Llanishen parkrun – The Final Tourism of The Year

On December 28th, for the last Saturday of 2024, we headed to Llanishen parkrun in South Wales. This was because our son wanted to go caving and this is where things fitted in well. As it was the Christmas period his brothers had opted not to go.

Llanishen parkrun sign

Llanishen Park, Cardiff, CF14 5HB

Facilities

There is a children’s play area, a small wooded area and a skate park.

Llanishen parkrun skatepark

Toilet facilities are available at Llanishen Leisure Centre (CF14 5EB, you will need to check in at the reception desk) and Morrisons Ty Glas (CF14 5EP), where parking is recommended.

Parkrunners are asked to NOT leave their vehicles on the streets nearby or in the park itself.

Llanishen parkrun is also accessible by bus or train, as well as on foot.

Llanishen parkrun Course

There are a variety of surfaces – tarmac, gravel and grass. Each lap is a circuit of the non-wooded section of the park resembling a figure-eight.

The course is described as 3 and ¾ laps. Personally I would rather think of it a four laps – but that at the end of the fourth lap you turn off to the finish (and obviously it isn’t as far). There is a sign to show you which way to go for each lap.

parkrun finishing times to self seed

There are finishing time number signs by the start to help people self-seed.

My Experience at Llanishen parkrun

When the person doing the first timers briefing asked what we knew about their parkrun I said that I had heard that it was friendly. He told me I’d have to make my own mind up about it, but indeed, the information was correct. South Wales have hands down got some of the friendliest parkruns around (that’s not to say that others aren’t friendly too!).

Stanley, the Vitality UK dachshund

Also present was Stanley, the Vitality UK dachshund.

My Run

Personally I just kept watching the shoes in front of me and trying to keep up with her. Starting with a vest top on, which I managed to pop on the railings as we went round when I got too hot. Again I think it was around 4km that I gave up and walked, struggling with my breathing. But then my husband shouted encouragement to me – and I could see he wasn’t that far away.

Pinkoddy at Llanishen parkrun

The lady (who I thanked at the end and she was glad as she hadn’t done many) got away but right at the end I did manage a sprint finish and got much closer to my husband than he expected. Officially I was 7 seconds behind him with a time of 28:19. Our 21 year old finished in 26:55. He was on for a PB but his calf started hurting.

Llanishen parkrun Stats December 28th 2024

There were 168 participants at Llanishen parkrun on December 28th 2024. 5 very first time to parkrun and a further 30 tourists. Times ranging from 17:15-52:27.

Highest age grade Andrew How 81.59% (VM45-49) in a time of 17:39. Followed by first finisher Kit Edwards with 79.13% (VM40-44) in a time of 17:15. With 19 Llanishen parkrun PBs.

Sub 30 and the Over 60s

91 people finished in sub 30 – that’s over 54% of all finishers.

28 Llanishen parkrun participants were over 60 years old – making up 17% of all Llanishen parkrun participants that day.

13 of the over 60s finished in sub 30 – that is over 14% of all finishers under 30 minutes were over 60 years old. It also means that over 46% of Llanishen parkrun participants over the age of 60 finished in sub 30 minutes!!!

  • VM60-64 = 7, 5 SUB 30
  • VM65-69 = 7, 6 sub 30
  • VM70-74 = 2, 2 sub 30
  • VM75-79 = 4
  • VM80-84 = 1
  • VW60-64 = 4
  • VW65-69 = 1
  • VW70-74 = 1
  • VW75-79 = 1

Nearby parkruns that we have visited:

Include Cardiff (2.3m) and Grangemoor (5.2m);

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