We headed to Lydney parkrun in The Forest of Dean for event 410. If I had thought about it I could have couple it with a deep in the well – but what a good reason to return. It is a varied course and super friendly – this is how we got on.
Lydney parkrun, Lydney Boating Lake, Lakeside Gardens, Lydney, GL15 5RH (although for parking it says use GL15 5PE)
Parking and Facilities
Free parking was easy to find following the directions on the Lydney parkrun page – and the start was a short walk away. There were toilets available right by the start and somewhere dry to keep belongings.
Also accessible by bus, train or on foot.
Lydney parkrun Welcome
As soon as we arrived our lovely Run Director, Tim Smith, came straight over to welcome us. He asked if it was our first time to Lydney parkrun and explained everything. This not only included the course, but the toilets and the facilities. This also included hot drinks and snacks!
We talked about our parkrun adventures and I (wrongly) explained that this was my last of the Gloucestershire parkruns to do. He announced this and my son said that people were confused as to why. Turns out I actually have another two to go!
I also quickly caught up with the Tailwalkers – they were the dad and brother of a boy (now man) that one of our other sons went to school with. It was actually the mother of said boy I asked for advice about my trainers. My dirty road shoes were definitely the right choice.
Lydney parkrun Course
I didn’t really understand the course but it was quite clear. Basically you run around the lake and then do 3 laps around the “top” – which included path (mostly) a bit of gravel track which had puddles, and a muddy wooded area that had a bit of an incline. After you’ve done that three times instead of turning right (as you were for each new lap) you turn left and head back on yourself to finish where you started.
Think that’s how it went as I mainly followed people and the signs that were out.
My Experience
Overtaking
Despite Lydney parkrun being a course really small in numbers it did mean that it wasn’t always possible to get in front of people if you wanted to (well not without being rude).
The briefing it was clearly said to overtake on the right, and that it was the faster runner’s responsibility to make it apparent that they were coming and needed to go by. I did call out for people to keep left for a couple of runners, but it was literally this couple that lapped me.
We happened to lap the tail walkers through the very muddy woody area and they very kindly moved to let us go by (and called out encouragement).
Finishing
At the finishing straight I could quite clearly see the “finish” sign so left the lady I was following. When we had both recovered I thanked her and she apologised if it was due to her that I kind of ended up in a really muddy bit. Also I said sorry if I splashed her whilst trying to avoid the puddles (she was doing a much better job at avoiding them).
After that I grabbed a lovely cup of tea from by the finish – it was so very welcome on a cold morning. Especially whilst we waited for the youngest. Remember if you are heading to Lydney parkrun then take some cash for the donations tub.
Other parkrun Chat
Whilst waiting I had a lovely chat with the volunteers about all things parkrun – particularly whether this course would cope with a swell in numbers; inaugurals and Alphabeteers for a few. It is definitely the kind of parkrun that made you want to return.
Lydney parkrun Stats Event 410
67 participants – 37 male and 30 female. Times ranging from 18:48-58:20.
34 under 30 minutes. Two sub 20s.
There was 1 person whose very first parkrun it was, and 18 further tourists.
Our son’s back to running time was 22:26. My husband did well with a time of 27:03 – with just two over 70s in front of him! But I finished in 28:20 and had an additional over 70 finish before me!
Youngest went out quite quickly but then struggled with his breathing. Proud to say that he didn’t totally give up but walked the rest of the course. He hasn’t ran for a while.
Over 60s
- VM60-64 – 4, 3 of which were sub30.
- VM70-74 – 2, both sub 30
- VM75-79 – 3, 1 sub 30
- VW60-64 – 3
- VW65-69 – 1
Owen had the highest age grade (75.95%) running an impressive 24:57 in the VM75-79 category.
Other Nearby parkruns that we have done
Berkeley Green (2.5m), Mallards Pike (4.4m), Forest of Dean (6.9m), Wotton (9.1m), Severn Bridge (9.2m), Stonehouse (10.4m), Kingsway (12.9m), Stratford Park, Stroud (13m)
Sarah also wrote about her experience here on New Year’s Day when it was really wet!
It is a lovely parkrun, although the weather was crazy when we did it (thanks for linking to my post!). We didn’t find the toilets when we were there and the website indicated they were some distance away.
Let me know which two Gloucestershire parkruns you still haven’t done, please. I’ve still got to to do a few, but it’s good to know where they all are!