UpTheStanley and I tried to run the Severn Bridge parkrun with cheekychipmunks this month, but we both got the lurgy and had to cancel twice. So we were not going to cancel our planned trip to the iconic Bushy Park today, heatwave or not.
We got up at crack sparrow to allow for problems en route but we had a perfect drive from Southsea and ended up at Bushy Park at 7.30! Talk about keen, but we weren’t the only ones pulling up in the car park, and checking out the public loos. Parking was free but we gave a donation to Royal Parks.
There was a buzz in the air as tourists chatted and talked about their own parkruns and we met lots of other core team members excited to see how it was organised at the Mecca of parkrun. There were runners from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa at the welcome brief so we didn’t bother to mention our 75 minute journey from the south coast.
The start line was very wide so you didn’t waste precious time getting to the start as a slower runner. As almost 1000 people ran on dried grass and dirt track, the air filled with dust. It was like a buffalo stampede in the prairies! There were pacers in attendance but I was way behind the 35 min pacer, although my watch showed I was close to that pace. Being mainly flat, we could see the fast runners well ahead. It was a figure of 8 course so there was no keeping to the left to allow returning runners to fly past like our home run. Volunteer marshals were brilliant as always.
I chatted to a girl from Southend and we agreed that a sea breeze would have been nice. We took turns in overtaking each other. It was 18C at the start but soon heated up, and the air was so dry. I was glad of my flipbelt bottle of water to wet my whistle and liked the shady bits under the ancient trees, while looking out for roots ready to trip me up. I wasn’t surprised that I had to take a few walking breaks, no shame on a day like today. As I got towards Southend Girl again in the last 200m, she was being egged on by her team member. “Head up, punch those arms, chest up….” I followed all his instructions and picked up speed too. Then UTS started cheering me on and I raced for the line. I was the last in my group , then they switched funnels. After a while they opened my funnel again and a little boy carried a card to show he was in the next batch. It’s so clever how they organise the number of runners there. Lots of marshals were present to prevent funnnel ducking and move us along in order too.
We queued up for the photo opportunity in the picture frame and then one of the core team wanted a pic of us with Southsea bear for their run report.
A very nice brekkie followed at the Pheasantry Cafe, where we were joined by Bushy runners who grew up in Portsmouth/Southsea. What a friendly parkrun.
34:02 for me (Just under 34 mins on Garmin) and 25:41 for UTS, and lots of parkrunning achievements:
Another tourist run ✅
Another B in the Staying Alive Challenge ✅
A Royal Parks Run ✅
02 in the Stopwatch Bingo ✅
Another Time Trials Run ✅
Bushy Pilgrimage ✅
What a great time we had — going to Bushy Park is a must for anyone passing through the area, or close enough to do it from home.
It has to be said, we were pretty disheveled and sweaty at the end of that, but we walked 20 minutes through the lovely grounds to Hampton Swimming Pool (36m open air) which we had booked online during the week. It was very busy, as you can imagine, but lovely to get a few lengths in and have a shower and change of clothes. It was 30C when we left.
Back to volunteering next week.
Written by
Dexy5
Graduate10
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It was incredible. We spent quite a while getting out of the funnel but at least we had caught our breath by the time we got to finish tokens. UTS got a volunteer to deliver a water bottle to me. Such a gent.
Good to hear from you Dexy5, Bushy Parkrun is THEE "Home of Parkrun" as Wimbledon is to tennis and St Andrews is to golf, just as well the temperature today wasn't as high as its supposed to be on Monday and Tuesday, if it had some parkruns might have been cancelled, glad you enjoyed your swim after the run.
Ooh, suffering real FOMO here. As you say, it really is one to aim for, although 1000 runners sounds an awful lot. Well done for a great time in those temps. Mind you I’ve barely moved from the pool today (38c this afternoon in the Dordogne). Heading to the lake early tomorrow for a bit of shade 🤞
I am sure you will get there before the year is out Sandie. 😉
I have been thinking of you and OH as we look at the temperature map of Europe - thank goodness you’ve got a pool. It’s all heading our way so I think I’ll stand in the sea fully clothed next week to stay cool.
This sounds like a brilliant park run. It’s sort of close to a good friend of mine. I’ll move it up the hit list! Well done in the heat. You’re more hardcore than me!!!
1000 runners?! Horrific. i was merely walking, making my way through a much smaller crowd this afternoon, and that was bad enough. You're way braver than me!
I know you love running on your own Cmoi. It didn’t really feel like that many because the fast runners just left us for dust (literally). It’s funny that despite it’s size, it was incredibly friendly.
It's not simply that I like running on my own Dexy5 , it's that I find crowds overwhelming. Doesn't matter how friendly people are, if I'm surrounded, I get anxious and need to get away. It's great that you enjoy running with lots of others, but it would be stupid of me to put myself in that situation.
Gosh that was a hot one. We were definitely glad of the sea breeze at Southsea as we three walkers almost made the back 3 of the run (me, chemo infusion last Wednesday), Mr C (Achilles), Oldgirlruns (back). I had even brought out the trusty Urban Activator poles that had helped me gain pace after hip surgery and before I could run, but it was very hot. Quick cold drink and flapjack from the Baffled outlet and home for the successful Australia England rugby tour decider.
It certainly was Coddfish. There was a moment when we wondered if we would even get there last night. I think there was an Indian wedding party going on in the next street and we were still awake at midnight.
Well done Dexy5 and UpTheStanley I must get up to Bushy Park one day! 😀 It must be a nightmare to coordinate results etc for so many runners! 🏃♀️🏃♂️😳
Glad you enjoyed your trip Dexy, you both had good times considering the heat! I know UTS was looking for sub 26 so he must have been pleased. Sounds a bit of a dust bowl but I’m sure will quickly repair as soon as it rains again! The swim sounds just the job!
Oh, Well done Dexy and UTS, that sounds like super fun despite the extreme heat. I have run in Bushy Park a couple of times as we are only about half an hour away. I did my Wk 9 Run 2 there on the Parkrun course on my c25k comeback so know how pretty it is. 🌳
I imagine the deer keep well away from the course with 1000 runners on the stampede, but I expect you saw them under the trees. And the parakeets..
We have walked from there into Kingston along the Thames path many times, and walked the outer paths via Hampton, but didn't know about the open air swimming pool. That might be nice for a visit with our daughter and grandson...
Well done for ticking off so many boxes with your tourist Parkrun.
Thank you Bluebirdrunner, what a perfect place to graduate your c25k. The tailwalker came in at an hour so it is not all fast and furious.
Yes we saw the deer under the trees as we entered the park to the left of the Diana fountain and they stayed well away from parkrun. I loved the woodland gardens and lots of families were having picnics in the shade.
The pool (plus a toddlers pool) is run by the YMCA.
Ahh wonderful Dexy and UTS 😍 I’m glad you got to go to the iconic Bushy Park. 😀 Severn Bridge is going nowhere, you’ll just need to come another time! 😍
Oh I’m so jealous Dexy!! One day we’ll get down there!! Sounds brilliant. Our core team did a pilgrimage en masse just before lockdown but we were mere runners and volunteers back then. I can just imagine the scene as you described it though - reminiscent of Southampton. Brilliant idea to book the swimming pool too. Fabulous! 😍
Great report from an iconic run Dexy! I can’t imagine running with SO many people. I don’t run Parkrun any more but volunteer most weeks. Took my first stint as RD this week but a field of 113 is much more manageable. Rounding up volunteers and the thought of those funnels scare me 😆. Congratulations
Well done for being RD Sybilw- there’s a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than people realise. Their future roster looks a bit empty so they must have to chase, just like the rest of us. We ran with 800 at Southampton so it wasn’t much different. I think they got a lot more people pre-pandemic
Well done Dexy and UTS. A case of Parkrun envy here! But the heat does sound a bit of a challenge. We all love our home Parkrun but how lovely to do a special one. Sandie1961 and I were so lucky to do a french Parkrun before they got suspended.
Shakes suggested to our French group coordinator (purely a Facebook based social running group) that it might be nice to have matching shirts, but that could apparently trigger the group becoming “official”. Then would need a constitution, committee, insurance etc etc so we will carry on just meeting for a run!
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