After doing the course check I took to the back of the field as the Tail Walker and with September approaching I needed to remind everyone about the upcoming 2024 Southwark Slam!
Under the London Government Act 1963, the London Borough of Southwark was created from the former Metropolitan Boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey and Camberwell. A Borough so diverse that it contains parts of inner London and other parts previously part of the County of Surrey.
Home to part of the South Bank, well-known tourist attractions such as London Bridge terminus station and the attractions of The Shard, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market, Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Imperial War Museum in Elephant and Castle there’s plenty to see and do.
With 610 acres of public parkland, Southwark is one of the greenest Boroughs in London and what better way to see the different parks than doing the Southwark Slam!
Back in 2015, chatting with some Burgess parkrun regulars, we worked out that there are 4 parkruns in the Borough. They reflect the diversity of the Borough and offer participants very different challenges. It was collectively agreed we’d do all of them in the month of September and the inaugural event commenced that year. Shveta and I decided to call it the Southwark Slam.
Since then numerous people have taken on the Southwark Slam challenge, running, walking or volunteering at all the Southwark parkruns.
This year it will commence on Saturday 07/09/24 with Southwark parkrun which happens to be their parkrun birthday. The second Saturday, 14/09/24 will be at Peckham Rye parkrun. The third Saturday, 21/09/24, will be at Dulwich parkrun. The fourth and final Saturday, 28/09/24, will be at Burgess parkrun which happens to be their birthday too. Complete all 4 events and become a Southwark Slammer!
The Southwark Slam is a fantastic opportunity for some parkrun tourism and to experience the incredible diversity of the Borough. Each event has cafe’s for tea/coffee and food and the chance for some great parkrun ‘chat’. Let me know if you’re coming to one, event, two, three or all four, it would be great to see you all.
Happy running and happy Slamming!
Happy slamming!
I always learn something new from these blogs. Good luck to all the Southwark Slammers