Our main Park run Race Director, Emma, happened to mention after a Good Gym run that she's been asked to find a second Park run site for Swindon, as Lydiard is about reaching capacity! I've not been specifically tasked with finding one, but it seemed a good excuse to try some new 5k routes and freshen up my runs while I built strength in my feet and shook off PF. I'll go the extra mile to help someone else while I can barely be bothered if I'm the only beneficiary 🤣 . Of course, this morning's gorgeous sunny cool weather also helped with motivation! So I did a business errand first, then parked up in Redhouse, sorted out Strava and set off.
First bit I wanted to check was downhill to Tadpole Lane and see if the wooden barriers were still there - yep! Then it was a challenging incline half-way up Blunsdon Hill before the path levelled off and I trotted past a couple of playgrounds while catching my breath. Then I reached the site of the Roman villa - which I'd never seen before. Time Team got all excited and did a 'Live' programme from there, only to find stuff-all in the way of anything interesting. I followed the path as it rose upwards again (getting it all out of the way in the first half, so I thought) I'd have taken a photo at the top because the views were stunning (for Swindon!) but I was too busy trying to breath and not get lost. The final leg was to a circular playpark that I envisaged Park Runners following the outside barrier before turning for home.
The way out was almost all uphill, and the way back dropped downhill sharply towards the main road, only to climb just as sharply to rejoin the path. Retracing my steps, back to the green by Redhouse School, I finally caught my breath and could enjoy letting my legs carry me along. There was even a Tesco where I'd parked so I could grab a cold drink - perfect!
It was smooth, wide tarmac, no roads to cross and quite a challenge!!! It'd make a super Park run, very accessible but I think they want something more in the East of Swindon. I'll have to suggest Ang3333's Chiseldon railway route! But next week I'm going to try Covingham and Dorcan, which will probably be flatter. I'd suggested Coate Water but they can't do routes around lakes (Elf n safety!). Hope you all get to enjoy the great outdoors today! 😚
Shaftsbury area is promising with underpasses beneath Dorcan Way 🤷♀️. Or I was looking at Covingham play park, south to Dorcan School, then left towards Dorcan ind est (not sure how wide that path is though) then back to Covingham. Maybe even a route using the underpass to Nythe/Eldene 👍
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
