Started in February 2022 the parkrun at University Parks is the first one inside the central Oxford ring road and 12th in Oxfordshire. It is one of only three parkruns in the UK which starts with the letter ‘U’ (the others being (Upton Court and Uckfield) making it a destination for those people seeking to complete the parkrun Alphabet challenge. This is to complete a parkrun with each letter of the Alphabet.
From being on the train to getting off and walking through the city all around was sleepy yet I had that frisson of excitement that Saturday morning adventures always bring. We entered the park walking lazily to the start area. The park is flanked by incredibly imposing and scholarly-looking buildings which Oxford is synonymous with. There was mist rising from the ground creating a mystical and magical ambience.
Once at the start, situated somewhat in the middle of the park, I could look around to see the coming together of so many people approaching from the different paths. I also noticed a large number of young running-club-shirt-wearing guys changing into their respective racing shoes.
The Run Director addressed the assembled welcoming and sharing what was to come. They then led us off to the start point, a little way away.
The start area was very narrow however after about 500m it merged into the main wider compacted gravel paths on which we would do two anti-clockwise laps which along with beautiful planting and spectacular trees and taking us past the JRR Tolkien Bench. Going along the Riverside Walk on the second lap the course turns left onto Oak Walk, finishing along the Tentorium (this is Oxford 😀) designed by Grey, Baines and Shew and home to the Parks administrative team.
Like the younger race-dressed chaps I’d changed into my super shoes too. I was curious how they’d respond to the gravel paths and was pleased to experience a smooth and stable ride. I was able to find my pace and keep it comfortably as the shoes returned energy to me allowing me to focus on soaking up the 70 acres of this lush, well-managed and maintained parkland. Approaching the end of the second lap I was able to ‘drive’ into Oak Walk securing not only a sub 20min finish but also a 75% age grading. There were 466 people who finished the event ranging from a 20-something-year-old coming home in 16mins 54secs to Elaine Aitken finishing in 1hr 1min and 15secs. Arguably the most warming result was seeing that Bex Carton finished in 50mins 46secs setting her own personal best. Parkrun really is for everyone.
With spirits high and mist now cleared we meandered out of the park into the city to treat
ourselves to a decadent brunch at Browns which provides deluxe comfy chairs, and great food portions, in a glitz-shimmering location; https://www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/restaurants/southeast/oxford#/
Full to the brim we then headed to the Ashmolean Museum to see the exhibition ‘Painting Poetry’ including work by Dia Al-Azzawi; https://www.ashmolean.org/exhibition/dia-al-azzawi-painting-poetry This was a wonderful exhibition with the highlight for me being the colourful canvases and books known in Arabic as ‘dafatir’.
With my wife now having her ‘U’ the following week we’ll be heading to Jersey Farm parkrun for the ‘J’, the final letter needed for her to complete the parkrun Alphabet challenge.
Congratulations on your U