parkrun - Maria Runs

Tokoinranta parkrun in Helsinki!

Back in 2020 we had booked a long weekend to Helsinki for July, but obviously ended up having to cancel that trip. It’s been on the list, so I was very excited to finally visit after waiting all this time.

We flew out to Helsinki on the Friday, the train from the airport was fairly quick (30 mins ish) and we had a hotel by the central station, which was about 1km from the start of parkrun. Perfect! We had a walk around the lakes after dinner on the Friday, so I was very confident about navigating my way there in the morning, too.

*Our Friday evening walk around the parkrun lakes*

The parkrun didn’t start until 9:30 am (the number of times I checked that!) but I headed off before 9 so I could enjoy the atmosphere before the start, hear the welcome and briefing and of course take some photos.

I love seeing the signs in different languages. I saw the cones set up as I ran there.

I ended up chatting to lots of tourists- lots of people were over for the Nordic additional day (the following Thursday- Ascension Day) so it was fun to hear about different plans. Lots of people were heading to Stockholm (as were we eventually) but most were aiming for the newer parkrun of Judarskogen parkrun whereas I had planned to go to Haga (more on that another day).

Anyway, the welcome was given in English by the RD who said it was his first time doing that role- he apologised if he sounded nervous but he was fantastic, very clear and welcoming. The route seemed simple- out and back, beginning on one lake (keep it to your left), over the railway bridge and then around another lake (keep it to your right), turn at the U-turn point, and then retrace your steps. I had watched Nicola Runs You Tube video of it previously, but nothing compares to actually being there yourself.

A few mid run photos including the little watermill, and my pic by the sign when I’d finished.

I really enjoyed the route- the parts by the lake were very flat and one nice wide paths.

The second lake had a cycle path next to it but this was clearly divided by a kerb. There were loads of other people out, not parkrunning, but there was always space to pass. I was very happy to spot the little water mill that was generating electricity- I don’t think I would have spotted it on the way back as it was tucked below the path a little bit.

*A few more pictures from the route including the railway bridge and the coned paths*

The part by the railway bridge was tough as that was very steep up and down, but at least it was over fairly soon. There were only a couple of marshals out on the route but they were very enthusiastic, and the course was very clear. (Although after I had finished and scanned I met two people who had gone the wrong way after coming back over the bridge, and I realised that the cone in the centre of the path (basically blocking it and showing you to go left towards the lake rather than straight on towards the train station) had been knocked to the side, so I put it back in the middle of the path so hopefully no-one else got lost!

It wasn’t a hugely busy parkrun- that day I was 62 of 119 participants, and that seemed like a good number with a nice spread of runners and walkers. It was really welcoming, although I didn’t go to the cafe after as we had breakfast included in our hotel stay (and we had to book a time slot so I had to be back for the 10:30 booking).

And the stats: parkrun 404, location 133 and country number 10 (when GB counts as 1 country).

We had a lovely few days in Helsinki after. The city is very walkable, so we spent some time walking around the city centre and admiring the different styles of the buildings, walked to the docks to see the local markets and all the boats heading off to various islands, went to the Helsinki museum (very interesting). One day there was a classic car fest happening in the square so we sat for ages looking at all the Cadillacs and other cars stream in, and then one day we got a boat out to an island with a fort on it, and walked around the island. I am very glad that we visited!

After Helsinki, we got the boat over to Tallinn, and spent two days there, before heading over to Stockholm for the final part of our nordic trip.

Ben’s Yard, Ely parkrun and perfect parkfaffing

My parkrun touring buddies Branka and Holly are rapidly approaching their Cowells (100 different events) and so careful tourism planning is coming into play to make sure they don’t achieve them early. This relatively new event was one that they were both planning on going to, and as I was free I was very happy to head to a new event too.

The journey was around an hours’ drive from Branka, so I left home at 7:15 to pick her up at 7:30. This didn’t seem too early compared to some of our London tourism, and so I was surprised when checking my list of NENDY’s (nearest event not done yet) that Ben’s Yard was number 93 on my list! There are 92 parkruns closer (as the crow flies)that I’ve not been to. Shocking! As I am relatively close to London, all those south London parkruns would be closer even if the journey is a lot trickier and more time consuming.

Amazingly the journey went by without a hitch. After my last time driving into Cambridgeshire (Bug Hunter Waters) where I used the postcode and got us lost in a housing estate, I had finally remembered to pin the parkrun as a starred place in my maps, so the directions took us right to it.

The location is really brilliant for a tourist with everything you need in one place- ample and free parking clearly sign posted from the road, toilets, cafe, restaurant and shops. I am not sure how easy it would be to get to if you lived in Ely (eg could you cycle or run/walk, or would you need to drive) but for us it was great. As we pulled into the car park we saw the “parkrun parking” signs, and then saw Holly in her car. You could see the start area from the car park, so again, a tourists dream! We took our pop up photos and then jumped up and down trying to keep warm- the weather was not living up to the sunshine that had been promised. I can imagine that in the winter it would be quite brutal with cold winds whipping off the fields- you would stay in your car until the last possible moment.

Pop up pic!

We had a super first timers welcome (two laps, keep left until you are about to finish) and then were told to head to the start. As we walked towards the pop up, we were all called back as they wanted to do the main briefing in the same place that the welcome had been, rather than by the actual start. However, we were still at the start line and off pretty much at 9 o’clock (very unlike last week!).

Map- run along the path into the first field (on the right), loop around that field, then along a path and up the slope to run around the lake (left hand loop) and repeat.

I ran with Holly and we had a lovely catch up. The route was so enjoyable. It’s very flat (one hump that you run up, a bit like a bridge- was it a bridge?), around a field and then around a lake and through some woods. The field was quite rutted so I felt I had to keep my eyes on the ground to make sure I didn’t twist an ankle, but the rest of the course was gravel paths and a lovely running surface. I expect in the winter the field part would be very muddy, but the paths would be OK (maybe collect puddles?).

A volunteer took some photos and put them on their facebook page so we got a few mid-run pics which is always nice. Plus the pop up with the car park in the distance, and the token (111- a great number!)

Near the finish area is a huge photo frame lined up with the cathedral in Ely, so I took a photo of that as we ran past on our second lap. Really we should have taken photos of each other but I didn’t think of that until we’d finished. I really enjoyed that you ran past the finish area going into the second loop- the marshals and volunteers were all so enthusiastic so it was a great boost to pass them all half way around. The finish came up so quickly too- I think as the route was so varied.

A few photos taken while running including the frame with the cathedral in the background

Once we had finished and scanned we had a few minutes chatting before Branka came in, and then we headed back to the yard to find some breakfast.

You can see the car park and yard from here- it’s all so compact

They had told us in the briefing that there was a bakery/cafe, and a restaurant, and if you showed your parkrun barcode you would get 10% off in the restaurant. We decided on the cafe, and joined the big queue. (Holly popped out to check out the menu just in case we changed our minds) The cafe was lovely, with loads of pastries and cakes, and very pretty flowers hanging from the ceiling. It had a few vegan items but nothing really for breakfast (rocky road or a brownie), so I got a rocky road for later and was pleased I’d packed a vegan croissant in my bag. They did have plant milk so I could get a tea which is the main objective after running for me.

*Cafe views and the pretty wall of flowers in the yard- they had a few vegan items, and I could get a tea with oat milk*, although we were given takeaway cups even though other people had china ones, not sure why.

We spent ages in there chatting and discussing future parkrun plans- the best way to parkfaff! We had a little leg stretch walking around the yard area- there was a little knick knack shop filled with all sorts of pretty mugs and random Jelly cat toys and that sort of thing, as well as a farmers market style shop where I bought some salad topper (more interesting than it sounds). There was a very pretty wall of flowers so we had to get photos in front of that too. Then it was time to head home- again a straightforward journey and I was home and showered in time for lunch.

Stats: parkrun number 403, venue 132

Question- who is Ben? All I could think of was Ben Folds Five, but I am sure it is nothing to do with that. Probably.

Paced to a pb at Pymmes parkrun!

Last Saturday I was going to stay local, however a few OH ladies were heading to Pymmes, and as I enjoyed it before, I thought I’d go along.

I first visited Pymmes in February 2024, and remembered it being very friendly, flat and quite fast- I ran 28:04. After my recent attempts to get a sub 28, I was happy to see that they were having a pacer event. Perfect- I would try to keep up with the 28 min pacer and push to speed up in the final section.

We car shared, so I drove to Catherine’s house, where her and her husband Dave gave lifts to me and fellow OH lady Carol, (plus their dog in the back who kept licking my ear!). Once at the park we met up with another car load of OH ladies- although we were there so early that the event team hadn’t even arrived yet!

I was so excited as when we got into the park I saw my first ducklings and goslings of the year! This amused everyone else, but made me very happy.

Breakfast in the sun after, our purple pop up group photo, and the finish area with everyone hanging around

After hearing the first timers welcome (3 laps, mind the bumps in the path where the CCTV cameras are) the main briefing started. And went on. And on. I am not kidding when I say we started at 9:15am! The local running club were doing a pacer event to promote a local race, so they talked about that for a bit, and then there were goslings at the start so we had to be warned to not scare them.

Goslings by the start!

Anyway, as we started I could see the 27 and 28 minute pacer but they were a bit of a way ahead and I knew I could catch up once the people thinned out a bit. But I just could not catch them, and could not even keep up with the 29 minute pacer. I glanced at my watch on a couple of occasions but don’t like looking at it as it stresses me out and I get a bit adrenaline rush, so I just had to keep pushing on feel as hard as I could. I knew that some of the pacers were not quite correct, as the 28 was about 2 metres behind the 27 (I could see them in the distance) but I could not catch up with the 29 minute pacer at all.

Each lap seemed to go by quickly- it’s lovely flat paths, fairly wide and fairly flat. You run ever so gently up on one side, and then gently downhill on the other, looping around a little pond and then a short slope of a metre or so up to the start/finish area. A lapped course is lovely when you are there with friends as you see them as you pass them or as they pass you. As I was coming into the finish, Mel’s husband was by the pond cheering us all in which gave me a boost. I was so glad that I kept on pushing as when I got to the finish funnel (behind the 29 pacer) my watch said 27:51! Sub 28! Hooray!

Pacers lining up, finish token, finish line watch and one of the signs

(I totally appreciate how tricky the pacer job is so I am not complaining at all- I am just glad I kept on pushing- official time 27:49, which is a course pb and my fastest time this year. Good stuff.

I scanned, had a photo by the flag and pop up, and then joined everyone else who had finished, waiting for the rest of our group to come in. The event had that lovely feel with so many people hanging about and chatting (helped by the weather I’m sure). After everyone had finished, we walked around the corner to a local cafe that had been recommended to us- no dogs allowed inside though so we got a takeaway and took our breakfast back to the park (I had packed a vegan croissant as I didn’t think the cafe would have good options, but I could at least get a cup of tea with oat milk).

Pop up picture at the end!

So all in all a great revisit there. I love going to new parkruns but I am equally happy revisiting ones if other people want to go there.

The next few weeks are very exciting for me parkrun wise- a UK one with friends this week, and then a flag (or two if all goes well) …

Any exciting parkrun plans for you?

Hackney Marshes for a NENDY visit

I thought I would be staying local at the weekend, but Dad mentioned he was keen to head to a new event, and suggested Hackney Marshes as one that we could drive to, so off we went.

It was around a 45 minute drive from me, so I was picked up at 7:45 and we headed off on a fairly straightforward journey. As we neared the exit, the Olympic velodrome came into view- it is quite exciting to be that close to the park (and then to try not to remember how long ago the Olympics in London actually were!). The parking was free, next to the Hackney Marshes visitor centre (toilets available), and from there it was a short walk, following other runners, across a little bridge and into the starting field.

The starting area had a great feel to it- there seemed to be loads of people, lots of tourists in matching club hoodies (maybe down for the London marathon weekend?) and we saw lots of pacer vests too. The first timers welcome gave us a great description of the route (around the first field/marsh, over the bridge and along the river, away from the river and alongside another field/marsh, and then back around the first field in the opposite direction.

There was a little speech at the main briefing as one of the RD’s was standing down, so she was presented with a framed RD vest which was a lovely idea. We thought they might mention or point out the pacers, but no, suddenly we were off!

The route was very flat, and the grass was lovely and springy, not too energy sapping like it can be sometimes. I had opted for trail shoes but road shoes would have been fine as it was so dry. The first field that we ran around was huge- maybe .75 of a mile before we exited? I loved seeing the colourful runners stretch out in front of us all around the perimeter of it. You could see some of the Olympic buildings (including the Orbit) as well as lots of blocks of housing that have all sprung up in that area.

After exiting the field we ran over the little bridge and then started the section by the river. I had wondered if this was an out and back section, but we had not been told to keep left so thought we were OK, and although we saw lots of runners going along the path in the other direction, these weren’t parkrunners, just people out for a Saturday run. After turning left at the end we realised it definitely wasn’t an out and back, and we skirted another huge field, this one covered in football pitches. The scale is hard to comprehend but it’s a huge green space.

As we passed back over the bridge we saw that the finish funnel was packed with people already, whereas we still had to go back around the first field again.

*The river we ran over, the finish funnel as we ran past, token and pop up sign*

It wasn’t long before we were in the finish funnel too, being reminded to keep in order as the masses finished with us.

After scanning and taking photos we headed back to the car, as Mum fancied breakfast out with us, so we drove back and then walked to a cafe close to their home where I had a very generous amount of avocado on toast (but also tea in a glass- why???).

*First picture- all the runners stretched out ahead of us around the field/ avocado toast/ finish funnel and the path by the river*

Of course, the all important map (after/before):

So, that was parkrun 401 and location 131, 32nd London parkrun (out of 65 currently)- I’m getting close to half way there!

Do you like tea in a glass? Either James Acaster or Dave Gorman did a very funny routine about it- I don’t know why because I drink other things from glasses but tea in a glass is just wrong.

Victoria Dock parkrun for my 400th!

I was staying in London on the Friday night as we had tickets to see the Manic Street Preachers, so of course I was going to head to a London parkrun. I’d not been to Victoria Dock (I had actually planned it once as we were staying close by, but on that day it was cancelled so I went to Valentines instead), and Branka had already been there (we are doing a lot of London tourism at the moment) so I decided to opt for there. At one of the OH ladies club runs I mentioned this, and a few others decided they would come into London and meet me there- Catherine and her husband Dave (who was doing his 250th- a real milestone!), Helen and her partner Eddie who do lots of tourism, and Mel. Our hotel was around a half a mile from Farringdon, so happily I could get the Elizabeth Line rather than mess around with the DLR (because I do not understand that)- Custom House was about half a mile from the start of the parkrun, so a perfect little warm up.

*The cable car/ our purple pop up pics and my token*

When I arrived the rest of the crew were already there- of course we got some photos by the cable car and then found some shelter as it was cold and windy. There was a big queue for the pop up sign so we knew there were a lot of tourists there- maybe for the Easter weekend? They did the first timers welcome only for first time parkrunners, and then the main briefing was for everyone else. The RD asked for tourists and then asked “hands up if this is your local parkrun” and about 3 people put their hands up! I am sure it was more but it did feel like a lot of tourists.

I hadn’t said anything about my “milestone” as it isn’t official, but when they asked for milestone shout outs a guy near us shouted “150”, so after we shouted out Dave’s 250, Helen called out “400”- I had on my back a 400 I’d made from paper and attached with race clips (so no safety pin holes in my 100 top) so that was my way of marking the occasion, but it was nice to have the cheer and a few people congratulated me on it as well (including at the end when I took a few photos for other people by the pop up).

The course was twice out and back, and we were warned of lots of hazards on the route including bollards, cobbles and fences. It is flat and fast, but it was also a lot on the streets/ pavements, so at times we were running past bins, trees and the little metal protection grids that they have, and you had to look out for kerbs and uneven pavement. I had decided to push quite hard, but didn’t look at my watch while I was running. I wanted to enjoy it too and not feel like I was pushing too hard, although I did get a stitch towards the end so maybe I was.

I really liked the out and back nature of the course, as I was kept busy looking out for everyone at each of the turns. Catherine took that photo of me as I passed- I finally wore my parkrun shoes (the ones I won on Instagram from With U) and they really stand out in the picture (this was the first guaranteed non-muddy course so I decided to risk it!).

Purple pop up photo and one with my 400 top to celebrate!

As I came into the finish it was a bit confusing as I was not quite sure where the finish line was, so had to ask the marshal where to go (basically I needed to know if I went right by the water or further back by the building)- she pointed the way and then I put on a final push- as I rounded the corner my visor blew off in the wind so I had to grab it, which hurt my shoulder (my poor frozen shoulder)- I could see a lady running up ahead and wondered if I could catch her. I was gaining on her but didn’t want to be rude and go past her at the last minute, and also I don’t want to confuse the people doing timing. Anyway, with hindsight I should have done as she stopped just before the line rather than running through and into the funnel, so I had to almost stop to avoid bumping into her. I stopped my watch and noticed 28:02- this would be my fastest time of the year officially (Garmin says 27:55 for Battersea but that is not my official time- a side point here that on with With Me Now pod this week they shared that the person who was treated with the AED on that day has recovered and attended Battersea last weekend along with the paramedics who helped, so that was really nice to hear about)- so that would be good.

When you look at your summary stats you can see your fastest time of each year, and I’ve been pretty consistent with getting 27 (or even 26) somethings as my fastest times (apart from 2021 where I only had 28)- anyway, it’s a little challenge for me to get to. Of course, I may not have pressed start on my watch at the same time as the timers, and I may not have stopped it right away either. When the results came in I got 28:00- my fastest time of the year (hooray)-but I also slightly regretted not going past that lady because then I could possibly have got a 27 time! Ah well, I shall have to try harder at some other flat parkruns (as Panshanger and Jersey Farm are not pb courses for me!).

So, back to the morning! After I finished running and scanned, I had a quick chat with some of the others before heading back to the station, as we had to check out by 11am so I didn’t have too long.

So, the stats. That was my 400th parkrun and my 130th venue, and my 31st London one. But mainly a great morning out and it was lovely to meet up with some friends while I was there- they had a pretty easy journey on the trains and all said they’d go back there too as it was certainly a unique location.

So, what next? Possibly some touring with my dad next week (we will wait and see what the weather is like)- he’s on 88 venues so is counting up towards 100! I’m away for the Bank Holiday weekend at the start of May so no parkrun for me that weekend, and that will be followed by a local weekend and possibly some touring before hopefully visiting a new parkrun country! But more on that later 🙂