Abbey Park parkrun was the location for Cowfest 2025 East Midlands, so it was an obvious choice for myself and my husband.
Abbey Park, Abbey Park Road, Leicester, LE4 5AQ
Facilities at Abbey Park parkrun
One of the reasons for Abbey Park parkrun to host a Cowfest was due to the facilities.
It really is a beautiful place with a bandstand, children’s play area, lake, old ruins of the old Abbey, sculptures and much, much more.
Are there toilets:
Yes, there are toilets just across the boating lake from the start at: ///slices.vocab.taps. With additional toilets at either end of the pavillion/cafe mens: ///kinks.ships.soccer, womens: ///above.shape.slug.
Parking information:
Abbey park parkrun has three car parks and we also have free parking agreed on the industrial estate at the back of the Morningside Arena. We were asked not use the arena parking on Memory Lane.
Suggested car parks:
- Abbey Park Road LE4 5AQ £2 for 2 hours, card machine available ///carbon.hopes.corner 0.2 miles – 3 minutes walk
- St Margaret’s Pastures LE1 3AE £2 for 2 hours, cash and card available ///lots.lawn.fool 0.3 miles – 5 minutes walk
- Abbey Park Road opposite house 103 Free – very small car park which fills up early ///boat.verse.asking 0.7 miles – 15 minutes walk
- Back of Morningside Arena Unit 10, Charter Street, LE1 3UD Free – likely to fill by 8:30am ///fantastic.lasted.kinds 0.2 miles – 4 minutes walk
- B&M Bargains Unit 1 Belgrave Rd, Leicestershire LE4 6AR Free parking (we can’t see any restrictions but check) ///beam.twist.fend 0.5 miles – 12 minutes walk
- ASDA, Abbey Lane 1 Exploration Dr, Leicester LE4 5NU Free for 3 hours ///others.plant.swaps 1 mile – 20 minutes walk
Abbey Park parkrun Course
One lap course, all on tarmac paths. The course starts and finishes at the boating lake in the centre of the park, and takes in all parts of the historic park including the river, ornamental gardens, cricket oval and ruins, boating lake and pavilion. We started stretched out on grass and there did feel like there was a slight incline near the start. After that there was a bridge that you went over and back again.
Start on the side of the boating lake near the model boat club. It’s listed on Google Maps with a pin for Abbey Park parkrun and also at What 3 Words: ///pools.slower.others.
What is Cowfest?
Cowfest is an unofficial meet up of parkrun tourists from the UK parkrun tourists community, and their running buddies. They happen in different locations each year, trying to ensure the settings are fair for people to travel to – but also ensuring that the event can handle the numbers.
To become a member you need to have visited 20 different parkrun locations. Then asked to uphold certain behaviours (generally just being respectful).
Why is it Called Cowfest?
Chris Cowell was the first person to reach 100 different parkrun events. Therefore, achieving this became known as a “Cowell.”
A cow was used as an image as it was noticed that half a Cowell was a Cow – which is also used to signify 50 different events! Then there was then a play on words with a cowl that you wear. The cow design was added to a cowl and hat and then on to clothes (via Flanci) to signify that you are happy to talk. The whole point of the community was to be able to identify others within it and to get attention for parkrun tourism exploits. A percentage of the money from sales goes back into parkrun.
The criteria for a successful Cowfest location are:
- Event Director’s enthusiasm and core team support to host the event
- Course can accommodate larger-than-usual turnout
- Can be reached by public transport
- Plenty of accommodation options locally for those staying over
- Adequate parking
- Adequate toilet facilities
- A cafe that can cope with a larger than normal attendance
- A location that lends itself to tourism and exploration is a bonus – eg a choice of bars and restaurants etc close by for parkrun-eve get-togethers
My Experience of Abbey Park parkrun Cowfest East
Community is what I love most about parkrun. What’s better than meeting up with old friends and new, coming together for a shared love!
Meeting People
This included Koala Monkey-Pig and dad; Jo Yarnall; Lorna, Deb and Andy Airey. But also most importantly lovely Deb Webb, who was helping me with my upcoming trip to Germany for an extra parkrun day.
When we arrived people everywhere greeted us, one even said, “Good Moo-ning.” There were lots of cow outfits in one shape or form of another. Not to mention lots of Flanci Moove-its. The latter of which we had some group photos for.
Also met Calum Burrell, from Burnage doing his half-Freyne (125 runs), who wore a banana outfit to recognise the 125 train service (the Flying Banana). Plus the date was also exactly 200 years Stockton and Darlington Railway opened, heralding the birth of modern railways. This seemed appropriate as it was his 125th different event and 200th volunteering stint at Abbey Park parkrun.
My Run
Abbey Park parkrun Cowfest had a wide start, a bit like Bushy park parkrun, so we had no troubles getting started. As usual the crowd pulled me along and I am pretty sure I was once again keeping up with the 24 minute pacer. However, when I slowed I didn’t actually see the 25.
Was nice to see other runners going back over the bridge. Jo even capture a shot of me, and another as I gave up and walked!
My husband wasn’t feeling very well and was going to take it easy, but he was soon passing me, telling me well done. In the end we yo-yoed quite a bit. With me ending up walking at least 4 times. But with a strong finish I still made it around in 26:33.
Stats and Milestones for Abbey Park parkrun Event 117
- There were a record 555 participants at Abbey Park parkrun. Ranging in times of 16:34-62:02.
- 209 Tourists were visiting Abbey Park for the very first time and 17 first timers to parkrun.
- First female 20:36 with a new PB (athlete before was unknown). However, second female (in an impressive time of 21:55) was 9 year old Isabelle Boyce!
- 89 pbs
- 259 sub 30
- 63 volunteers – including pacers, plus a Jeffing pacer!
My Strava actually recorded it as exactly 5k and said it was a new pb!
Milestones worth mooing about:
- 25 parkruns: Martin Nutter & Suresh Chauhan
- 50 parkruns: Jemma Carter & Ketan Naik
- 100 parkruns: Amit Mistry
- 250 parkruns: Kimberley Anderson
And let’s not forget the unofficial but utterly important milestones:
- 200 parkruns: Samantha Burditt & Neil Bayliss
- 300 parkruns: Julie Cull
- 400 parkruns: Malcolm Ray
- 700 parkruns: Anne Newbery
What to do after Abbey Park parkrun:
We were given a list of cafes, eateries and attractions. Of which there are a good many. People met up the night before and went to the Globe and some even stayed until the Sunday. We just went for parkrun so headed to The High Cross J D Wetherspoons with lots of the others. Unfortunately not everyone could go as it wasn’t dog friendly. The staff were expecting us and coped really well with the numbers.
- The High Cross, J D Wetherspoons – 20 minutes walk from Abbey Park, Wetherspoons pub serving breakfast and drinks, The High Cross, 103 -105 High Street, LE1 4JB
We also have done nearby Hastings High School parkrun (12.1m)
Visit these other bloggers who cover parkrun: Sarah at Mum of Three World, Jackie at Never Imitate and Chrissy at It’s Me Chrissy J