Park Run Tourism by Dawn – Market Harborough Park Run 17 August 2024.  Having arranged to visit my sister in Ullesworth and stay for a a couple of days I obviously looked up the nearest park run. To be honest I was hoping there would be one a little nearer than Market Harorough.  However, I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to run at a different park run despite the earlier start and extra traveling distance.

To prepare myself for the run I looked up the course description. What struck me first was how similar it sounded to my local Park Run in Boultham Park, Lincoln.

Both involve three laps of the park and are obviously in a park. I love my local park run and every tourist park run I attend gets assessed based on it.  It’s a hard act to follow. Or is it?

On arrival I pulled into the ‘Farndon Road’ car park only to find it full. I asked a local about parking who advised trying the ‘Welland Park Road’ car park or failing that ‘The Commons’ car park. Luck was on my side and I slipped into a space at the ‘Welland Park Road’ Car park. The car parks are really small as it states on the course web site. If you are from out of area you need to have a back up plan for parking and don’t rely on the ones on site.  For more information on your chosen park run visit www.parkrun.org.uk. (@parkrunUK)

Safely parked, I jogged into the Park and followed the signs to what I thought was the first time brief area.  I arrived at the volunteers meeting point and got chatting to regular volunteers & sisters Ann, Dot & Lynette. I was made to feel very welcome, so thank you ladies. They kindly informed me where the first time brief was and the toilets so another jog back toward the carpark. I arrived at the first timers brief just as it was finishing (Sorry Pete!).  Emma, another park run tourist and first timer at Market Harborough quickly filled me in. There were no surprises to be had, all seemed fairly standard.

I headed to the start line with Emma to discover there were pacers ready to support the runners looking for new PBs.  The run director, Mike, delivered a safety talk, giving a shout out to the volunteers, pacers and to those with milestones. As soon as he was finished he counted down 3,2,1 and we were off.

The start was a little congested, especially as we ran from the wider start path to the narrower path round the first turn. However, it didn’t take long for the runners to spread out and I soon found my pace. I could see the 29 minute pacer in front so decided that was my aim for the run.

As I was running I looked around.  The park was much busier than my local park in Lincoln. Both the tennis courts and the children play area were busy.  It was obvious that there were families of runners in the play area looking out for their mum or dad.  I had hoped that my Nephew was going to bring his children down from Lubenham to do the same.  Unfortunately they had chosen this week to go to Devon. Maybe next time?

The river Welland runs down the left side of the course and can be seen through the trees.  At the end of this path you loop around to run back on yourself ready to repeat the lap again.  Ann and Dot were stood here, shouting encouragement to everyone as they ran past.  This is the only section where you have runners heading in the opposite direction so it’s  important that you keep left. On the second lap this section resembles a dual carriage way, with the faster runner overtaking. However, it was not a problem as its a lovely wide path.

On my last lap I chatted to one or two other runners and offered encouragement to them to get them across the finish line. One young lady came up and thanked me at the end which I thought was really kind.  I caught up with Emma, who said how much she enjoyed her first run at Welland Park and she commented that the park made for the best warm up she had ever done.  The park truly is beautiful and well kept, so take time to look around after your run.

There were two runners with guides on the course today. Amanda was guiding Vanessa and Andy was guiding Simon.  I managed to catch up with Andy and Simon as they finished their final lap. It was Andy’s 80th guided run which had not all been with Simon who was on his 80th Park run. What fantastic achievements.

There is a fabulous little coffee shop and a kiosk selling coffee, cakes, pastries and ice creams.  I grabbed an ice lolly and sat in the shade chatting to a runner who was local to the area.  Everyone was really friendly just like my local park run.

The verdict. 

Park Run Tourism by Dawn – Belton House on 29 June 2024. There are some serious park run tourists out there, visiting A-Z of park runs around the Globe. I don’t consider myself to be one of them. However, I do confess that if invited to a Wedding, on a weekend away or holiday, the first thing I do is look up the nearest park run. Surely I’m not the only one?

Today I’m with some of the ‘Just Run Lincoln’ crew who are on our monthly tourist tour, visiting different park runs.  I already have experience of the course, having been twice before.  It’s a two lap course taking you down the long drive, around parkland and past the front of the magnificent Belton House.  I would say the course is 80% trail. That’s very different from what our crew is use to.