On the 5k app there is a challenge called ‘Parkrun Obsessive’ which is to run 50 parkruns in a calendar year. With 35 currently completed, I’m on track to achieve the ‘Obsessive’ challenge. I know this means, here in the UK, there are going to be Saturdays where there’s going to rain but in August? With it being a bank holiday weekend the odds of rain were significantly higher but I wasn’t expecting such a downpour!
As we drove up the A40 bearing down on Amersham, in Buckinghamshire, the windscreen wipers were on double action and I wondered whether the event would still go ahead. I need not have worried. Maria Waite, today’s Run Director shared that they’re a hardy bunch with 16 volunteers today. With the rain belting down the new runners welcome went ahead and 64 participants went to the start for Church Mead parkrun event #455.
The course sets off on a footpath behind St Mary's Church with the river Misbourne on your right. You go around a small green then over a footbridge with the river Misbourne running underneath. You take an immediate left to run along the boundary of a field which is a trail path that the rain was doing its best to wash away. And then there’s a left up the boundary of this field of 70m of shingle trail elevation and I kid you not, it’s a hard graft. Upon reaching the top you’re treated to a fantastic view of the Chilterns; rolling hills, chalk downland and the tips of medieval churches, before heading into Parsonage Wood, the forest section. With a dense tree canopy, the ground was much firmer underfoot, slightly downhill making for an exhilarating part of the course. There’s a climb in this wooded section but nothing like what you’ve previously done. Then more great wooded downhill before you burst out to a cement footpath and the views! Taking you back to the original footbridge for you to do the second lap. At the end of the second lap you go back over the footbridge and finish by the graveyard. This was pretty fitting as my legs were dead 🙂
This is a challenging course but the rewards are high. Maria explained the challenges are enhanced with the changing seasons recommending I come back when it snows!
With the rain still lashing down we made for The Grocer Shop for a well-earned brunch. Finishing 8th I felt I earned my banana pancakes with yoghurt and extra blueberries.
Next week I’m down to volunteer at my home parkrun however it will also be the 1,000 event at Bushy parkrun, the place where parkrun began and if it hadn’t happened this blog wouldn’t exist. I’ve attended Bushy once before and it was a special occasion, you see people getting really emotional just being there, parkrun has changed people’s lives. People come from all over the world to complete Bushy and to look for the parkrun logo tree🙂 It might be the last chance to assemble all the original attendees, it might be an opportunity to present Paul Sinton-Hewit with a fitting lifetime achievement award.
I’m sure the great and the good will attend along with ‘b’ list celebrities. Surely the sponsors will want to be there and can parkrun HQ really pass up this organic advertising and marketing opportunity?
I’m sure Bushy, next week, will be immense but wherever you run next week will be immense because parkrun is immense. The courses are magnificent, the volunteers are the best, rain or shine.
Wherever you are, stay focussed, stay well and happy running
Sounds like a great venue for a park run
Always interesting to read the history bits.
Always a good read! Thank you!
Was fab to have you guys here! Very impressed with your 8th place finish and with Shveta completing it while carrying a baby in the torrential rain - big kudos!
Another great read Aqasa. I didn’t do Parkwalk yesterday but I did do a speed walk and weirdly found the driving rain motivational!