We headed to Newport parkrun for the New Year’s Day event. Just like last year we left the children behind and so it was just myself and my husband. We needed one that wasn’t stupidly far away because I did have work in the afternoon. Also because we ended up until gone 2am watching Stranger Things!
Newport parkrun, Tredegar House, Pencarn Way, Duffryn, Newport NP10 8YW
Facilities at Newport parkrun
Facilities were a bit unclear before getting there. On their official page it was blank but the 5K app reported that users said there were toilets. But it, again, wasn’t clear about them. Luckily we decided that as it was New Year’s Day to nip into the nearby Services on the way. It turned out that there were toilets, but that they weren’t open until after the run.
Plenty of free parking.
Newport parkrun Course
Winter course. 3 laps varied terrain. With a small bridge, emerging tree roots, compact earth and grass, so can accumulate puddles after periods of rain. Parts around a beautiful lake.
Before the gates is a sign saying 200m. At the end of your third time through the gates you turn left and can see the finish funnel. There’s a nice flat sprint finish to go though.
It was beautiful, but fast. So, for me, hard to look up and just enjoy the scenery. Would be nice to explore the grounds or even park walk. As it was, as I said, I needed to get back for work.
My Experience at Newport parkrun
After leaving the car park we were immediately greeted by a place of such splendor. It was a beautiful day, if not a bit cold for some people. If I got a pound for every time someone told me I was brave or asking if I was cold lol.
There was not one but two places to get a photo of the Newport parkrun sign. One near the briefing and one near the Start.
Their Facebook page said timings would be prompt for the first timers briefing, etc, but they weren’t and we didn’t actually set off until 9:04am. No-one cared though and we were all just happy that the 28 volunteers had given up their time.
Everyone was very respectfully quiet.
My Run
With just two days to go until my Cross Country Relay I thought it was important that I tried to just keep running.
Managed to keep running until I hit the 2 miles I need to be able to run for the upcoming race and then walked.
Lady called Jo kept being encouraged right by me. She finished 30 seconds in front of me, which I feel really shows how much I ended up walking.
Was quite nervous about the number of people, especially on a three lap course. But it was fine. In fact only the first 3 finishers lapped me. The First Finisher did feel the need to call out to people in front of me to keep right (we had been told to in the briefing). Personally I think a please wouldn’t have gone amiss, but get that he was on for a PB.
The Finish
As I say the course was designed for a nice sprint finish and so I did manage it somewhat. Looking at my Strava it is crazy to think the speed I did manage to end in, is the equivalent of our son’s half marathon pace!
After scanning there were some nice numbered buckets to put finish tokens in.
Of course, as with most of the South Wales parkruns, everyone was super friendly and the reason I wanted to start the New Year over there.
New Year’s Day Stats at Newport parkrun
Only 1 junior said it was their first ever parkrun during the briefing, but actually there was a total of 6
- 314 participants – 163 male, 145 female and 6 unknown.
- Times ranging from 17:40-59:11
First female in 19:52, however I feel she was actually pacing the junior second female to a new PB.
Neither the male or female first finishers got the highest age grading of 88.16% (VM55-59) in 17:53 or 76.99% (VW70-74) in 25:56.
31 personal bests.
There were
- 10 sub20
- 61 sub25
- 149 sub30
Other parkruns nearby we have done
Riverfront parkrun (2.6m), Cwmbran parkrun (5.7m), Llanishen Park parkrun (7.4m), Cardiff parkrun (8.7m), Pontypool parkrun (9.7m), Grangemoor parkrun (10.0m), Rogiet parkrun (10.9m)
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