Last week we headed to Somerdale Pavilion parkrun – the real Curly Wurly one! You may recall that we had headed to Thames Path, Woolwich parkrun believing that we were heading to one of two Curly Wurly parkruns. It turned out that we were wrong and that one is now the actual Walnut Whip parkrun. Therefore it made sense to head to Somerdale Pavilion parkrun – which is the real Curly Wurly parkrun!!
Somerdale Pavilion, Tiberius Road, Keynsham, Bristol, BS31 2FF
Somerdale Pavilion parkrun Course
The Somerdale Pavilion parkrun course is 2 and a bit clockwise laps of the Shamcross Cyclocross course. It honestly all feels a bit bonkers and the best way to think of it is to do the Curly Wurly 3 times and you are finished. However, I wasn’t really sure where the Curly Wurly ended! Thankfully there’s a sign to say you have entered it and a clear sign for the finish.
It was really well done in that even in over thirty minutes of running I didn’t get lapped! It is a bumpy course so it is advised to think about whether it is suitable for your buggy. Although I saw at least one seeming to have no problems at all! It is also a no dogs course.
Location
Personally I advise that if coming by car plan to pay for parking. Which is actually only 60p per hour. We paid for 2 hours just to make sure but an hour was enough. We took cash to pay.
It is kindly asked that participants do not park on the Somerdale Estate as it will lead to complaints from local residents.
We tried to find the free parking as recommended on the Somerdale Pavilion parkrun page with no luck. This meant we ended up missing the first timers briefing but did have time for the toilet.
Other Location Advice
Take care when crossing the field from the lower car park to the start, as the Somerdale sports field may be being used for golf and/or football. Please keep off marked pitches where possible and follow the signs to the start as this has been requested by the landowner.
This course advises trail shoes after adverse weather.
Our Experience of Somerdale Pavilion parkrun
Although we missed the first timers briefing a nice volunteer was happy to answer my questions. There was a nice clear main briefing – which was done without a megaphone at all.
It was great to do a parkrun that was a lot of fun. It was hot and we weren’t feeling our best so my husband and two boys ran together. Our faster runner found it odd starting in the middle to back and how he couldn’t get going at the speed he wanted. Personally I found it started moving quite quickly.
Due to the nature of the course it meant that I could see them quite a few times – which is really nice, especially when they’re encouraging me.
Jeffing
Jeffing is possible on this course. Despite the fact that it’s reasonably narrow and with lots of turns no-one seemed annoyed by my run/walk technique. For the first km I did straight run but this was mainly because I was going slower as wasn’t feeling great.
Everyone was really friendly. Many people complimented me on my outfit. Thank you to who I assume was Janet Leach for saying how you liked my sprint finish! What a great run she had with a 64.22% age grading!
Somerdale Pavilion parkrun Event 177 Stats
- There were 183 participants (101 male/75 male and 7 unscanned).
- 16 PBS
- 15 first timers at parkrun
- 54 tourists
- Ranging in time from 18:01 to 53:40. With an incredible 110 finishing sub 30! Given that it’s a bonkers course, hot and open. The average finish time by then was 29:10.
Well done to Lola Simpson, the first female and highest age grade (80.61% JW11-14), on a new course PB 20:12.
Milestones
- 25 Anthony Lloyd
- 400 Abby Troke
- 550 Carrie Ann Murphy
We have also visited nearby Three Brooks parkrun (7.5m)
Finally please note that this weekend 10th August 2024 it is the International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol