestones and announcements.
The course was as if you were running around the outside of an hourglass (around the right of the field, through the gap, around the other field, back through the gap and then around the left of the field) so there were no cross over points but you could see people from wherever you were which I liked. I managed to not get lapped which is always good on a two lap course!
The route is very flat with only a few short up and down sections (as if you are going down into a ditch or something like that) but there were plenty of rabbit holes (as we had been warned) and tree roots, so you did have to watch your footing. It was an overcast day so I was enjoying being outside and not being instantly baked by the sun. The course had a small wooded section but other than that it is very exposed so it would be tough on a sunny day.
Finish token/ small shaded area and the second field
I didn’t hang around when I had finished at all as I was keen to get back for breakfast. I did impress myself however by getting back to the hotel without using google maps at all- go me!
Andy had popped out to get us breakfast (some lovely vegan Chelsea buns from Fitzbillies) and once showered we checked out and headed into Cambridge for some more touristing (and of course a matcha from Bird and Blend)
Matcha latte from Bird and Blend/ pop up selfie at the finish (people token sorting behind me)
Voronoi update:
Not a big chunk added as there are lots of other parkruns around the outskirts of Cambridge.
That was parkrun 464 and location 164 for me- I quite like that that numbers line up in that way.
Up next? Hopefully something else for Lon-Done, and fairly soon a weekend in (or near) Manchester, so the plan is for a parkrun up there too.
