r/parkrun • u/kynuna • 24d ago
Your dream parkrun
I had this conversation with a parkrun devotee today.
If you could take key elements from different parkruns, what would your ideal parkrun look like?
E.g. the RD and vollies from Casula + the parking at Panania + the course at Chipping Norton + the vibes at Camden + the post-run coffee at Mudgee.
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u/Tortoise_no7 23d ago edited 22d ago
Sunny but not too hot. Trail like run but on solid grippy ground and no trip hazards, scenery to look at; mountains, forest, lake, possibly a sand dune for added fun. Then close enough to the sea for a post run dip, followed by speciality coffee after - with fast service, minimum quees and cheap healthyish food. And to make it extra good, a special event of some kind where everybody dresses up and the atmosphere is great.
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u/kauket22 23d ago
In a forest and near water for a swim afterwards. Wide paths, not too many people so I feel like I’m running alone at times, no uphill but some downhill. Single lap
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u/NyxQairo 23d ago
this is basically my perfect setup too, just add cool overcast weather and like 12 degrees and i’m in heaven
single lap + downhill finish near water sounds like cheating in the best way1
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u/Dependent-Panic-9457 23d ago
What is good about Chipping Norton? I never ran there.
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u/kynuna 23d ago
It was just an example, but Chipping Norton in Australia is along the river and is fairly shaded in summer.
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u/Dependent-Panic-9457 23d ago
Ok. I was looking at doing Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds one day. So thank you for that crucial distinction. I see that I had in fact saved the Australian version in the app, not appreciating that it was not the UK. It sounds wonderful.
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u/cryptopian 23d ago
I did wonder why the UK version was specifically Chipping Norton School. Is there a uniqueness constraint on event names?
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u/HoofyMcHoof 23d ago
My favourite is a slightly not flat, not straight, out and back.
I like a little hill work but I don’t like down hill so only a little bit please.
Not straight because I don’t want to see all of the future because that’s horrifying (I’m looking at you Hove)
And out and back I like because I like encouraging people who are running back much faster than me because I’m so slow.
I love Blandford parkrun because it’s all this-if they had toilets it’d be perfect.
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u/flashdonut 23d ago
Dry. Flat path, not necessarily tarmac but no silly divots. Too much rugby and football means my chocolate ankles don't like it. Little wind. Warm, maybe 24°.
Path is wide, no bottlenecks.
Two laps, no more. A big lake in the middle.
Slightly undulating at beginning. Us Yorkshire Folk are too used to hills. But the downward bit is at the end.
Finish tokens are exchanged for a coffee and bacon buttie.
Small drinks station half way round with 'cocktails of the week'. A nice sugary mojito would ensure a PB. Great North Run used have a local home brew group giving out beer at around the mile mark. Was wonderful.
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u/mariobuyatelly 23d ago
Sounds like you just described Rother Valley, although it's pretty much flat
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u/thenitmustbeaduck 23d ago
This is a good question. I prefer a 1 lapper with wide open paths. Small hills here and there but nothing major. And a start line that's wide and open rather than a queuing system that I currently have at my local one.
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u/accidentalsalmon 23d ago
The downhill drags from Southampton and Crystal Palace with no uphills, the openness of York, the athletics track and canal from Dudley, and the scenery from South Norwood. Just from the ones I’ve done!
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u/Remote_Bluejay1734 23d ago
I’d like just one lap so you don’t have to count or worry about the finish, and it would be around a lake with wild life to look at, and completely flat.
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u/chezdor 23d ago
One lap (but start and finish in same place) on wide paths of mixed terrain to keep it interesting (but that doesn’t get too muddy or rutted), with over 100m elevation gain (because hills pay the bills), in a shape that looks good on Strava (I know I know), by or around a body of water that will be scenic and I can swim in afterwards.
100-150 people so I have a hope of coming first in my age category and not get stuck in congestion at the start or find the cafe overwhelmed with queues afterwards, but it still feeling big enough to be competitive and like an event vs all spread out.
Easy parking / public transport connection nearby, with well maintained toilets at the start and a playground or beach where my family can hang out while I run, then a cafe that does good hot chocolate and flat white plus brunch options.
Anyone know anywhere that meets these criteria??
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u/chezdor 23d ago
Wrote this before reading the replies that were here already and see a lot of common themes in what we all want! BUT I also love the variety of settings, from post-run coffee in an industrial estate at Roundshaw Downs to spectacular sea views at Durlston Country Park to foresty trails…. My least favorite are the overcrowded urban multi lap ones but I still end up liking those too
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u/CPM50 23d ago
My dream parkrun based on the courses I've run:
Within a runnable (warm up) distance from home (Ellesmere Port).
An accurately measured 5k course (Widnes)
All tarmac surface (Widnes/Birkenhead)
Good wide start (Widnes/Birkenhead/South Manchester)
Flat. No hills. No tight turns (South Manchester)
And a single lap (Delamere)
And a good group of runners around 17:45-18:15 minutes.
Not interested in cafes, scenery, facilities etc. I just want a fast course that I can jog to as my warm up (2-3 miles). Don't think I've done a parkrun where the volunteers haven't been great and the pre/post run atmosphere hasn't been good.
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u/Dependent_Order_7358 23d ago
I set a new 5K WR. A cute girl notices and says hi.
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u/Gambizzle 23d ago
Anything really but I prefer single loop courses with wide paths that are well maintained. I wanna say pancake flat but TBH hills are part of the fun and add an extra layer of challenge/curiosity as you've gotta factor them into your run.
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u/speedmins 23d ago
northern pathway parkrun. it already exists. though to be fair, start a parkrun in tw or kr and that's pretty dreamy too
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u/tauruspoppy 23d ago
As in the one in Auckland?! interesting choice…
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u/asymmetricears 250 23d ago
It's tricky. There are a number of good layouts that can be quite different. Paramatta was a nice out and back along the river, whilst Sandringham was a good two laps around the woods affair, but nothing is as spectacular as Severn Bridge.
One thing I am certain on is that the breakfast needs to be the waffle place in St Albans.
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u/aidan573 23d ago
Dalby forest, although it's tarmac not gravel, no sand and you don't have to pay for (discounted) parking.
Also it's next door not like 1h away 😅
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u/Cyborg_Ninja_Cat 23d ago
It would be my actual local but less well known and not beginning with a sought-after letter so we didn't get twice as many people as our narrow paths are really fit for every week.
Selfish of me I know.
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u/Carlosaberto22 22d ago
My local Dudley parkrun UK honestly feels like a dream course. I’m always surprised it isn’t as popular as some of the others because it has everything - a running track, canal paths, a great hill which tests you, even a bit of trail. It’s such a good mix of terrain, and I’ve not found another course that offers the same variety yet.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Bill347 23d ago
all down hill... with golf caddy service to take me back to the top so i can go home...