We headed to Ludlow Parkrun as I needed to be in Hereford for work and it was the NENDY to there. Offering up my time to volunteer as a park walker so that I wasn’t too tired for the 12 hr shift ahead. Little did I know that I wouldn’t actually be getting back to my hotel until 4:30am!!
Mortimer Forest (Vinnalls car park), Wigmore Road, Ludlow, SY8 2HF.
As it was so miserable, I had to go straight to work, and he had not been well, the youngest stayed at home. The next son up now works Saturday mornings, and the older two have left home. This just leaving myself and my husband; who also wasn’t feeling that well (but did come along).
Ludlow parkrun Facilities
Surprisingly it is free parking. However, there are no toilets. Nor is there a McDonalds anyway to be seen!
There was a takeover by Croft Ambrey Running Club taking most of the volunteer spots. Plus Louise Reeves was selling cakes raising money for her London Marathon charity place. This was in aid of MS Superstars; a charity close to her heart as she’d lost her mother when she was only 47.
As well as cakes there were hot drinks in the back of a car. This is also where we were told we could keep our bag whilst we were on the course. Not sure if this is a regular occurrence or because of the fundraising/takeover/weather.
Ludlow parkrun Course
This is a course with a small anticlockwise loop, followed by 3 large loops, before a slight left to the clearly marked finish.
You will pass this section just before the finish 3 times. It is a big “spectators” area too really, so easy to know where this is!
Ludlow parkrun course is definitely a trail! A very beautiful one at that. Well the weather hadn’t been particularly kind and a lot of parkruns had been cancelled due to Storm Claudia. This meant that parts of Ludlow parkrun were VERY muddy!
Also note there’s no signal – so don’t rely on your phone for your barcode!
My Experience
Greeted by the first timers briefing lady and then I ended up speaking to the Event Director (who reminded me that the running club were looking after things today).
Parkwalker Role
I clarified the parkwalker role expectations – as some feel that parkwalkers SHOULD be talking to people; others that the role exists to signal to people that you CAN walk at parkrun. Back in the day the tailwalker was actually a tail runner and if someone dropped out you had to try to run and catch up with the last person!
As I put the jacket on someone from the Running Club spoke to me and thought I was the tailwalker. So I explained what I was and it was good because he didn’t know you could walk. He had a bad ankle and said that he may try walking in the future (he was volunteering that day).
Regular Parkwalkers
It turns out that Ludlow parkrun has regular parkwalkers, and that if no-one had offered one of those would have donned the parkwalker role.
Going Round
So just before the briefing a charming young lady came over and asked me information about the parkwalking. She had done parkrun junior before but I explained everything. The other two young ladies with her happened to be her cousins. Walking meant I got to experience this wonderful occasion where the family had got together (as they do annually) from all around the UK to celebrate the girls’ Grandma’s birthday. This year it being her 77th.
The girls were protesting that they had to come by walking – but actually did end up running when one of the boys (from their family) lapped them.
Their Adult
As they were all over 11 I hadn’t even noticed a gentleman quietly behind me who was actually with them at first. He thought I had been incredibly patient with them. Really I was just talking to them, making sure the little one moved to the left to let people overtake us, and letting them know how far we still had to go.
They were very enthusiastic and encouraging of people going by!
Anyway
It turns out that it was his brother that was the parkrun passionate one. Although he himself was on his 74th parkrun. He did very well, despite the fact that his ankle hurt.
This is definitely a course we want to return to!
Children Volunteering
This was also the course where I had a chat with a lovely 17 year old who had been the (co) run director there since he was 10 years old! How very impressive. This follows on from the 3 year old helping when I did my token sorting!
Ludlow parkrun Stats Event 420
- 87 participants – although the tail walker went as unknown and the person with them didn’t record at all!!!
- 20:18-54:33 my time, as I was last before the tail walker and whoever was with them!
- 35 sub 30
- First lady 25:54 (VW45-49) – 61.33% age grading.
- First male had highest age grading (VM45-49) 70.36%.
- Highest female age grading (64.17%) was the VW75-79 category. Position 67 in a time of 38:28.Other parkruns
Other parkruns
We have done all the parkruns nearby as mentioned on the Ludlow parkrun homepage:
Wyre Forest parkrun (17.0m), Severn Valley Country parkrun (18.5m), and Hereford parkrun (19.8m).
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
That does look like a very muddy course! It sounds like you had a lovely time parkwalking and supporting that family.