Author: Maria Runs

Morden parkrun- not MOR

(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.

Hove Prom parkrun – keeping up with the pacers

After a week away from parkrun (due to a visit to DLP- sadly no parkruns in France for now or the foreseeable future), the following weekend we were down in Brighton for our wedding anniversary, so I opted for Hove Prom.

It was my 12th time there, and as always, fab. Our hotel was around a mile away, and the run there was straightforward, along the seafront, and a good warm up. Rather than a tarpaulin of trust, they have boxes by the beach huts, and the first timer welcome was right there too. Even though I’ve been there lots of times, I like to still listen to the welcome, just in case there is a course change. There are so many people there now (850 that day) that you cannot hear the main briefing because of people talking. It’s also really nice to see the new runners and tourists coming along- that day there were a few running club trips from various places including Kent, so you get a bit of a feel for the people there that day by going along to the briefing.

Photos taken on the way to parkrun

I’d seen that they had pacers, so I decided to try and come in under 28 minutes as I have not managed many speedy times this year. The start area was so busy, and I could not hear (as previously mentioned) and could not see any of the pacers either. As we started I was a bit boxed in with people, but managed to overtake a few people and could see the 29 pacer (who I overtook quickly) and then the 28 min pacer up ahead. I kept them in sight and at the first turn around point I was pretty close. I managed to get ahead of the group and just tried to stay there. Hove Prom is out and back twice (but you start in the middle, so you really go out, turn, back, turn, out, turn, back, turn, into the finish) and so at the turn around points you can see how close you are ahead of the pacers, and in the second lap I managed to get a bit further ahead, and could even see the 27 min pacer up ahead. It was so busy there that as I got to the finish, the queue was backing out of the finish funnel and onto the course, so I stopped my watch, but with a combination of not hearing the start, and of course not knowing when they would stop meant I didn’t know if I’d managed sub 28 even though it should have been OK.

Watch and token showing my possible time…

I scanned, got my jacket from the box by the beach huts, got a few photos by the purple pop up and then headed back to the hotel for breakfast (Andy had popped out to get vegan croissants). When my text came through later, I was so pleased to have achieved 27:12 – well under the 28 minutes I was aiming for. This was actually the same time that I managed on my first ever parkrun back in 2013- I had signed up to Marathon Talk’s Jantastic, and as part of that you had to do some sort of time trial, where you estimated your time, then entered your actual time, and then gained points the closer you were. I had put down 27 minutes for a 5k, and did my first parkrun as the time trial, and then it turned out I had actually filled it in on the website as 27 hours so I was way off!

Selfie by the old pier and the purple pop up

I don’t often aim for a time at parkrun- I am more than happy to run around and chat to people as I run, and if I am touring I like to see the new event, take photos as I run around and so on. But on this occasion it was good to have something to aim for.

So that was parkrun 380 and my 12th time at Hove Prom.

Do you like aiming for a time or are you happy to enjoy the atmosphere?

PS A few Brighton photos – delicious vegan pancakes from Nowhere Man, Bird and Blend cups and a walk to Hove.

Highbury Fields revisit for Plan C

The plan for this weekend had always been for some parkrun tourism with Branka, and originally we were going to head to Stockley Country parkrun (not Stockwell as I kept telling Andy- he was very confused when he couldn’t find it, and could find a Stockwell park elsewhere in London while I was insisting it was close to Heathrow…). Anyway, the weather was not forecast to be great, and we didn’t fancy driving around the M25 in torrential rain, so looked at a few other options. Branka mentioned Raphael, but looking at journey times it was going to be similar, so we decided to look at train options. I am happy to repeat venues, and Branka hadn’t done Highbury Fields yet, so we decided to head there. We could both get trains to Finsbury Park, and from there it was one stop on the Victoria Line to Highbury and Islington station, and the parkrun is so close to the station (just across the road) it seemed ideal.

Plus, as a bonus, the Angel branch of Bird and Blend is about half a mile along Upper Street (and the walk passes British Patagonia who make amazing vegan pastries)- parkfaff would be sorted too!

My train was due to leave at 7:55, and with the rain I decided to drive to Hatfield rather than run to WGC, so I didn’t need to leave home until 7:30. (Branka had called me as she had a slight issue with her train ticket but she had plenty of time to sort it thankfully) My train was running a few minutes late but even with that (and me having a slight panic as I got off the train that I couldn’t find my car keys and worrying that they had fallen out- they were actually just deeper into my pocket than I had felt when I first checked), a visit to the station toilets and then getting the underground, we were at H&I for 8:30 -plenty of time!

My improving selfie, a photo mid-run, token photo and our pop up picture

We took our purple pop up photos before, and Branka continued with tutoring me on my selfies- I am getting better!

The first timers welcome was very amusing- I would not be surprised if the person ended up doing stand up comedy. She was very engaging and it really made the event feel welcoming. There did seem to be a lot of tourists- of course if you hang around the sign for a bit you end up taking photos for other people and then them taking your photo. One couple had come from north Wales! We said we should look up in case it was a specific event number (but it was 609- that’s not a prime and I can’t see what the fascination would be)- maybe just the proximity to the tube means they get lots each week.

I’d packed a t-shirt, jumper and waterproof in an old race bag to leave on the tarpaulin of trust, but thankfully the torrential rain that was forecast didn’t arrive, just a few spots of rain here and there.

The main run briefing was a bit disappointing as we just could not hear a thing- people all around us were talking, and I think I heard a few milestones announced, but it was one of those briefings when you just clap when other people clap. At least in the first timers welcome they mentioned some of the course hazards such as the uneven pavement and the muddy slippery puddle.

Now, if you don’t know, Highbury Fields is 5 laps. The only other 5 lapper I’ve done is Heslington in York, around a bike track. Here, you start in the middle on the grass, head out to the perimeter of the park (and really it is the perimeter as it is on pavements outside the park- it feels very un-parkrun in that respect as you are by houses and roads and parked cars and all sorts), and then run 5 laps before heading back in to finish on the grass. I decided that to keep count, I would try and have a different song in my head for each lap. I was hoping for songs with numbers, but the first lap was to the tune of Frère Jacques (this is the first lap, this is the first lap, around we go, around we go, run around the park, run around the park, keep on going, keep on going), and I realised that I could easily change the number for each lap and then I’d get muddled. For Lap 2I wanted a song with 2 in it (not sure why I didn’t choose Song 2 by Blur) but I ended up with Bones by The Killers in my head then. Not sure why. Lap 3 was the turn of Three is a Magic Number by Embrace (good for learning that 3x table backwards), Lap 4 was All For One from High School Musical, and then lap 5 was the theme tune from Girls 5 Eva (‘what are you waiting five?’).

I felt like I was running well, and was overtaking people towards the end, but I don’t usually look at my watch. As I crossed the finish line I stopped my watch and saw that the course had measured short- 2.8 miles. I briefly panicked that I hadn’t run the full 5 laps, but I knew I had, and the people around me had finished at the same time. If I had gone for an additional lap it would have been way over. I say all the time not to rely on GPS, and particularly on twisty routes it isn’t 100% reliable. Looking on Strava later, I could see the 5 laps (and the 5 bumps for the slope in each lap), and I could also see that it had cut off the corner each time as the route takes you out of the park at the bottom.

After I finished, I changed my top as it was still on and off raining and I didn’t want to get cold. Branka finished soon after me, and we chatted to a few tourists before walking along to our parkfaff locations. Just after we commented on how lucky we were with the weather, it rained quite hard, but thankfully we were soon in Bird and Blend, getting matcha lattes and topping up our tea collections.

Purple pop up “after” photo, the matcha wall of dreams, heavenly vegan pastries and a matcha latte.

We popped into British Patagonia on the way back, although I saved mine for when I got home as I didn’t think I could eat one of those pistachio pastries without getting in a bit of a mess! I had packed a cereal bar and water, and remembered to drink my water before I changed my t-shirt, but I really should have had the cereal bar too, as walking to B&B and back took time and so I was really hungry and tired by that point. I had it on the platform while I waited for the train home.

Once home I got the text saying it was a course pb too! Granted it was only my second time there, but I’ll take it! I was hoping for sub 30 and I ended up with 28:59 so I was pleased to squeeze in under 29. One of my few faster times this year (I’m never running that fast at Panshanger or Jersey Farm so I will make the most of tarmac).

Do you like lapped courses? Which London parkruns are good to visit by train?

Willows 10k 2024

I’ve not done this race in years, but it was one of the events chosen by my club to celebrate their 10 years, and as I was free I signed up. You can choose from either 10k or 5k, and they both started at 11. The number (and t-shirt) was posted out before, so there was no need to get there too early, so I ended up handing out tokens at junior parkrun beforehand- a bonus of a late starting race!

It was sunny when I left which is why I had on sunglasses! The only time I get to handle the number 1 token- that and token sorting of course!

I picked up Nicola and we drove to Hatfield House (where the race was held) together. I opted to take layers with me rather than leave them in the car, as I got really cold at junior parkrun. In the “before” photo I was wearing 4 layers! However I knew I would warm up as I started running. The race raises money for the Willow foundation, started by Bob Wilson, creating days out for terminally ill young adults. He did a lovely speech at the start, as did David Seaman who is one of the main patrons. Annie the high sheriff was also there of course, although sadly none of them were around to hand out medals by the time I finished, whereas in orevious years they have stayed for this.

The “after” picture of some of us (I am back in 3 layers and a hat), two people who ran the 10k as a person riding a horse, the best cheering station, and heading to the finish in a blur!

Nicola was running the 5k, but handily the 10k followed the same route for the first 5k, so we ran together and chatted, and then I only had a parkrun to go- perfect!

In previous years the course has been quite hilly, but they had changed the course this year and it was far less hilly than I anticipated. The grounds of Hatfield House are so beautiful (but don’t get me started on the owners attitude to allowing access), and it was turning into a beautiful autumn day, so running through the woods and fields with loads of other runners was great. Weirdly at times it reminded me of the New Forest race I did years ago (2018 I think?).

Mid-run views and the mini doughnut I had at the end

The marshal stations were all excellent, with all the runners being thanked and cheered- I think the people on them had probably been helped by the foundation. The OH ladies were on one of the marshal stations before one of the hills (or slope of love that they called it) and they really helped to spur me on.

The second lap was not the same as the first, heading off to a slightly different part of the park further north and crossing the river, before crossing back over and rejoining the route and repeating the same few kilometres.

Medal selfie, photo by a giant postbox and a few more run scenes

As I finished I was cheered on by the OH ladies who had run the 5k, and those that had finished ahead of me in the 10k. We were offered doughnuts at the finish line, as Simmons (a bakery with lots of chains in Herts) were sponsoring, but the trays had no ingredients listed and when I googled, their doughnuts aren’t vegan. I had bought a mini one from Crosstown the day before (as we’d been into London) so i knew I could look forward to that. I picked up my bag, put on my layers and joined the others as we cheered in the rest of the runners. It was a really fun occasion.

Once everyone had finished we got a few more photos- medals in front of Hatfield House, and then as we were walking back to the car park I saw a huge postbox, so I had a photo by it. (Apparently the tickets have seeds in them, so you can plant them at home, or if not you can post them in there and then the staff will plant them in the grounds)

Anyway, definitely an event I would do again- it was so close, nice and low key, and the event village, parking and even real toilets to use.

Have you done this event before? How do you choose events to do?

Celebrating my single-ton at Panshanger on their 10th birthday!

At the start of the year, one of my parkrun goals was to achieve my single ton, which is 100 runs at the same parkrun. I was 90, so going there 10 times in a year should be achievable. In the autumn at one of the briefings they announced that the week after international parkrun day, Panshanger would be celebrating their 10th birthday, so I decided to line up my celebration so my 100th would be on their 10th birthday. It had some sort of symmetry that I liked.

Panshanger was where my love of parkrun really started. Up until it began, I was going to St Albans parkrun maybe once a month, but once Panshanger started, Dad, my brother and I had a good Saturday morning routine going, where they would drive over to me, pick me up and we’d head over there together. I celebrated my 50th parkrun (back then, the first milestone possible) on Panshanger’s first birthday (they had a fancy dress theme which explains the Minnie tutu and my friend dressed as Where’s Wally).

Panshanger parkrun itself had changed a lot since it first started as the course now starts and ends in a totally different part of the park (much closer to me). I used to occasionally cycle there (and even more rarely run there and back when half marathon training), but it was 5 miles each way, whereas now I can run there as it is now around 2 miles away, which is a good length for a warm up and cool down.

When Ellenbrook Fields started, as that was half way between where I lived and where my parents live, we’d usually meet there, and then after Jersey Farm started and EF stopped, I often head over there and run with Dad as then I can see Mum after at breakfast. Dad is still very happy to come over to Panshanger, and he was around so he picked me up, we parked by the woods and then ran there together.

So, back to the weekend. As it was their birthday, it was quite busy (even using a small field as an overflow car park), there was an amazing cake, the Scouts were serving tea and coffee (sponsored by the landowners), and they had a ‘birthday card’- a photo collage on a whiteboard with a pen so people could leave their own messages.

OH ladies selfie, cows on the course, the amazing cake, and the field where the cows usually are

We had run there and true to form I had underestimated the amount of time it would take to get there- I thought it was about a mile from where we parked but actually the distance from the gate to the actual parkrun start is nearly half a mile I think, so we arrived after ten to 9 and basically got told straight away to come and have our OH lady photo!

The RD did a great speech about how it came to fruition in the first place, but sadly it was hard to hear all of it as we were close to some really yappy dogs (with the owners making no effort to quieten them down or move away from the crowd). Anyway, they gave a round of applause to all the RD’s past and present, and mentioned that this year the landowners (Tarmac) had sponsored the scouts to provide tea and coffee for everyone at the finish. (Panshanger doesn’t have a cafe, and there used to be a coffee van when it started in Thieves Lane, but since the course change there hasn’t been anything)

I ran with Dad which was very enjoyable- he’d not been to Panshanger since the cattle grids had been installed, whereas I’ve been a few times recently. As we headed down the final stretch (and through another cattle grid) I commented that we hadn’t seen the cows yet, and as we rounded the corner they came into view! Thankfully not too many of them were there, and they had stayed away from the path as a special birthday treat!

Tar and Mac, token photo, parkrun cupcakes and signing the board/birthday card

After we finished, we got a hot drink from the scouts stall (they had soya milk for my tea hooray, but no vegan options sadly- although earlier in the year when they were fundraising they usually would have a vegan option). Anyway, the event had a great atmosphere as people were hanging around and chatting rather than heading off to their cars right away.

The board and celebrating my single-ton!

After having our hot drinks, we went to get a photo with the mascots (Tar and Mac of course), and signed the card. Of course I also had to get a photo with my 100 shirt and the pop up to commemorate the single-ton at Panshanger. Then we headed back through the woods with a run/walk combo to cool down. All in all a really enjoyable way to celebrate their 10th birthday and my 100th there!

Does your local event have a cafe or coffee van? How do you celebrate parkrun birthdays?