We headed to Wotton parkrun this week. It was myself, my husband and our 17 year old. This one was chosen because I thought it was one of two left in Gloucestershire that I had not done yet.
Wotton Community Parc, New Road, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8RB
Facilities at Wotton parkrun
There’s free parking at KLB School. It was really clear where to go for the start (apparently 1km away).There are two ‘Abbey Loos’ situated at the site. One by the New Road gate and one near the sports pitches.
Our Experience
Just the three of us went this week – myself, my husband and our teen who can run 5k sub20.
We found it easy enough and everyone was really friendly (and helpful). My husband was speaking to someone who was telling him about different difficult courses, and I spoke to someone who had only previously done around 5 parkruns. The later told me that this one never starts on time, and he wasn’t wrong.
Our son also thought that one of the volunteers may have been from his school – but he didn’t have his glasses on so wasn’t sure.
We didn’t take our youngest – but both my husband and I separately had said it wasn’t a course he would have enjoyed!
Wotton parkrun Course
Despite being warned it would be muddy we opted not to wear trail shoes to our detriment. Silly thing is we had them with us in the car! Muddy was not the word and it was a really difficult course. The description was really confusing and there was no way I could have been the lead runner (not that there was any danger of that!)
It was definitely, for me, a case of just trying to follow the people in front and being guided by the volunteers. Luckily it was clear where the finish was at least!
It had some lovely puddles, some you even had the option to go round! There was even a section where you could either stay on the grass or go on the path. Note I think we were the only crazies without trail shoes! In fact our son even slipped over.
Finishing
It’s pretty much two laps and I was following the people in front but they slowed right down. One of the fields feels like it is slightly inclined too. Now the people I had to follow were really far ahead (in fact they finished almost two minutes before me).
Luckily you do pass the finish and go round again so did know where the end was. Even managed a semi-sprint finish. Although my time was nowhere near what it has been I was just thrilled to have finished.
But then I noticed that I had achieved a new highest finishing position!
Wotton parkrun Stats
Wotton parkrun had 43 participants ranging in times of 21:32-53:22. First lady was in the VW60-64 age category! She did it in 27:25 and age grade of 69.79%.
There were 5 unknowns, 25 males and 13 female. 12 were tourists to Wotton parkrun.
By that time the average overall finish time by that event was 29:49.
I was the third female finisher.
Sub 30s
I finished in 31:39 and 20th position; everyone before me finished in sub 30 (19 people).
3 of which were over 60 years old. Making up just under 16% of the sub 30 finishers. In fact one was over 70 years old!
Over 60s
There were 8 over 60s at Wotton parkrun. This makes up just under 19% of all participants scanned (as the unknowns could have also been over 60).
- VM60-64 – 2
- VM65-69 – 2 – with one sub 30
- VM70-74 – 1 (sub 30)
- VW60-64 – 2 (1 sub 30)
- VW70-74 1
Our son was the only participant in any age category under 35 years old.
Other nearby parkruns we have attended: Berkeley Green (6.8m); Stonehouse (9m); Tetbury Goods Shed (9.1m); Stratford Park, Stroud (10.1m); Three Brooks (10.1m) and Mallards Pike (12.5m).
It sounds like an entertaining one! Nice to get such a high finish position too. I’ve been planning to do this one for a while. I need to get down there and see if I can nab the first lady position!