Tag: parkrun challenges

I was staying in Basingstoke on the Friday night (as we had football tickets in Southampton for the Saturday, so were stopping off en route to make the journey easier)- handily the city centre Premier Inn is very close to the start of parkrun, so I had a leisurely start and an easy jog over to the start.

Bandstand (part of the route) seen on the way there/ start area as seen from the top of the field

The start and finish are both in a large field, with the course going around the field before exiting the field and doing two loops of the perimeter of the park. I arrived plenty of time ahead of the first timers welcome, so I wandered around the field, looking by the start and finish area for the pop up, but no luck.

There was a big collection of vegan runners, and they were just having their photo taken in the field rather than by a pop up, so everything was pointing towards no pop up!

I looked through their social media as well as searching in the UK parkrun tourists group, and could not see any pop up photos weirdly, so I concluded that they didn’t have one (or didn’t get it out of storage much). I didn’t want to be that awkward tourist asking for it, so I decided to look after, in case they got it out during the event.

First timers sign complete with map/ volunteer station in the start area/ slope of stuff/ main briefing

The first timers welcome sign had a handy map on it, so that was useful to see. There didn’t seem to be a tarpaulin of trust anywhere, but people just left jackets on the slope around the edge of the field (slope of stuff?). There were loads of volunteers and I heard the RD brief them in groups as they arrived (including updating them on the new photography rules where if you take photos as a volunteer you need to send them to the team and then delete them from your own account). The first timers welcome was by the ED and it was very welcoming and clear. Then the main briefing took place (although it got quite noisy at times which was a shame)- a few milestones were celebrated, we were asked to move towards the start and then someone blew a whistle and everyone started running! We were off!

As the whistle blew/ the main field/ wooded area and more of the field

The first part on the field was manageable with the number of participants, but after going to the perimeter path it got much narrower and this was more challenging to keep your own pace (I find it tricky if I am running slightly faster than the person ahead, but not quite enough to overtake them, and I like to have some space ahead of me too). We had been asked to keep left unless overtaking, and I ended up being overtaken by the fastest runners as I finished my first lap and they were heading into the finish funnel. (The marshals were great at asking everyone to keep to their side, however I saw one of the fastest runners properly shoulder barge someone who was a bit ahead of me- this was out of sight of a marshal and was totally uncalled for as the faster guy could have just eased off for a second as that was a particularly narrow part but it widened immediately after). I looked out for the pop up on the way around, in case it was somewhere else. I’d seen something on the floor by the finish funnel, but when I got closer that turned out to be a large bag (possibly that stored the sticks for the funnel). So no luck!

The route- around the football pitch for a lap and a bit, then 2 laps of the bigger park

The route was quite varied, with grass on the field, tarmac paths around the park and also a few hard packed paths, tree roots (sprayed pink) to avoid, and a few up and down sections. The shape of the route made me think of Jersey Farm (with the mini lap followed by 2 bigger laps) and the undulations were probably a little less. One thing I didn’t like was the huge aviary in the park, filled with birds (it’s right next to the band stand). It feels crazy to me that people still feel it’s ok to keep birds in cages and running past it made me feel quite sad, especially as in the wooded section you could hear lots of birdsong from the wild birds.

Anyway, the marshals were particularly encouraging and enthusiastic- I always say “thank you marshal” as I run around, and they would all respond, they were all cheering, when I wished them a happy weekend they all thanked me- it felt like every single marshal absolutely loved being there. Some of the comments; “your smiles are pushing the clouds away”/ “coffee is soon”/ “it’s not a hill it’s an upward flat section”/ “70m left which is as long as the Bayeux embroidery but you’ll be quicker.”

Once finishing I scanned, got my jacket and had another look around the field for the pop up. As I’d not found any images online I was resigned to the fact that they didn’t have one, so decided to make my own photo using the flag (by the start area, so no-one was there to ask) and the timer on my phone.

As I was leaving I put the maps on my phone (as it was a bit complicated) and began following it. As I walked into the car park I noticed the “START” banner- I had found the pop up! This was pure luck as the route was on the other side of the hedge that ran next to the car park, so I would not have seen it from the route.

Finish token/ timer flag photo/ finding the pop up!

There were a few people having photos but basically no queue (but enough people heading to their cars to mean I could ask someone).

Pop up!

Anyway, after that I headed back to the hotel for a shower and porridge before we headed into Southampton. We went to Cafe Thrive for lunch (an all vegan cafe filled with delicious options)- they were very busy and we were lucky to get a table. Then it was on to the football where Saints won 4-1, so a pretty good day for both of us!

Matcha latte/ my burrito, Andy’s burger and our fries and hash browns for lunch/ St Mary’s stadium in the sunshine

Voronoi update:

I was hoping it would join my Reading and Southampton clusters together, but alas there is a teeny gap still!

That was parkrun 468, location 168. I realised I’m on quite a long tourist streak at the moment (20- my highest was 29) however I am pretty sure that will go down a bit next week as I think I will be somewhere local so likely to repeat something from within the current streak. It’s quite good to try and get some tourism in before we enter storm season where cancellations are more common and touring is a bit more nerve wracking!

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

This Saturday had been earmarked for train tourism as Andy had the car for the day, so Branka and I decided to head to Charlton parkrun to continue on our Lon-done quest.

I needed to get three trains (changing at Finsbury Park and Farringdon- there was an alternative route changing at FP and then London Bridge) and my first train was before 7am. In the end I drove to the station and texted Andy so he knew where it was parked, so he walked to collect it on his way (his suggestion) as otherwise it would have been an even earlier start to allow time to walk to the station.

I met Branka on my second train as when I got on at Finsbury Park she was already on the train, so that worked out well and we could do the rest of the journey together. (What wasn’t so good was that Branka accidentally left her phone on a previous train so we then had to call it and find out where it was and ask for it to be handed in).

Charlton station/ the house in Charlton park/ the cafe decorated with Tudor royalty plus QE2

The park was about half a mile from the station, but a very simple walk up a hill and into the park next to the very grand looking house. The toilets in the park were open, and as we arrived we saw the team setting up. At this point we called the lost phone and heard it being handed in to a member of staff (the guy who found the phone was so kind and helpful) so Branka at least knew her phone wasn’t going any further away and could be collected after parkrun.

Their noticeboard and our pop up pic

We admired their notice board, took pop up photos and I was very annoyed at myself for forgetting my sunglasses. When taking our photo I couldn’t even look at the phone screen to see where the button was or to check we were both in the photo- definitely more luck than judgement! We liked how the pop up was lined up with the house in the background.

Main briefing

The first timers welcome was really friendly, and then during the main briefing they explained that as their team volunteer during the London marathon, they have one place to give away, and this was the day they pulled a name from a hat.

Solo pop up photo/ views from the parkrun including London skyscrapers in the distance

Then it was time to begin. We walked together and enjoyed the route- it’s three flat laps, mainly on grass, and you could see most of the parkrun from wherever you were (apart from a small wooded area).

You went closer to the house towards the end of the lap, and along one side it was very shaded under the big trees. I imagine it could be a quagmire in winter but at the end of a dry summer it was firm and flat. It was enjoyable to walk and chat (with me wittering on trying to distract Branka from worrying about her phone). If you looked in the distance beyond the trees you could see some of the London skyscrapers (possibly Canary Wharf area?).

Mid parkrun view/ The view of the finish area as we began our final lap/ token

After finishing we didn’t hang about as of course we needed to get back on the trains although we did briefly chat to the RD as the team were really friendly. We walked back down the hill to the station and then got a train back to London Bridge, as Branka had to go to Gatwick to get her phone and this was where I could find trains going from.

Highbury and Islington park/ me on my final train of the day/ breakfast and then a matcha by Islington town hall (the red bus was transport for a wedding that was going on there)

I went to get some breakfast by London Bridge (Ole and Steen do an amazing vegan cinnamon slice), heard from Branka that she got her phone back (hooray!) and then got the underground to Angel to have a wander along Upper Street. I collected my free matcha from Bird and Blend, and got some cookies from a little vegan bakery before walking along to Highbury and Islington. When I got there and looked up the train times, it was about 30 mins away so I went for a walk around another parkrun location (Highbury and Islington)- although I did one lap rather than 5! After a longer train back, I then had the final walk back from the station (as Andy was still out with the car) so I think I got home at about 3pm!

Voronoi update:

Stats:

parkrun 465 and location 165

44/65 (currently) London events visited