Travelling Tales - Maria Runs

Ticking off more of date bingo at Clermont Waterfront parkrun

The beginning of January for me was spent in Florida, ahead of the Walt Disney World marathon weekend (which was a 5k on the Thursday, 10k on the Friday, half marathon on the Saturday and a marathon on the Sunday- more on that in later posts), and so I didn’t get to a parkrun on New Years Day. However, on the 3rd Andy said he’d drive me out to Clermont (it’s a good 50 min drive from the WDW area). The parkrun begins at 7:30am so it’s an early start to get there in time (especially as I like to go to the toilets and walk along to the lake to look at the view).

The sunrise was around 7:20 so as I got to the lake I was treated to the sun coming up- the sky was so orange just before although it wasn’t captured that well in the photos. I was wondering if I’d need a jacket at first (Florida was having a cold front just before we arrived and on NYD there was a thin frost on the car first thing, although it would warm up once the sun was out), but I was fine in t-shirt and shorts even before I started running. It was funny seeing the locals wrapped up in thick joggers and hoodies (with hoods up!) when I was just there in minimal layers!

The sun shining through the trees and moss made it look as if the trees were glowing with fire- it was so beautiful.

This was my 4th time at this parkrun, and my third doing this route (as once they were on the alternative route away from the lake)- I didn’t even listen to the first timers welcome (I did on my third visit!) because it’s such a simple route- out and back along the lake. (If you were visiting, the car park is right by the start, in that as you turn in to the car park you can see the parkrun teardrop flag and all the flags in the finish funnel. You need to exit the car park and cross the road to get to the start but it couldn’t be any closer).

Going back to the course, there is a small section where the paths leads you away from the lake a bit, but it’s clearly marked with signs, and it’s a fairly busy parkrun (150 people this time) so there is someone in sight to follow. There is a turnaround point clearly shown with a cone (and sometimes a marshal) but it’s really very easy, so rather than listen to the welcome I went along the little boardwalk to the edge of the lake to watch the sun come up. The main briefing was prompt and friendly, and then we were off!

This was a few days ahead of the big run challenge and I hadn’t run since the Wednesday before, so I was mindful of taking it easy. I was keen to do a few runs ahead of the challenge to acclimatise a little, as of course Florida is a lot more humid and a lot warmer than any of the training runs, and so I was quite pleased to finish in 30:51 as I felt like I was running quite gently and stopping to take photos (I paused for a while to take a photo of that bird (bottom right in the picture above).

By the time I finished (around 8am) the sun was properly up- such a contrast to when I first arrived. As it’s out and back you get to see everyone on the other side of the path too, and it added to my anticipation of the following weekend as I saw so many Run Disney shirts being worn by parkrunners.

I didn’t hang about too much after finishing- a few quick photos and then I headed back to the car, very relieved that I wasn’t dripping in sweat (after doing this course in the summer and having sweat pour out of every single pore) and happy that I felt like I managed the much warmer weather OK.

They often have a photographer there (although I’ve not looked up the photos from this event yet) and I noticed on the bench by the finish area that they have a special volunteer bib for the photographer to wear, which I thought was a lovely touch. It’s a very scenic parkrun by the water, and it’s so nice that they value the photographer role so much.

I’d seen a recommendation for the vegan bagels and toppings at Jeff’s Bagel Run, and after going there earlier in our trip we found that there was a branch on our way back from parkrun, so we stopped to pick up some bagels for breakfast once back at our hotel.

As I’d been there before, of course there is no Voronoi update, but happily when I looked on the 5k app I had filled in a date bingo slot and if I had missed it it would be a few years before the 3rd would fall on a Saturday again, so hooray!

On the Monday following this parkrun, Andy and I did a run together of about 3-4 miles around a lake by our hotel, but then it was strictly no more running until the WDW marathon weekend began! Although of course there was plenty of walking around theme parks in the meantime.

So, up next will probably be my race recaps- you have been warned!

parkruns of 2025

I don’t always manage to do these posts but I really enjoy looking back over a year of parkrunning to see where I have visited and who I’ve seen.

Stats:

47 parkruns in 2025

26 new events visited

2 new countries visited

2 new special days attended

v100 achieved

Single-ton at Panshanger

2025 was the year I managed most parkruns- 47 in a year (beating 46 in 2024, 2022 and 2019). At the start of the year I was on 386 parkruns, and finished the year on 433. I visited 26 new events in 2025 (and revisited many as well). I celebrated my arbitrary 400th, my V100 and my single ton at Panshanger.

I did some touring alone, and toured with family and friends. I managed to visit parkruns when I was nearby for a trip or weekend away, as well as doing lots of London tourism.

Here are a few highlights:

Local events: Panshanger in the snow, Oaklands College and Stanborough in the sunshine.

Oaklands College and Stanborough both launched and I have enjoyed running at both of them. I can now run to either Panshanger or Stanborough from home as they are a couple of miles away which is the perfect parkrun sandwich distance. I achieved my single-ton at Panshanger (100 times at the same event).

Touring with my family (my dad, brother and mum)

I did lots more touring with my dad, occasionally my brother, and sometimes my mum came along too (here she is at Jubilee, Bedford).

Meet ups with Jan and Rory, plus my favourite marshal spot at Birchwood juniors.

I toured and met up with friends (Jan in Peacehaven in Brighton- she used to run with the OH ladies/ Rory a fellow WMN listened who is often the RD at Harrow Lodge and an excellent fountain of parkrun touring knowledge). I also volunteered at juniors a fair bit, achieving my V100 in March.

I celebrated my 400th (arbitrary) parkrun at Victoria Dock and was so happy that some friends came to join me.

400th! And Ascension Day in Sweden, as well as visiting Finland on that same trip.

I also had a fantastic trip to Finland and Sweden, and completed my first non UK special event of Ascension Day in May 2025.

As well as those events, I went back to Japan and visited two new events there, and revisited Clermont in Florida.

Solo touring in Japan, Germany, USA as well as solo local trips to Panshanger and Stevenage.

Later in the year I completed another special event, this time Unity Day in Germany. Branka and Holly were at Rheinpark with me, and then I was at Lousberg by myself.

It was the year of the Cowells for sure, with Holly celebrating hers in Preston Park (Brighton), Branka at Egham Orbit and then my dad at Stanborough! 100 locations all around!

All the Cowells plus one of many London trips (Dulwich) and Unity Day at Rheinpark.

New events visited in 2025:

Oaklands College, Tooting Common, Thames Path Woolwich, Battersea, Walthamstow, Peacehaven, Dulwich, North Walsham, Victoria Dock, Hackney Marshes, Ben’s Yard Ely, Tokoinranta, Haga, Beckton, Jubilee Bedford, Egham Orbit, Harrow Lodge, Peckham Rye, Rheinpark, Lousberg, Wakehurst, Stanborough, Shibamata koen kadan, Sunshine Beach, Brockwell, Raphael.

New countries visited:

Finland, Sweden.

Countries visited:

USA, Japan, Germany.

So, what’s next?

Well, my 150th different event will be fairly soon (as I am on 147 events). Definitely some more London tourism, particularly on the train. I should get to the arbitrary milestone of 450 parkruns at some point (currently on 433), and there are various friends celebrations that I’m hoping to attend as well. But mainly what I am looking forward to is more of the same- more parkrunning with friends and family, more visiting new locations and more fun on Saturday mornings.

What are you looking forward to about parkrunning next year? Any exciting milestones or arbitraries coming up?

Sunshine Beach parkrun, Japan (near Kyoto)

The previous Saturday in Japan was a parkrun bonus for me, as it was just after arriving so I didn’t know if I’d make it. Sunshine Beach was the one parkrun for the trip that I knew I was aiming for. We had planned to be in Kyoto from Friday-Monday, so no changing hotels on a Saturday after parkrun, no trains to catch after getting back and so on (on our previous trip we were in Osaka on a Saturday but had a train booked later on, so I didn’t think it was possible to get back in time), perfect timing for a parkrun mid trip!

Sunshine Beach parkrun is to the north of Kyoto, but it isn’t a long journey and compared to some within-city trips (eg you could travel for an hour in Tokyo and still be in Tokyo) it pretty much counts as being in Kyoto and would be accessible from there quite easily.

It’s a few stops on a train from the main Kyoto station out to Zeze, the stop near to the lake shore. Last time we were in Kyoto our hotel was within walking distance of the main station, but this time it was one stop away on a different line, then a change at Kyoto. Google Maps is your friend in Japan, but the default journey gave me something like a 3 minute connection time in Kyoto. Knowing how huge the station is, this just made me feel so stressed so I got the earlier train to Kyoto, giving me around 10/15 minutes there. This turned out to be a very good decision. As I got to Kyoto, I found the platform fairly quickly, but as I went up the steps to the platform I saw that all the trains were delayed by around 10 minutes. This meant that if I ran up the last few steps I could make it on an earlier train- otherwise I would have been cutting it very fine.

It’s only a few stops, but at about the second stop, a guy got off the train and then collapsed onto the platform. The conductor got off the train to help and within minutes a medic on a bike arrived, someone got them a wheelchair and whisked him away, but the train of course had to wait at the platform for a while. This meant that the train got in around 7:30 (parkruns in Japan start at 8) and the parkrun was a good 15 minute walk from the station.

The walk from the station was very pretty, and by the water randomly was a big German building

Lots of other parkrun tourists got off the train at the same time, so I followed them and walked, but if I was on my own I would have jogged down to make sure I got there a bit sooner. It wasn’t as simple as the walk to the parkrun the previous week, as it was a few turns and different roads (and a level crossing to cross!), but as soon as we arrived on the lake shore we could see the start area, so it was easy enough to find.

As we arrived they called us over for the first timers welcome which was in English and Japanese. The course was very simple- starting in the middle going out and back in one direction, then out and back in the other, repeating this, and then one more out and back in one direction (so 5 out and backs starting in the middle). The turnaround points were just about visible from the start area, and they had marshals at each turnaround point. They had recently celebrated their 4th birthday and had some bunting and a little celebration board hanging up.

The RD was such a character. She was so talkative and friendly and encouraging to all of the visitors, wanted to know where we were all from, what we were doing in Japan and so on. She took so many photos before, during and after the run, and seemed to genuinely thrilled to have people visiting her parkrun.

As you can see, it was the most perfect day for running. I had on t-shirt and shorts- on my walk to the station it was a bit chilly and I wondered if I should have worn leggings, but I was absolutely fine. I had a jacket in my bag (and some water) but didn’t need it for running. There was a slight breeze but beautiful blue skies and the autumn colours were amazing on the route. The lake is so huge (the largest freshwater lake in Japan, and this is just a fraction of the lake) and the sun was glinting off the water- it looks like the sea at times. I was having another one of those “pinch me” moments where I just feel so happy and so lucky to be able to join in with these runs in such beautiful places.

It’s a super flat course so apart from the u-turns you could properly hammer out a fast time if you so wish. I was feeling good and surprised myself with a 28:35 finish time- not bad.

After finishing, I stayed around the area and cheered in the rest of the participants. The RD was making her rounds again, and was very taken by first my sunglasses (they are red with white spots- I call them my Minnie Mouse ones although they are not Disney ones) and she wanted to take a photo of them (hence my silly pose) and then she noticed my 100 shirt and was very impressed with that and wanted a photo of that too (only my hair was in the way at first).

The RD photos of my 100 top, a random one of me stood there and her taking a photo of my sunglasses! Plus the map of the course and the finish area.

Andy was going to get the train out to the lakeshore to meet me, and I had a bit of time before he was arriving, so I walked along to find the Pokemon drain cover (which I had seen on Nicola Runs on You Tube)- I am quite fascinated by all the different drain covers in Japan and have quite a collection of photos of them. While I was parkrunning I saw a few people head off the route to go to it (it’s beyond the first turnaround point) but I didn’t want to confuse the marshal and knew I had time at the end to walk back up.

Once Andy met me we walked around the shore of the lake a little more to the next train station. We came across an old castle that had also housed a museum for a while, found a little market selling amazing looking fruits and vegetables, and of course I found some more drain covers. After getting the train back it was time for a quick shower and then we headed back out for a day in Kyoto.

When my email came through and I looked on the 5k app it turned out I had achieved the Snakes challenge too (this must be the most random of challenges on there, it’s just 10 that begin with S). Of course the Voronoi map had to be looked at- this one gives you a very big chunk!

So that was parkrun 427 and location 145, and 29 in the tourist streak.

The following Saturday we were back in Tokyo, and close to Urayasushi sogo koen parkrun. However, we were flying to Hong Kong that day, and the bus going to the airport left the hotel at 9:45. Even though the parkrun starts at 8, it was a train journey plus bus (or walk) away, and it just wasn’t possible with the timings. I’d also had a bad cold that week so didn’t really feel up to running, and the thought of getting stuck on the way back and missing the bus to the airport was just too much. So I shall have to save that parkrun for the next time I go to Japan! I am so happy that I managed to visit two parkruns on my trip there though, both such enjoyable experiences, such friendly teams and such pretty places to run. parkrun tourism on holiday is such a bonus.

Shibamata koen kadan parkrun- Japan!

This was a parkrun I didn’t think I’d get to. It was also a last minute change of plans from my pencilled in plan of going to Urayasushi sogo koen parkrun (I even rewatched Nicola Runs video of this on the plane to prepare!)- our hotel at the end of our Japan trip was closer to Urayasushi park so Andy convinced me to go to a different one and save that one for the final Saturday.

Anyway, we stayed in the Ginza area of Tokyo this time, but after leaving home at lunch time on Thursday, having a 14 hour (delayed) flight to Hong Kong, a very panicked transfer and then over 4 hours flying to Tokyo, arriving late on the Friday night, I wasn’t sure I would make parkrun. After waking up at 3am and finally admitting defeat and getting up at 5, I decided to go for it. As this was our second trip to Japan, I felt more confident in using the train network and using google maps to help. Last time we arrived mid week and so I had a few days to get used to the system before heading off on my own (transport and directions are not my strong point). I had my Suica card on my phone already (you use it to pay for the journeys) and Andy helped me get the directions onto google maps so I was all set.

Shibamata koen kadan parkrun is a fairly new one in Tokyo (I was at event 62), and actually was super easy to get to from where we were staying. There are a few train stations in Ginza and one across the street from our hotel had a direct line to Keisei Takasago station, and it was then a 1.2 mile walk in along a straight (and very peaceful and pretty road) to where the parkrun started. (The road ends and you walk up some steps and then look down to the park alongside the river- the parkrun was visible from the top of the steps so it was very easy to find- the photo above top left shows the view from the parkrun start back up to the end of the road)

I arrived at around 7:30 (they start at 8) and could see the collection of high viz jackets from the end of the road as I looked down the steps. The name translates as Shibamata Park flowerbed parkrun which is just a gorgeous name- they are very proud that they have a photo in the regional parkrun calendar, and it seems that the flower beds along the route are often really colourful and well taken care of. As it was by the river it had some lovely views across the river, and plenty of greenery surrounding you as there was a wide strip with things like baseball parks there, plus a path for running and cycling, the big grass mound that went up to the road, and all the flower beds.

As I approached the start, one of the volunteers introduced himself- he was an English ex pat who had lived in Japan for 35 years. The other volunteers were very extremely friendly and straight away it felt like a community event (and not just one visited by tourists). The RD was doing her first stint in this role and was a bit nervous, but she was fabulous. They took loads of photos- of the volunteers, then of the first timers, then of everyone, and lots of people en route were taking photos too. There are no purple pop ups in Japan but they have these super banners with the event name on them, and here it was set up by the finish area and they were very keen for tourists to have their photos taken there, offering to take them for us. There were a few other British tourists and one guy from France (who spoke some Japanese which was super impressive). They also had little cards with QR codes on them linking to their facebook and instagram accounts as well as where the photos would be- they were very keen for everyone attending to have access to the photos. I think the banner I am holding says that we are the first timers? I was very worried about holding it upside-down but apparently it was correct.

They did their first timers welcome at 7:45, showing the route (it was a very simple out and back in two directions, basically like Hove Prom), and then the run brief was in Japanese and then English. They had some lovely touches like some little laminated milestone t-shirts for people to hold if they were doing a milestone. One person was doing his 25th milestone (see the photo above in the bottom right), and he looked very shy as he was gently encouraged to hold the card and have his photo taken. When I had finished he was given the card again to hold and everyone gave him a round of applause, and we were encouraged to pose for aa photo with him, and he seemed so genuinely happy.

After, they posted this on their facebook page (with facebook translating it from Japanese)- it’s a lovely sentiment and just shows how the community aspect of parkrun is as important as the running, and that this parkrun has really created a community:

A man in his 80’s who completed 25 runs 🎉👏
I learned about parkrun while attending a ground golf event near the parkrun venue
Since I first participated in the Kasumata Park Parkrun in March this year, I’ve participated almost every week without fail.
“”So much fun running with everyone””””
“”I’m not good at talking, and I’m often alone,
“I started participating in parkrun, and I’m slowly enjoying conversations with different people.” It was very impressive to see how he spoke those words with a smile☺️
Shai You Park flower bed parkrun が,
that it’s not just about running, it’s about connecting with people and finding new fun.
It’s a wonderful episode to feel again 🌿
Let’s keep enjoying our Saturday morning together!

That little paragraph sums up parkrun so perfectly- connecting with people, finding new fun and enjoying parkrun together. The whole experience made me feel so happy and while I was running I was having almost those “pinch me” moments where I just felt so lucky- to be running somewhere so pretty and so friendly, and having the whole of our trip stretched out in front of me.

I ended up running with another tourist who had been in Tokyo since the Tuesday, and on our way around we had so many cheers and smiles from the other runners and volunteers. As it was an out and back course, you passed lots of runners out on the course so it had such a friendly feel. At one point a runner heading in the other direction took a selfie with us in the background, smiling and laughing and cheering us on, as we did to her. It would be a super fast one but after not having much to drink the day before on the flights, and not much sleep, I was sensible and ran gently, taking loads of photos and enjoying the experience.

When we finished, a few of the volunteers told the runner that I was with that her husband had gone to get some breakfast, but as they were going to the cafe after and the team wanted to walk them there, they said they would wait which was so kind of them (he did get back as they finished packing away anyway but I am sure they would have happily waited as they were all so welcoming).

I took a few more photos with the banner after (as you do) and then some of the finish area, before I needed to start heading back.

I wasn’t going to the cafe as I was keen to get back so we could do some sightseeing together, but the cafe was on the way back to the station so I walked there with the team. I finished in around 32 mins and the final person finished in 42 mins so after I had had some water, taken a few photos and chatted a bit more (and applauded the guy for his 25 milestone) they were already packing the event away. I could have quite happily joined in with the parkfaff too.

So that was my 426th parkrun, my second in Japan (I went to Futakotamagawa in August 2024) and my 144th different location overall. It was also number 28 in my current tourist streak.

Anyway, I totally loved the event, it was so friendly, as well as being simple to navigate to. I would definitely recommend a visit there if you are in Tokyo as it had a local feel as well as being inviting for tourists.

Wakehurst parkrun- en route to Brighton

We had to be in Brighton for Sunday evening for a comedy show, but at the last minute we decided to head down on the Saturday and spend the weekend there. After thinking we’d head down after I’d been to parkrun, Andy suggested leaving early (to beat the traffic) and doing a parkrun on the way instead. I’d seen Wakehurst parkrun mentioned a few times and liked the look of it, and it had parking and a cafe on site so Andy would have things to look at while I ran, so at 7am on Saturday, off we went. Wakehurst Gardens are a bit like a National Trust place, in that it’s paid entry, but they are linked with Kew Gardens. Our NT cards got us free entry, but the parking is free for parkrunners until 11am, and then after that NT members have to pay.

The journey was great (we have driven to Brighton later on Saturdays before and been stuck in a lot of traffic) and we arrived just after 8:30 so I headed off to find the toilets and start area. Because it doesn’t open until later, there were signs out saying you had to stick to the parkrun route, but the route covers a lot of the grounds so I felt like I saw a lot. The cafe didn’t open until 9am so Andy didn’t head over until after the parkrun had started, but if we went there again I think he’d come to the start area as there were people hanging around.

The start is right by the mansion house, dwarfed by an enormous redwood tree. Next to it is the stump of another redwood that had to be cut down as it was damaged in a storm- seeing the side of the cross section of the trunk was amazing, and it made for some good pop up photos!

I was at event 74, and I think they still get a fair amount of tourists because at the first timers welcome the volunteer said they’d explain the route during the main briefing, so only brand new parkrunners needed to attend. It’s two laps and very well marshalled and signed though so fairly self explanatory.

They did some seeding at the start with volunteers holding up signs (eg 28-35 minute finish times) as the paths were fairly narrow.

I really loved this parkrun as there was so much to see on the way around- all the autumnal colours were appearing and you ran through a range of different gardens.

I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so undulating though! We were warned of a hill that was “worse in the second lap” but I think all of it apart from the section by the mansion house was either uphill or downhill.

After finishing and scanning I met up with Andy at the finish area (a quick photo by the tree) and we headed in to the cafe.

The queue wasn’t that long but the wait was. It looked like an NT cafe with a fridge with ready made sandwiches, stands with cakes (not personally a fan of the help yourself in these types of cafes after seeing the handles of the tongs touching the food etc), hot drinks and some hot food including croissants. They had labels on some items, but not others, so I wasn’t sure what was vegan, so I opted for a tea (I had packed breakfast with me in case). The wait to place our order was probably 15 minutes, and then after ordering the wait was probably that again. I’d bought a change of clothes with me, so after waiting for a bit, I changed in the toilets, came back, and Andy was still waiting for our drinks. We were keen to have a look around the gardens after, but I think it was around 10:20 by the time we had our drinks. They seemed to have a lot of staff there, but maybe it’s busier in one go than it would be usually at other times of the day?

We had time for a quick walk around some of the other gardens (and of course a look in the shop) before heading back to the car for the final part of the journey into Brighton. We’d both go back for a longer visit as you could definitely spend a long time there- both exploring the gardens and visiting the Millennium seed bank.

As it was a new location, it kept my tourist streak going for another week- that was the 24th different one visited without repeating.

That was parkrun 422, and my 142nd location. It was a satisfying chunk on the map too!

Below are a few photos from Brighton- of course walks by the sea were enjoyed (as well as a nearly 12 mile run on the Sunday morning), lots of delicious food, and the comedy show on the Sunday evening. Combining parkrun with a weekend away is the best kind of parkrun tourism for me.