Dartford parkrun 1 - the inaugural event

For me, the inaugural Dartford parkrun event meant a 7am rendezvous with the event director, Richey, at the library entrance of the park to start marking out the course. I had been awake since 3am with pre-inaugural butterflies, so it was no surprise that I arrived early. Upon arrival I spotted a chap asleep on a park bench wearing a hi-vis jacket. My first thought was that Richey may have had a late night out on the town and decided that to sleep in the park would be the safest option. However it wasn't him and I ran laps of the library while I waited for him.

central park [photo: 7t]

It wasn't long before Richey appeared and we got to work laying the course out. First we looked at the formal garden area - the feedback from the trial run in this section had been good so we stuck with the signage positioning that we had used previously. We then headed round the park and placed the rest of the signage, including working out a new signage set up at the end of 'Mick Jagger's leg'. before heading towards the Dartford Harriers clubhouse to await our volunteers and runners.

By the time we got there, there were a few people waiting. Volunteers arrived and Richey and Tessa briefed and dispatched them to their various marshaling points around the course. Still more people continued to arrive and before we knew it, it was 8.50 and almost time to start the pre-run briefing.  Richey briefed the runners in the usual parkrun manner, he then handed over to the leader of Dartford council, Jeremy Kite. He gave an amusing speech and then we lined up between the two trees for the start of the run. At 9am sharp the run was started.

stones corner (at the end of jagger's leg) [photo: dani]

It was a glorious morning and the park looked stunning. If anything it was probably a little too hot for running, but off we all went around the 5km course. The marshals and course signage combined resulted in all runners successfully negotiating the course (at least, I didn't hear of anyone taking a wrong turn). The problem we had at the trial run where two runners missed the turn around point at the end of 'Mick Jagger's Leg' did not resurface thanks to the addition of a couple of signs, which allowed the marshals (my wife and daughter) to position themselves in the perfect place.

For the full course description. please read the official course page, or if you want more detail and photos, read my original Dartford parkrun course description blog (there is an updated version here: Dartford parkrun 2022 write-up). Due to the fact that I can make it around the course reasonably near the front of the pack, I can combine running and barcode scanning at the same event. I made it around in 19.08, slipped on my volunteering vest and donned the barcode scanning device.

looping around sir mick [photo: dani]

Slowly the runners came through the finish funnel and a queue formed for the two barcode scanners on duty (me and Tessa). At first, I found the scanner did not want to easily scan the barcodes. Maybe it was the bright sunlight or maybe it just needed to warm up. Anyway, after about 10 minutes it really seemed to get going. The runners kept coming and we kept scanning.

Eventually, the queue tailed off and the scanning was complete. Afterwards there were photographs and lots of great feedback. The parkrun tourists that had come along for event 1 have lots of experience of inaugural events and have visited hundreds of different venues between them, so to hear that many of them had good feedback for us was good news indeed. Comments mostly contained words along the lines of 'beautiful' and 'very well organised'. There were a couple of suggestions for improvement, so they have been taken on board.

time to do some scanning [photo: dani]

As time ticked away and the runners headed into the Dartford Harriers clubhouse, the park cafe, or indeed somewhere else. It was now time for us to head into the clubhouse and get those results processed. Richey and Tessa set to work on the processing, but due to a problem with the laptop, the information from the stopwatches could not be transferred onto the laptop... So they had to enter everybody's times manually. We had a turnout of 231 runners so this was a mammoth task.

Eventually it was complete and the results were sent off the parkrun HQ. It had been an amazing and hectic morning. As I've said so many times before about different events - now that the inaugural is out of the way, it is now time to start building the community. Thankfully the running community in Dartford is already quite well established and hopefully Dartford parkrun will be an integral part of it.

the littlest volunteer [photo: 7t]

There's so much more that happened and so many people I saw and/or chatted to that I haven't even got close to mentioning here. My head is still a blur and to cover everything would mean writing an epic blog, which sadly I do not have enough time to do. To finish up, and I've mentioned it elsewhere, but thank you to everyone who has been involved in getting us to this point.

Dartford parkrun has most definitely landed!

Dartford parkrun training and trial run

Thursday 24 July 2014 - our afternoon of training followed by our test run.

Related: my 'Dartford parkrun course description' blog.

The training took place in the afternoon and was attended by myself, Richey, Tessa, Jonathan (Shorne Woods parkrun), and Jacky (Whitstable parkrun). Jacky lead the training session and really was amazing - everything was explained in detail and we left feeling in much better shape for the test run, which was scheduled for 7pm that evening.

When we arrived in the park to start getting ready, there was already a small gathering of parkrunners waiting at the start area. Good news - we definitely had some runners. And. They had found the start area! I also spotted a really good contingent of runners from our running club, So Let's Go Running. It was great to see them here supporting us.

me and richey pre-run (looking a little stressed?) [photo: brian page]

The President of Dartford Harriers, Tony Durey, had also got a few his runners to run. To complete the Dartford running club set, I also spotted a few Dartford Road Runners out to test the course. There were also some parkrun club shirts on show and a good turnout of Shorne Woods and Bexley parkrun. Thank you to all of you for your support.

At the test run, we were all going to take on the roles that we would at our inaugural event. For me, that involves helping to get the course set up - running the 5k - then quickly slipping into my volunteering vest to scan runners' barcodes after their runs.

So I got to work putting out the course signage. It was the first time doing this so it took longer than it will once we fine tune things. I had to spend a little time making holes in the signs so they could by attached to benches and flag poles, and hung from trees and bushes. I also put out a few cones where they are required. Once I was happy with the positioning of them I headed back to towards the start.

By now we were running late and I could see the runners gathered at the start area. But then the air horn went off and they all started running. It had started without me!! I continued my jog back to the start area, slipped out of my volunteering jacket, searched for some satellites, then got a move on to catch up with the rest of the runners. You see, in order for me to run and barcode scan, I have to finish fairly close to the front of the pack.

during the fast downhill [photo: brian page]

I caught up with the tail runner, Ben, about a minute or so later then proceeded to filter through the rest of the field. Once we had completed the off-road section I had settled into a fairly decent place within the field - there were plenty of runners behind me that I could scan at the end.

I followed the course around - looking out for things that could be improved. I was glad to see the runners ahead of me easily following my signs and not getting lost. At the start of lap two we have an additional section 'Mick Jagger's Leg' which gives us the extra few hundred of metres we need to make up the full 5k. The end of the section involves a loop around the monument of Mick Jagger. However, a couple of runners missed the looping point and I had to chase after them as they disappeared into the tunnel that goes under Princes Road into the Brooklands Lake area.

This was a useful lesson to learn and we were lucky that I had been exactly where I was. I now know that an additional sign plus the marshal is needed here - so that'll be in place for event 1. I continued around the rest of the course - The marshals all seemed to be positioned perfectly and I didn't spot anyone else losing their way.

Once I had finished, I quickly pulled on my volunteering vest and got into position to scan runners. I wasn't the only barcode scanner on duty, so the first few runners had been able to have their barcodes scanned. There were now two of us in position to scan the rest of the field.

The feedback from the test event was very positive. There were a few points about some overgrown parts of the trail section, so we'll have a look into that. No doubt we will learn more over the next few weeks and months, but all the runners made it around and everyone I spoke to said they enjoyed the course.

post-run [photo: jonathan crowle]

Thank you to all of the volunteers and runners that came along to help us practice. We couldn't have done it without you all!

The unofficial results are on the Dartford parkrun news page.

Dartford parkrun course description

Please note: The course has been changed slightly since this was first posted.

Just a few short months ago, this parkrun venue was just an idea in a tweet, And now after lots of hard work it is finally almost time to launch Dartford parkrun. I have been involved in getting this one up and running, but apart from a lot of running around the park testing out different route ideas, I don't really feel like I've done that much. The main credit has to go to event director Richey and to the parkrun ambassador for Kent, Jacky MacDonald. Dartford Borough Council and Dartford Harriers have also been instrumental in making this a reality.

central park

The run takes place in Central Park, Dartford. It is right in the town centre and is easily accessible by train via Dartford train station. If you do travel here by train, you might be interested to know that platform 2 is the place that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards became reaquainted after they lost touch after primary school and what followed is rock 'n' roll history - A commemorative plaque was unveiled in February 2015, be sure to check it out. From the station it is about a ten minute walk to the meeting point in the park. One of the main reasons for having the run in this park was the central location, with the hope that the local people that stand to benefit the most can easily reach the venue.

a general view

Dartford is also well served by buses, most of which stop right opposite the main entrance to the park. Anyone who cycles will find some bicycle racks in the centre of the park outside the park's elegant looking cafe building or outside Dartford library at the main entrance. However I expect cyclists will use one of the fences around Dartford Harriers athletics track, which is more convenient than the other options. The athletics club are based at the track in Central Park and thanks to the support from their President, Tony Durey, the clubhouse will become the central point for parkrunners to meet, use the toilets, and enjoy some refreshments afterwards.

central park athletics track

In 1984, the Central Park athletics track was the venue of Zola Budd's first UK appearance. The track was still cinder at this point. The meet drew a crowd of 5,000 and ignited the interest of the UK media, with the race broadcast live on BBC's Grandstand. She set the Central Park women's track record over 3,000 metres that day. The time was 9:02.06, a record which still stands to this day. Dartford Harriers are the hosts of the Dartford Half-Marathon, which is the longest, most-continually held road race in Kent.

the view from the start line (athletics track on the right)

The run starts in between the two trees outside the Dartford Harriers clubhouse. The standard 'A' course is a two lapper and takes in all of the park's areas and lets runners see all of the park's features. It is mostly run on tarmac or other similar hard surfaces, but there is a stretch that leaves the tarmac in favour of grass and a dirt trail, which can be a little muddy in places during the winter. It is largely a flat course, but not completely.

darent valley path

The first section sees the runners heading off along the path adjacent to the athletics track. The runners continue onto the gravelly path and then, on lap one, turn left at the corner. The next section forms part of the Darent Valley Path. It meanders nicely through the trees and the vigilant runners might catch a glimpse of the River Darent on their right hand side. There's a small bump and right hand turn to negotiate as the course takes the runners across The EllenorLions bridge (or bridges).

the river darent and the bridge that runners cross as part of the route

Immediately after crossing the bridges, the route swings right and onto a grassy trail path that follows the river again. The tree line to the right hand side is very thick and completely blocks out any view across the river. The embankment to the left grows in size as the runners progress along this section. Once at the far end, the route turns to the left (this corner gets wet and muddy in the winter) and runners negotiate the uphill trail section. This is only short but features quite a few protruding tree roots and overgrown bushes to the side. In the winter it can be a bit slippery, especially at the very top.

the beginning of the off-road section

At the top the runners follow the only possible route around the the left and run along the outer edge of the football fields, adjacent to the road. At the end of this grass section, there is a lamp post which runners must use as a marker to run around (ie DO NOT cut across the football pitch to the left hand side). They are now back on tarmac and head slightly downhill on the twisty path back towards the double bridge.

runners pass the cafe twice during the run

Once across the bridges they turn right as they return to the main section of the park and run past the skate park. Here the tarmac is a little worn and cracked, but it is a pleasant section in the shade of the trees. This path takes runners past the park cafe and playground, and then swings to the right where the path narrows and the run goes through a heavily shaded path which runs adjacent to the playground. At the end of this path there is an old stone bridge (often referred to as the Troll Bridge) - this is one of the arches of Dartford's medieval bridge. It was rebuilt in 1923 across Dartford's other river, the River Cran, which now flows underground.

the medieval bridge (turn right as you pass it)

Turning right at the medieval bridge, the runners now follow the narrow path's natural course, where they can admire the stunning flower beds in the formal area of the park. Just outside the park, the runners may notice the red bricked building which is Dartford Library - this was opened to the public on 1 January 1916 and its dome was used as an air raid watch post during the second world war. It has also featured on the TV show - Britain's Most Haunted.

the central path and dartford library (runners run towards the camera)

As they run adjacent to the library the runners might catch a glimpse of the Dartford War Memorial which commemorates over 300 Dartford men who perished in the first and second world wars, and also in the Korean War. It was erected in 1922 and is now grade 2 listed. Turning left at the junction, the runners now head along the central path through the formal area. On the right is an area where the gardeners can get creative, which usually features an intricate design made from flowers. At the time of the inaugural event, the design was of a poppy. Really impressive work. This then leads past the rose garden and towards the bandstand.

the bandstand

The runners take a right hand turn just before the bandstand and follow the path which forms a loop around the bandstand green. They now take the long sweeping right hander where they will encounter fellow runners on a brief two way stretch. All that is left is a long tarmac straight that heads back towards the athletics track. At the end of the tarmac, the runners are directed onto the grass and through the trees to avoid any conflict with vehicles that could be using the access road. This completes the first lap.

the straight path that heads back to the athletics track

Lap two is almost identical but with the addition of a short out and back section. When reaching the first corner on lap two, the runners will be directed to their right to run along 'Mick Jagger's leg'. It is just a short section where runners need to loop around Mick Jagger, the Vox amp, and the Dartford Warbler before heading back and continuing the lap as described above. When reaching the end of lap two, they can simply enter the finish funnel which will be set up on the grass in almost the same place as where the run started.

sir mick

Barcode scanning takes place right next to the finish line and the runners can then head into the Dartford Harriers clubhouse for some refreshments and post run analysis. I have run the course with the running buggy and the only part that would be of any concern is the trail section which is narrow, bumpy and uphill (plus the bottom corner which might be difficult during the winter). It's worth having a look at this section to make sure you are comfortable with it before attempting a buggy run, especially if you aren't used to off-road buggy running.

the stunning flower beds

I really like the course, but then I am heavily biased. It's pretty fast and also features lots of different sections to keep things fresh throughout the run. Dartford has a great running community spread across its running clubs and groups, so I think this event is a good thing for the area. Of course, attracting existing runners is the easy part (they're everywhere!) - I really hope we can provide a welcoming, inclusive environment for any locals looking to get out and enjoy their local park and improve their health/fitness at the same time. I'm really looking forward to the Dartford running community becoming even stronger than it is already. All we need are a few volunteers each Saturday morning to make it happen!

Dartford parkrun are on Facebook and Twitter.

Edit: In March 2015 I made a video of the course, you can view it here: Dartford parkrun course video

Rocky Road Trail Race 2014

When I cycled on the mountain bike trails at the cyclopark, I couldn't help but wonder what it might be like to run on these trails. Then, by some strange coincidence, the Rocky Road Trail Series at the cyclopark was announced. It was to be a series of three races with one each in May, June and July. I was out of the country for the May race and the June race was two days after the North Downs Run, and I didn't want to ask any more of my body after running that. Thankfully the July race fell quite nicely and there was nothing to stop me from entering this one.

#teamslgr [photo: dani]

This race took place on a Tuesday evening, which is usually our main club night. But with this event being a one-off, I thought it would make a nice change for any of my team mates that fancied mixing things up a little. So in the weeks leading up to the race, I spread the word on the So Let's Go Running Facebook page with the goal to turn the cyclopark black and orange. In the end, we had a very respectable turnout of 11 of us from our club. I also took the family along and asked the wife if she wouldn't mind taking some photos of us all as we raced. Some members of SLGR registered (£8) in advance, but I waited until the day and signed up upon arrival at the cyclopark.

walking to the start line [photo: dani]

The series was put on by Steve Cable and his wonderful team of volunteers. Steve also organises the free, weekly cyclorun (facebook), which is 5k around the tarmac cycle track every Sunday morning at 8am. Steve was one of the first people that I bumped into and he had just finished marking out the course. I was going to recce it before the race, but time ticked by, people arrived, and in the end it just didn't happen. I did manage to squeeze in a short warmup run on part the trails with a couple of SLGR runners a few minutes before the start of the race.

the start line in the gravel [photo: steve cable]

Race start time was 7.30pm, and a few minutes before that, we were lead from the main reception building to a wider area where Steve marked a line in the gravel - this would act as the start and the finish. The course was a two-lap circuit of the mountain bike trails that run around the outer edge of park - they have different levels of difficulty with the black routes being the hardest. Underfoot the course was a mixture of some gravelly stones, dirt trail, rocky paths, and big rocks (or you could call them boulders). The terrain was mildly undulating and featured some very twisty sections of single track mountain bike trails.

and we're off... [photo: dani]

I lined up at the front, knowing that I would need a good start to avoid being caught up in the crowd once the route reached the single track which would make overtaking very difficult. So I started well, but made the slight error of being too polite as we approached the single track and I ended up out of position with no easy way to move through the field. I stayed patient and held back, then there was an opportunity to overtake on a corner, but again I was too polite and actually lost a place. I was now in 5th place, knowing that I was running at a slower pace than I would have liked and with no easy way overtake. The worst thing was that I could see the leader pulling away from us.

lap one [photo: dani]

I stayed patient as we followed the twisty path through the first kilometre of the course and then I managed to find a couple of points that were wide enough to make some overtaking moves. By the end of the first kilometre, I had made it up into third position, but was again stuck and could only watch as the leader disappeared further into the distance. Then I found an another overtaking point, moved into second place and had the task of trying to claw back some of the lost ground.

at the far end of the course about to enter a black route [photo: steve cable]

I was now 1.5km into the race, and at this stage, the leader must have had a 20-30 second lead, so I just stuck with a good strong pace and slowly I could see that I was gaining on him. As I came back past the main central area (2.8km), I had cut the gap down to about 10-15 seconds. By the 3.3km point, I had caught up with him but the narrow trail paths prevented me from overtaking. So I spent the next 1.5km on his tail waiting for the widest of the overtaking points to appear, and when it did, I took the opportunity to move past.

the final stretch [photo: dani]

I was now in the lead and did not want to lose it. I had a sense that I had opened up a little gap, but I wasn't sure if it would be enough. I was thinking about the team and how great it would be if we could get a win. With that thought in my head, I pushed as hard as I could along the final kilometre. The setting sun was behind me and I could see my shadow stretching out in front of me, I knew that if my competitor was gaining, I would see his shadow before he had an opportunity to pass. However, it never appeared and I crossed the finish line in first position and gave #teamslgr their first proper outright race win! A proud moment.

post-race analysis [photo: dani]

I had finished 22 seconds ahead of the second placed runner. I was really pleased with my efforts to catch him and then to still have enough left in me to pull away through that final kilometre (my gps data). After a few cups of water, I chatted to some other finishers and then got in position to cheer on the rest of the SLGR gang as they approached the finish line. They all looked really strong as they pushed through the last section - hopefully that's a sign that the Tuesday and Thursday sessions paying off!

#teamslgr [photo: dani]

Team SLGR results (overall position / name / time):

1. Steven Stockwell - 23.56

9. John Annett - 29.00

10. Aaron Bardoe - 30.14

16. Gary Clements - 33.02

17. Dave Reid - 33.05

18. Chris Preston - 33.07

19. David Cooper - 33.53

23. Stephanie Ham - 36.29

24. Janice Munday - 36.49

25. Rachael Bignell - 38.01

30. Stephanie Mills - 40.37

my winners' medal [photo: dani]

The prize giving ceremony took place on the patio area outside the cafe. I knew my result, and was very excited to collect my winners' medal from Steve. But there were also team prizes up for grabs. We had taken quite a large group down and I was hoping that we would be in with a good chance of another prize. In the end it turns out that we won the mens and the womens team prizes with our top three finishers of each gender picking up a bottle of wine each. The full results can be found on the cyclorun facebook page.

a perfect end to a brilliant evening [photo: dani]

This was a really good trail race - the terrain was much rockier than what you would usually find on a typical south east England trail race. The rocky nature of the course made this more like a mountain-style trail race but without the huge inclines. I really loved it and I'm already looking forward to next year's series.

To top it all off, the amazing sunset really did turn the cyclopark black and orange... What a great evening for #TeamSLGR!

Milton Keynes parkrun

I've been to Milton Keynes a few times. The first time was on 29 May 1993 to see Guns 'N' Roses perform at the National Bowl. I went back two years later, on 29 July 1995, to see REM play at the same venue. My overriding memory was of a town of roundabouts and dual carriageways. So I was intrigued as to what delights I might find at Milton Keynes parkrun - twice voted 'the most beautiful parkrun' in a poll conducted by the parkrun show. I'd had it on my list of venues to visit for ages, but it wasn't until I received an invite from Peter, who is a regular runner here, and a fellow parkrun tourist, that I finally decided to visit.

willen lakeside park

Milton Keynes is a 'new city' and was developed in the 1960s. It took its name from the existing Milton Keynes Village - the village still exists with the boundaries on Milton Keynes which contains the area's oldest surviving domestic building - a 14th century manor house. Nearby is Bletchley Park, which was home to the 'Government Code and Cypher School', which cracked the famous Enigma Code. To the north east of the main town centre, in the Willen district, is Willen Lakeside Park.

these features may have had something to do with the IF festival

The lake is one of the largest purpose-built stormwater balancing lakes in the UK. It features two separate basins. The north basin is a haven for wildlife and is home to many species of wading birds, fish, and insects, while the south basin has been designed for recreational use. There is a play-and-display car park at the south west corner of the lake, charges are fairly reasonable; 80p for an hour, £1.20 for two. I arrived at 8am and decided to stick in £2.20 to cover me for up to four hours so I didn't have to watch the clock post-run.

gathering pre-run

Any locals that choose to travel by bicycle will be able to take advantage of the 272.5km 'redway' network of cycle paths, known locally as 'redways'. Upon arrival, cyclists will find some cycle racks next to the south lake just outside the LA Fitness Health Club and Willen Lake Camping. There are more bicycle racks further along behind the cafe. The area just outside the cafe is a central point where many runners and volunteers congregate before the start of the run. Others go straight to the start. Just before joining the runners, I popped into the Premier Inn which has toilets that are open to the public.

the path adjacent to the grand union canal

At this point it is worth noting that there has been a very recent course change at this venue. There's not a huge difference, but as of 19 July 2014, the official course page still shows the previous route - I'm sure it'll be updated soon. The run no longer starts adjacent to the lake. The new course starts on the path that runs from the lake/cafe area towards the Grand Union Canal, where you can also see the Gulliver's Land theme park (apparently the best family day out in Milton Keynes) over to the right. This new starting point gives a much wider start than the old one, so really helps out with the approx 400 runners that run here each week.

under the H5 / grand union canal on the left

The course is almost completely tarmac, is largely flat (but not completely), and is a one lapper, or more specifically, a point-to-point course (oh yes, one big 5k loop!). From the start, the run heads towards the Canal up the very slightest of inclines and turns right at the end where the runners run along a very neat line of trees that follow the line of the canal. Unfortunately, the runners don't really see much of the water as it is hidden behind some thick bushes for the majority of the section. The runners soon pass underneath the H5 Portway dual carriageway. Then a short while later they turn right and leave the canal behind them.

the pagoda steps (this is where the zig zags are)

The next path drops slightly downhill and then brings the runners to a footbridge which passes over Brickhill Street. Next up, the runners run towards a staircase which leads up to the Willen Peace Pagoda. However parkrun doesn't do steps, so the runners have to negotiate the zig zags to reach the top, before turning left and circumnavigating field which contains the Willen Lake labyrinth and then running adjacent to the north basin of Willen Lake.

the peace pagoda

The Peace Pagoda can now be seen to the runners' right - It was built by the monks and nuns of Nipponzan Myohoji as a symbol of world brotherhood. Nearby are 1,000 cherry trees to commemorate the victims of war, and messages of hope decorate the One World tree. The runners then reach and pass the 'circle of hearts medicine wheel', which is a stone structure (or stone circle) set on sacred green space. The wheel is made up of 108 limestones from the village of West Underwood.

circle of hearts medicine wheel

From here the route passes underneath the H5 Portway and brings the runners out on the northern bank of the southern basin. The runners follow this path all the way along the northern bank under, which takes them back under the H5 Portway, over a small bridge which crosses the link between the two basins, and then back under the H5 Portway one final time.

runners on the final corner

The runners now follow the path along the eastern edge of the basin, which runs parallel to the River Ouzel. This path leads around to the southern edge of the lake, which passes the Ariel Extreme adventure experience - It contains a climbing wall, zip wire, and other similar things including rope bridges etc. All that's left is for the runners to go around the last corner and pass through the finish funnel, which is located right next to the lake.

it all ends right next to the lake

Barcode scanning takes place right next to the finish. There are a large number of runners here (342 on the day I visited) so in order to cope with the numbers, they have three volunteers with barcode scanners on duty. After this, the runners and volunteers head over to the cafe for some refreshments. I popped over but when I saw a queue and thought about my journey back home to Kent, I decided that I better get a move on. 

time for some scanning

I always enjoy a visit to a new parkrun, and this was no different. However, the weather was so, so humid (even worse than the previous week, I'd say) that I didn't really enjoy the action of running. I was however pleased that I had finally made the effort to run at this venue - my 80th different one (and 19th consecutive sub-20 minute parkrun). From next week I am committing myself to the new Dartford parkrun for a while, so the touring will have to take a back seat. However, I will return to it when possible. With the lack of parkrun touring, I'm looking forward to a smaller petrol bill for the next few months!

Update: I understand that since I ran here the course has been changed. Please see the Milton Keynes parkrun website for the latest information.

Another update: Milton Keynes now has a second parkrun, which you can read about, here: Linford parkrun blog.

Riddlesdown parkrun 166

I put the touring on hold to visit my parkrun home this weekend. After all, I couldn't miss the third year anniversary celebration event! After picking up one of the volunteers, Jenny (barcode scanner), we arrived in good time. I quickly found Graeme and shortly after, we headed off for an easy warm circuit around the downs. It had been largely dry, but a last minute downpour had occurred. We were pleased to find that course conditions were still very good.

(photo to follow)

I had it mind to go for a fast time, and possibly a new course best. I lined up at the front and headed off with the front runners. Within the first couple of hundred metres we had started to thin out and I found myself running in second position, but with the first placed runner slower but surely pulling away from me.

approx 2.3 kilometres into the run

I hit the half-way point in 9.15, very good I thought. The second half of the run was a lot tougher, not because of the natural effect of running hard, but due to the humidity. The weather had felt reasonably good when I first arrived, but it was obviously fooling all of the runners out there today. I was working so hard that I was sure I'd be on for a massive new course personal best.

my daughter in her bespoke volunteering jacket

I finally crossed the finish line in a time of 18.52, which was a new course personal best by a whopping 2 seconds! After talking to a few of the other runners, I discovered that many of them were slower than they felt they had worked. So I'm glad that it wasn't just me. I wandered over to the registration table to find my daughter helping out with barcode scanning - she looked like she was having fun.

start 'em young

Some of the runners and volunteers then moved on to Warlingham School for the proper birthday celebrations and the annual prize giving ceremony. The points prizes were awarded and the real stars, the volunteers, were given a few tokens of appreciation. Then, completely unbeknown and unexpected to me, I was called up to be awarded with a bespoke Riddlesdown parkrun / 7t coffee mug for services to social media. I was also dubbed 'the invisible volunteer' which I really like.

the invisible volunteer

After that, I enjoyed some cake and ran around a bit with Matilda before heading off to stay in London where I would be running the following day's British 10k as a VIP guest of New Balance. All very exciting!

British 10k 2014

If you have read my previous race blogs, you may have noticed that I usually tend to stick to smaller, local events. However, when the opportunity presented itself to run the British 10k as a guest of New Balance - who were the official sports brand partner - I just couldn't resist. This year the British 10k became part of the Vitality Run Series.

vitality british 10k london run 2014 [photo: 7t]

With my entry confirmed way back in January, I had a long wait until I received my race pack, which arrived about 10 days before the race. It contained my race bib with inbuilt timing chip, some safety pins, the official programme and my commemorative tech t-shirt. On my original entry form, I had asked for a small t-shirt. However, the t-shirt that arrived was a medium and swamped me. I attempted to have it exchanged but sadly it wasn't possible.

I was also given a free subscription to runcoach to help prepare me for the race, but after signing up I didn't use it because I have been following an anti-plan method of training for the last year which has been very successful for me. The runcoach plan wanted me to do certain workouts on certain days and I just couldn't make it ft in with my haphazard (lacking any obvious principle of organisation) style of training. For most people who actually train properly, I imagine it would be a very useful training tool.

breakfast in the cavalry and guards club, piccadilly [photo: 7t]

As I was a guest of New Balance, they had arranged a special pre-race breakfast at the Cavalry and Guards Club. I arrived at 8am kitted out in my black and orange 'So Let's Go Running' club vest and was issued with a VIP guest pass. I proceeded up to the main breakfast dining room where I was escorted to my table. It was here that I met some journalists from a newspaper (but I can't quite remember which one) and also fellow blogger, Ian, who writes the 'running ok in the uk' blog. I also bumped into Adele, who writes the 'fitartist' blog. Both of their reports (Ian's / Adele's) from the day are a great read and definitely worth checking out.

Before the race started, there were some speeches, songs from the Military Wives Choir and poems to link in with the theme of this year's event which was the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War. And in keeping with this theme, the official charity of the event was Help for Heroes. The speeches, songs and poems all took place from the balcony of the of the Cavalry and Guards Club and I was fortunate enough to be able to stand with them on the balcony during the formalities (I even spotted myself on one of the big screens). Another bonus of being based within the building was that I didn't have to queue to use the portaloos, I got to use the lovely, fancy-pants toilets in the club.

from the balcony, i could see the starting waves lined up [photo: 7t]

An additional perk of being a special guest was that I wouldn't have to join the mass of runners queuing for the start along Piccadilly. So when it was time to get in position to run, I was simply allowed to join the first wave of runners. I filtered through to the front, where I found a line of marshals separating the first wave of mass runners from the elite. Upon leaving the club, New Balance had also issued me with an 'Elite Athlete' pass, so I was allowed to go through the line of marshals and start right at the very front with the proper elite runners.

After a brief downpour of rain and a rendition of the national anthem, the race got underway at 9.35am sharp (video of the start). I headed out at fair old pace along Piccadilly (starting with elites has that effect) and ran past all the runners that were waiting patiently for their turn to start. I kept my eyes peeled for any runners I knew, and to my surprise, in one of the waves of runners queuing on the opposite side of the road, I saw a fellow runner from Dartford, Ben, he called out my name and we managed a high-five as I passed. I had chosen to wear my New Balance 1080v3 road shoes - they are still my favourite road shoe and they did a wonderful job, as always.

elite athlete access pass [photo: 7t]

The race then passed The Ritz and then took a right hand turn and headed slightly downhill along St. James's Street towards St. James's Palace before turning along Pall Mall where I'm sure I heard someone in the crowd say 'oh, that was that buggy runner guy' as I passed - that gave me a nice boost and made me smile as I ran through Trafalgar Square and then reached the 2 kilometre point. I was still running at a pace way faster than I could maintain for 10k.

The route then continued down towards the river, where I turned left onto Victoria Embankment and ran past Embankment Station to the cheers of the thousands of people that had come out to watch and support the runners. I really was amazed to see so many people out this early on a Sunday morning. I'm not used to having so much support and I felt a bit guilty for not being able to acknowledge every single person that cheered me on.

about 2.5k into the race [photo: dani]

As I reached Somerset House, I made the very conscious decision to drop the pace a little (by about 10 seconds per km) because I had covered the first 3 kilometres at a faster pace than my current 5k personal best pace. Not the greatest plan for a 10k race. This part of the course was quieter and not so pleasing on the eye as the other parts, as it passes through the 1960s concrete of the Blackfriars underpass and surrounding buildings. A 180 degree turn just before reaching Southwark Bridge marked the most easterly point of the course, before sending the runners back through another section of underpass and up on a strange loop where the halfway point is found.

My official halfway (5k) time was 18:36, which is only a few seconds off my current 5k personal best. Thankfully I was now maintaining the slightly slower pace (more or less in line with my proper 10k pace). I looped around and rejoined Victoria Embankment where I now headed west. It was at this point that I finally got to see the rest of the runners again. I even heard someone shout 'So Let's Go Running' during this section - so I raised a hand to acknowledge her. The weather conditions were a little on the humid side and I was starting to feel it.

a but further along and not looking quite so comfortable [photo: dani]

As I reached Embankment Station again, the crowds gave me an incredible boost, especially as I passed under the train line into Charing Cross station - the noise was deafening (in a good way) at this point. A couple of children held their hands out for a high five around here, and I happily obliged. I continued on with the London Eye to my left and eventually the sight of the Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben) came into view. When reaching the end of Victoria Embankment, the course turned left and went over Westminster Bridge where, on the other side, there was a double decker routemaster bus parked in the middle of the road for the runners to loop around.

Coming back across the bridge, I spotted my wife with the camera, gave her a quick wave and continued to focus on the last two kilometres of the race. I had spent most of the race a few seconds behind the eventual winning female runner, and I did start to gain on her slightly at this point. Next I ran clockwise around half of Parliament Square, past St. Margaret's church and Westminster Abbey, and headed off for an out-and-back section on Victoria Street with the turnaround point outside New Scotland Yard. This section was mentally tough, mostly, I think, due to the fact that you are running away from the finish line when you are approaching the point of exhaustion.

the routemaster bus (and the #teamslgr runner) [photo: dani]

After turning around, it was a case of returning to Parliament Square, continuing the clockwise loop and finally onto Whitehall for the last 300 metres, which included passing the Cenotaph and Downing Street before reaching the finishing line, which is almost on the exact spot of the execution of Charles the 1st, outside Banqueting House. I couldn't quite catch the first finishing female in the end, but that didn't matter because I had just run my fastest ever 10 kilometre race.

At this point I didn't know my exact finishing time because I forgot to stop my stopwatch as I crossed the line and of course I wasn't paying attention to the big clock right in front of me. My time wouldn't be confirmed until later in the day when the results had appeared online, but I knew it was somewhere around 39 minutes and I was hopeful that it would be sub-39. Once over the line, a marshal gave me a bottle of water and I continued to walk along Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square.

#teamslgr and the eventual women's winner by the gun, but not the fastest woman to complete the course [photo: dani]

Being such a large event, the post race arrangements felt quite odd and spaced out to me. I knew I had to continue walking onto The Mall and then up to Waterloo Place towards the baggage areas. However, it wasn't particularly clear what the medal-collection process would be. Once up at Waterloo Place, it became apparent that the medals were being given out by the staff that were manning the baggage areas. During my time in this area so many people came up to me to ask where they could get their medal. For the record, the medal was pretty decent - it was a bespoke design showing some of the iconic landmarks and had the date of the race etched onto it (there's a photo of it further down this page).

The other reason for going to Waterloo Place was to meet up with the lovely people from New Balance again, and to visit the New Balance Village. Here there was a New Balance stand where runners could pick up special deals on clothing and other bits and pieces, and check out shoes at the Sweatshop pop-up store. There was also a garden area with mini golf and free popcorn. Shortly after arriving, the day's musical entertainment began - the performance was by The Rinky Dinks - The UK's first ukulele supergroup!

the finish line on whitehall

After picking up an extensive collection of swag, including shoe laces, t-shirts, NB water bottle, shoe fresheners, drawstring bag from Tiger Balm and other assorted goodies, I joined the queue for a free massage provided by YourPhysioPlan.com . It was a pretty full-on (painful) experience and it really sorted out my sore calves, which were very knotty. After a brief discussion about my race times and frequency of running, the advice was to have someone look after my legs on a more regular basis, so I may be on the lookout for a physio with an equally firm pair of hands in the near future.

I spent some time wandering around looking for people that I knew, but there were so many runners milling around that I gave up and headed off home. Once there, I went online to try to find out my official finishing time. The official British 10k results page was still displaying 2013's results but I managed to find this year's results straight away by going straight to the webpage of the official chip timing company - TDL event services.

in the new balance village

If you are interested in my GPS data you can view it on Strava. The app brought the course out slightly long, but when you look at the fact that I passed through two tunnels and the line the satellites picked up weaves all over the road, it's not surprising. I imagine the course was spot on.

The total number of runners that completed the course is unclear. I've read somewhere that there were 19,000 of us, but the official results page only shows 14,298 finishers. This number has changed a few times and I imagine it will change some more after I have published this blog.

the first sixteen finishers [screenshot: tdl event services]

My stats:

Time: 38:41
5k splits (18.36 and 20.05) - oh dear.
14th finisher (by gun)
13th male finisher (by gun)
29th position overall (by chip) (some runners in subsequent waves ran the course faster than me)
27th male finisher overall (by chip) (including other waves)
I finished in the top 0.2% of runners (based on the 14,xxx figure)
Age Grade: 71.84%

and of course, the finisher's medal

Overall, I had an brilliant morning at the event. The route was pretty good, but I think because I run on these streets so often, it felt a little like running one of my training runs, and the landmark buildings didn't wow me in the same way as they might for someone from out-of-town. It was, however, the support from the spectators around the course that has really stuck with me - they were amazing. I have a feeling that my experience and finishing time would have been completely different if I had entered in the usual way (with a £50 entry fee) and had started in one of the mass runner waves.

The New Balance and Gung Ho staff were absolutely brilliant hosts and I can't thank them enough for giving me such an amazing experience. The Elite Athlete pass really was the icing on the cake!