We headed to Perry Hall parkrun for my 50th event this year. Having to needing to be back for work I needed to look at my NENDY list. Plus it was also their 11th anniversary we headed there. They were marking this occasion by collecting for the food bank!
Perry Hall Park, Perry Avenue, Perry Barr, Birmingham, B42 1RS
Facilities at Perry Hall parkrun
Car parking is available through the main gates on Perry Avenue. There were some spaces right near the toilets – we kept driving round (a tiny bit further to the start) where a reasonable amount of spaces could be found.
Also accessible on foot and by bus or train.
Toilets are located here and open from 8am.
Perry Hall parkrun Course
The first timers briefing did say follow the person in front – but make sure they are on the same lap as you! It is a complicated sounding course but really it felt really simple. Big thanks to the volunteers though holding up signs the whole time which made it clear where I needed to go!
Perry Hall parkrun is a keep right course. In reality a lot of the time people kept left but that made sense because the finish moves off to the right. Plus honestly it didn’t feel a problem, especially seeing as people didn’t seem to really want to go through the puddles! However, I certainly found it fun running through them and even finished with mud on my face somehow!!
The Route
- Run over the bridge and turn right. Follow the path as guided, and you’ll end up back at the bridge. There are actually two points that volunteers will send you left. This is your first lap.
- Follow it around again until you get to the volunteer that has a sign saying that you split to your right on the second lap. You will get to a turn-around cone and then you will end up back on the main route. Back passed the bridge – you’ve done 2 laps.
- On the third lap when you get to the volunteer (that was sending you left on your first two laps). Here you will head straight on! Again follow it until the turn around cone and come back. You will then end up on the part where you had turned left previously.
- Keep going until you reach the volunteer (who sent you left on the first lap and right on the second) and go left.
- This time when you reach the bridge turn right to go across it. There’s a bit of mud and you turn right again where you can see the finish (across a bit of grass).
Incline
Described as mainly flat – if you are an experienced runner then yeah you may described it this way! If you are a beginner; not that fit, or like me recovering from illness, that bit that isn’t was like ugh I wasn’t expecting that! It is a short-lived up though and there was a nice bit of down too. This is not long after crossing the bridge.
In fact Strava says that the elevation gain is 24m.
Footwear
Okay first of all Perry Hall parkrun IS all on path, unless you decide to go off it onto the grass BUT it was very WET following all the rain. I decided to just go through the puddles but never everyone did. My stance was it was pouring of rain when I arrived, I thought there was a good chance that I was going to get wet.
Although I am starting to think that taking a towel and spare socks to parkrun is a must for future events!
My Experience at Perry Hall parkrun
When we arrived it was so wet still that I said that I didn’t mind if our 16 year old decided to stay in the car. Luckily it stopped before the start and so he did participate.
Absolutely stunning location and I got to see a Heron.
Volunteers
Greeted warmly by the Event Director when we stepped out of our car, was just the start of our very friendly experience. We were blessed with not one but two Run Directors. Including the lovely Lorna who I had met at Abbey Park parkrun. This was because Jodie was shadowing as she learns the ropes to being a fully-fledged RD.
Lorna is very experienced as RD, and it showed. A nice loud clear run briefing – with everyone being respectfully quiet. Letting us know about milestones, the course, usual parkrun rules – including tokens and hazards on the course.
She of course included the anniversary/birthday and thanking for donations. You can still donate on the code – and there was a bucket for cash.
Run Itself
Having not been at work for two weeks due to illness, still coughing and not feeling 100 percent, I knew this was never going to be a PB event. What I did do was decide that I was just take it slower and see if I could just run it without stopping. This is what I managed. Including a not a too bad finish – and a nice lady complimenting me on it afterwards.
Stats Event 482
- 100 participants. 62 male, 37 female and one unknown. Not surprisingly given the weather it was no-one’s first parkrun. It was 17 people’s first time at Perry Hall parkrun.
- 20:37-1:01:25
- First place was recorded as unknown (it was his first time and didn’t have a barcode!) – therefore he is omitted from the results.
- First female finished in 24:32 (SW25-29) and an age grade of 60.33%.
- 53 sub 30
- Well done to the 10 returning runners who achieved PBs.
- I was first in my age category (VW45-49) in 28:59 – age grade of 55.89%.
Nearby parkruns we have done:
Sandwell Valley parkrun (2.7m), Sutton Park parkrun (3.7m), Brunswick Park parkrun (4.6m), Walsall Arboretum parkrun (4.9m), Cannon Hill parkrun (5.0m), Oaklands parkrun (5.6m), Woodgate Valley Country Park parkrun (6.5m), Babbs Mill parkrun (7.4m), East Park parkrun (8.8m)
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