Mallards Pike parkrun: The Last of the UK Alphabeteer

Technically for my Alphabeteer Challenge the last letter I needed was an M. As I am going to Minehead, this weekend, I didn’t want to get my last letter without my family so it was for this reason that we headed to Mallards Pike parkrun.

Mallards Pike, Parkend, Lydney, Gloucestershire GL15 4HD

Grid Reference SO637093

lamplight.copper.grazes

Alphabeteer Challenge

The Alphabeteer Challenge is just to attend a parkrun event that starts with each letter of the alphabet. There are no Xs and so we are going to do Exmouth later in the year. We will have to travel abroad for a Z. See other parkrun challenges.

About Mallards Pike parkrun

Setting

Mallards Pike parkrun is in a beautiful location in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. Not only does this stunning lakeside setting have a variety of things to offer itself (Gruffalo orienteering, family cycle trail, marked out running routes, Go Ape, Forest Segway, Treetop Adventures) but there’s also loads of other great places nearby – such as the sacred St Anthony’s Well. See Mallards Pike page.

Facilities

Parking

There is plenty of parking (paid) – however we did find that it felt like it was full but did find more when we kept on going.

You can pay parking by card, cash or the RingGo app. The location code for cars is 31037.

Charges apply to Blue Badge holders. Apparently the early bird is only £1 in winter but I saw no signs for this, not sure if we would be in summer or winter, and to be honest happy to help support Forestry England.

It is £2 up to 10:30am, 2 hours is £3, 4 hours £5 and all day is £7. Different prices apply to minibuses and coaches.

Toilets and Bag Drop

Toilets are available not far from the start.

There was a sheet to place bags, clothing, etc on.

No Signal

There was absolutely no signal whatsoever. My phone displayed a satellite on it – which apparently is a new thing!

For me this meant no music. Ironically as I had spent ages looking for my bone conductors which I hadn’t left where they are meant to go. Usually I listen to Spotify and just thought I could listen to my music – but apparently that’s streamed and not actually downloaded to my phone either!

But for others it meant that they could not access their barcodes – even from screenshots on their phone. Luckily we have bought the parkrun wristbands – mainly because we wanted emergency contact details on now we are touring.

Inclusiveness At Mallards Pike parkrun

I have to say that I felt that Mallards Pike parkrun was really inclusive. There was a clear sign letting you know exactly where the Run Briefing was, a megaphone to ensure you definitely could heard exactly what was going on and just a real feeling of everyone being welcome.

There was a gentleman verbally stimming and just generally seeming very excited. The only reason I mention is this is because the way no-one responded to it made me feel like it was just okay to unmask myself. Newly diagnosed back in July myself I didn’t even realise that I did mask, but with the forest kind of soaking up my sounds too, I verbally stimmed whilst running too! Also people didn’t seem to be that close to me. Of course this also meant that Jeffing (a run/walk Plus only nice things were said to me (about my skort).

Event Director and Volunteers

Thanks to Simon Roberts who is stepping down as Event Director. A role he has been doing for the last four years! He has also been involved since the beginning of Mallards Pike parkrun and will continue to be helping out. We welcome and thank Lynsey Medicott to the role.

Thank you to all the volunteers.

Mallards Pike parkrun Course

Saturday September 14^th 2024 an absolute stunner of a day for Mallards Pike parkrun event 174. It is a single lap course on a hardcore, purpose built, wide permanent track. This meant that trail shoes were not necessary.

It is a beautiful course at Mallards Pike parkrun. It was our first time, but I imagine that it is one that changes with the seasons, so great to go back and visit time and time again. Which is good because we didn’t have time to explore and find the Gruffalo today – so my family have promised me that we can come back!

Easy to Follow

Although it starts with over half of the course uphill it is easy to follow. Any ambiguity in where you might have to go is clearly marked with arrows, cones and/or hi-vis heroes! Including a fantastic marshal who asked if I had done the course before. Then explained that I was over half way and that soon there was a lovely downhill!

200m from the end is a sign, although I was assured that it wasn’t even that far to the end – so was indeed able to sprint finish to get under 30 minutes, despite the last uphill.

Although one man took a tumble and there isn’t that many actual volunteers on the course – which is why there’s a tail walker. Luckily lots of people stopped to help. Again like my last race I felt bad but told people around me that he wouldn’t want EVERYONE stopping. The ED told me at the end that the man was indeed ok.

Stats for Mallards Pike parkrun Event 174

There were 103 participants this morning at Mallards Pike parkrun. 54 male and 49 female. There was no-one unscanned which is great to here as two ladies were struggling to load their barcodes due to lack of signal, I am glad they got sorted.

An incredible 23 people got Personal Bests at Mallards Pike parkrun this morning. Five people did their very first parkrun – well done, what a beautiful course to start your journey on! Plus there were an additional 35 Tourists.

57 of us finished in a time of sub30.

First Finishers

Marcus Bennetto was first across the finish line in an impressive time of 17:03. The only female to finish in front of our teenage son was Katerina Adams in a time of 20:56 (her age grading of 76.59%) was higher than the male first finishers too!

Parkrun Milestones

Well done on their 25 milestone to Archie Alcock, Shaun Pearce and John Morton.

Freddy Kofi Phipps Ward and dog have completed 100 parkruns now – also taking the title of highest age grade today too (81.75%).

Other nearby parkrun events that we have done Forest of Dean, Berkeley Green, Ross-on-Wye, Stonehouse, Newent and Kingsway.

See also Run Reports for Mallards Pike parkrun from  Sarah, Jackie and Chrissy