For my birthday we headed to Oude Warande parkrun in the Netherlands. You see this year my birthday fell on a Monday. But it was okay as the Netherlands had their extra special day then!
Oude Warande 3, 5036 NE, Tilburg, Netherlands
Why Oude Warande parkrun
A reason to chose the Oude Warande parkrun course is due to the Strava art. This is because the run looks like a windmill.
Also it is quite a practical location for getting back to Calais for either the Shuttle or a ferry crossing back into England.
Personally I chose this course because it wasn’t near any Zs (which I thought may get overwhelmed) and close to our Eurocamp. Not only that but it ticked another letter off my third alphabet. For my Floating Wilson Index it ticked off a number 30.
Oude Warande parkrun Facilities
- Free parking (also accessible by public transport).
- Café with toilets for afterwards
- A plastic sheet on the ground to place any bags etc.
- Water fountain at the entrance of the park near the parking.
Briefing and Start
The briefing area and start were a little walk from the parking. Then after the briefing (and group photo) it was a little walk back towards the centre for the start. Finishing back where the briefing was held and the sign and café are located.
Oude Warande parkrun Course
A one lap flat course in the shape of windmill with four triangle blades. Unpaved lanes through a 400 year old park. With the finish in the middle. Easy to follow and with wide paths.
Dog friendly. Although someone else got bitten by a dog at parkrun. The owner was spoken to and the lady received medical treatment to ensure the bite was cleaned.
My Experience of Oude Warande parkrun
Arrival
My husband was worried that we were arriving too early and that we would be the first. Honestly there wasn’t even as many people as I anticipated but yes of course there was already a queue for the Oude Warande parkrun sign. In fact we timed it really well as it was a short queue before the Johnson’s Tour coach arrived and suddenly a much bigger queue!
Atmosphere
Obviously there was a great atmosphere. Catching up with friends old and new. Including ones I met over the Bank Holiday weekend in Germany and on the Test Run.
Briefing
What an absolutely amazing briefing. Delivered fluently in so many languages! Also with a shout out for my birthday!
My Run
Starting off well despite the heat I thought I may even get a really good time. As it was, even with the shade of the trees, it was just too hot. By 2km in I decided to walk. Despite encouragement I had just mentally given up. Thinking initially I would just walk after every km, I never even made another full km without walking.
Sprint Finish
Near the end I encouraged and sprinted a junior. As we got near the finish a man got in the way and I, obviously, let the junior and (am assuming dad) go in front to avoid an accident. Also, as we got nearer the finish, the “dad” put his arms out horizontally as if I may nip around him and he was stopping me getting between the two of them.
Strava
My stats told me I did some impressive things but I think it was because I accidentally started my watch and then just paused it until the start. But we had to walk to the start so I think it recorded this “jump” I edited this out and lost my strava group. Despite walking loads of times (I had convinced myself I would just walk every km but it was much more!!) I managed a sub29!
Post parkrun faff
No finish pictures as my husband just didn’t see me. He did treat me to a cake with my coffee from the café afterwards. Even the cake wrapper seemed to make a windmill design on it. They were quite insistant that no water bottles were out whilst sitting at their tables.
Was also a small world as the lady sat opposite us with her son asked me if I had been at Cheltenham parkrun a few weeks previously. My running attire although different was quite similiar to one I wore then. Apparently they had been running behind me!
Oude Warande parkrun Stats Special Event May 25th 2026
Expecting a record attendance and they weren’t wrong. With 469 finishers, beating their inaugural (107)! With Emma Pick beating the female course record with 18:46 age grading of 78.86%.
- 210 male, 258 female and 1 unknown.
- 12 people doing their very first parkrun.
- A further 412 first time tourists.
- 19 PBs.
Finishing Times
- Times ranging between 16:53-1:06:25
- An impressive 7 sub 19.
- 13 sub 20 (including the 7 already mentioned)
- 98 participants were done within 25 minutes.
- The first under 18 was actually in the JM11-14 category in an impressive 21:02 (remember it was HOT and busy). With a 68.94% age grading. Very well done young man.
- 224 sub 30
- Our youngest finished in 32:21 – not running regularly and then doing 3 parkruns in the heat over 3 days was a bit much and his legs hurt.
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 and Nickie at I am Typecast
How exciting to do a parkrun on your birthday. Unbelievably, in the 11 years I’ve been doing parkrun it’s only fallen on my birthday once. And it was the day my husband got his 100, so I didn’t even get a shoutout!
What a coincidence to bump into someone you’d seen at Cheltenham recently.
Thanks very much for the mention.