This week we headed to our NENDY (nearest event not done yet) which was Wolford Wood parkrun. Despite starting 18 months ago they had just reached their milestone 50th event. This is due to it being pretty much off during the winter.
Wolford Wood, Great Wolford Road, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0PE
About Wolford Wood parkrun
Location
Wolford Wood parkrun takes places on a site of Special Scientific Interest – home to more than 2,500 different species of flowers, fungi and fauna. Located at the edge of the Cotswolds in Moreton-in-Marsh, Wolford Wood parkrun shares with the campsite which offers camping in wild meadows and unique glamping huts. The ancient woodland is protected by law and studied throughout the year by professionals and amateurs alike.
It is important to take all litter home and unfortunately no dogs are allowed on the site.
It was easy to find and there was a yellow parkrun arrow on the road to show you where to turn off.
Parking
The parking is £3 for the duration of your stay. You can scan a code given on the way in or just put cash in the buckets provided. It is by the landowners request but also helps with the maintenance and investment of the site.
Facilities
Toilets are available shared with campers. However, it might be a good idea to bring some spare toilet paper with you. Parkrunners are requested not to use the showers – particularly not to wash their shoes off!
Wolford Wood Course Information
It is three laps of a scenic trail course through a wildlife filled meadow and woodland track. Mainly on grass around wildflower meadows with an out and back track through well-established woodland. Note due to the way things grow you may have to wait whilst someone coming from the other direction goes past, or to go around someone, in order to pass each other safely.
Due to the mixed terrain parts of the course may make it harder for people with buggies & pushchairs – contact the team in advance for further information. It is also not flat – as you would expect with “wood” in the title there are also roots.
What footwear
The underfoot conditions are rough, with some exposed tree roots and it will be wet and muddy throughout winter. Trail shoes are essential during these times and highly recommended all year round.
Trail shoes maybe a good idea after a lot of rain but it had been really dry. Still I opted to wear my Vibrams and it wasn’t a good idea. The ground was hard and I hurt my calf. Not only was I not able to sprint finish but I limped across the finish.
Someone came straight to my aid to see if I was okay and offered to see if they could find me an ice pack.
Welcome and Briefing at Wolford Wood parkrun
There were lots of marshalls directing us as soon as we arrived. Really friendly even though we were early and they were getting sorted.
Our son said that it was the friendliest parkrun he has been to. His 33rd location and the first time that EVERY volunteer said well done to him. Thank you again!
There’s a great whiteboard with a list of all the wildlife spots and animals. That day they added a rat and dragonflies. Plus there are real pigs and also toy pigs next to the Wolford Wood parkrun sign.
No separate first timers briefing because mostly it is first timers.
My Experience at Wolford Wood parkrun as a Jeffer
Jeffing at Wolford Wood parkrun might have been possible but I only did it around the meadow for at least the first lap – as it really would have been an inconvenience to everyone else. It is really narrow two way running. Then, apart from around the meadow, I only Jeffed if there was no-one else about.
Our son overtook me just as he was about to finish. At that point my calves were just about hanging on!
As it was their 50th they had cakes for the volunteers and chocolates for the finishers. Thank you to the volunteers that let our very cheeky (much faster than myself) teens have a cake!
Wolford Wood parkrun Event 50 Stats
For Wolford Wood parkrun Event 50 there were 113 participants ranging in times from 18:19-52:54. Made up of 62 male, 45 female and 6 unscanned. 13 PBs, 11 very first time to parkrun and a further 71 tourists.
71 of them finished sub 30. By event 50 the average overall finish time was 32:20.
Evesham parkrun (18 mi), Cheltenham parkrun (25 mi), King George V Playing Field, Cheltenham (24mi)