This Easter weekend Toby and I headed down to Penarth in Cardiff to see his dad and stepmum.
On my training plan was do try and attempt a 5k run if it fit with our weekend plans. As it was a recovery week for me, there was no pressure either way.
As run director of recently created Rickmansworth parkrun and also two year old South Oxhey, I was keen to try a bit of this renowned 'tourism'. Toby, having enjoyed his 5 minute jog to Rickmansworth parkrun was also getting into the weekly routine. To be fair I've volunteered WAY more than I have run, but my triathlon coach is determined that I kill myself in a 5k timed event as often as possible at the moment. parkrun fits the bill and I'm lucky enough to be able to run AND volunteer (if I'm not RD).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was one within 3 miles of where we were staying - Grangemoor. So our Saturday morning was set.
Although we checked it all out online, we had no real idea of the terrain, route, gradients. It said it was 2 laps in a t-shape and we were to park at Asda and walk to the start underneath a bridge of a main road. It went alongside the River Ely and there would be a park nearby.
Intriguing.
So we parked at Asda and sure enough, followed the other brightly coloured legging-clad runners to this bridge. We were directed across the road to the starting area by a very smiley marshall clasping his Starbucks to keep warm.
The run briefing was wonderfully standard, with a Welsh twist welcoming a group of runners doing all 23 Welsh parkruns in 23 weeks (not on the same day as cleverclogs Toby chipped in!).
We had a lovely run with 170 or so others, following, as promised, a 2 lap-shaped course - basically it was roughly 6 x 800m laps.
Both of us got PBs (I was happy to be 4th lady) thanks to the flat tarmac surface and as usual, organisation and support was exceptional - including the bunny-eared marshalls supporting us at each turning point! I don't think I've seen so many marshalls at a parkrun (although I am by no means an expert).
What continues to amaze me, is that parkrun will squeeze itself into any corner of the country, and is supported and run by tirelessly enthusiastic volunteers, attended by equally enthusiastic runners of all abilities and ambitions.
Grangemoor really is squashed behind a retail park, along a riverside path underneath a busy main road but its a quiet little oasis you wouldn't expect to find. Its not a regular circular loop, and for whatever reason it had to be fit into a small little T-shape, out and back a few times. It was a perfect start to our Saturday with the olds!
Thanks Grangemoor, we might see you again!
On my training plan was do try and attempt a 5k run if it fit with our weekend plans. As it was a recovery week for me, there was no pressure either way.
As run director of recently created Rickmansworth parkrun and also two year old South Oxhey, I was keen to try a bit of this renowned 'tourism'. Toby, having enjoyed his 5 minute jog to Rickmansworth parkrun was also getting into the weekly routine. To be fair I've volunteered WAY more than I have run, but my triathlon coach is determined that I kill myself in a 5k timed event as often as possible at the moment. parkrun fits the bill and I'm lucky enough to be able to run AND volunteer (if I'm not RD).
Perhaps unsurprisingly, there was one within 3 miles of where we were staying - Grangemoor. So our Saturday morning was set.
Although we checked it all out online, we had no real idea of the terrain, route, gradients. It said it was 2 laps in a t-shape and we were to park at Asda and walk to the start underneath a bridge of a main road. It went alongside the River Ely and there would be a park nearby.
Intriguing.
So we parked at Asda and sure enough, followed the other brightly coloured legging-clad runners to this bridge. We were directed across the road to the starting area by a very smiley marshall clasping his Starbucks to keep warm.The run briefing was wonderfully standard, with a Welsh twist welcoming a group of runners doing all 23 Welsh parkruns in 23 weeks (not on the same day as cleverclogs Toby chipped in!).
We had a lovely run with 170 or so others, following, as promised, a 2 lap-shaped course - basically it was roughly 6 x 800m laps.
Both of us got PBs (I was happy to be 4th lady) thanks to the flat tarmac surface and as usual, organisation and support was exceptional - including the bunny-eared marshalls supporting us at each turning point! I don't think I've seen so many marshalls at a parkrun (although I am by no means an expert).
What continues to amaze me, is that parkrun will squeeze itself into any corner of the country, and is supported and run by tirelessly enthusiastic volunteers, attended by equally enthusiastic runners of all abilities and ambitions.
Grangemoor really is squashed behind a retail park, along a riverside path underneath a busy main road but its a quiet little oasis you wouldn't expect to find. Its not a regular circular loop, and for whatever reason it had to be fit into a small little T-shape, out and back a few times. It was a perfect start to our Saturday with the olds!
Thanks Grangemoor, we might see you again!
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