We headed to Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury for event 16. Of course this was for my Wilson Index. However, it was also a V needed to complete my husband’s second alphabet. It also happened to be a Prime Number Event.
Victoria Park, Park Way, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1EF
Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury Facilities
- Paid parking
- There are paid for toilets next to the pay parking just across the river. Press the button to exit.
- More toilets are at the back of the café but not labelled as “men” or “women.” Not sure if you need to pay for these.
- Tarp for belongings.
- Defibrillator.
Also accessible by walking, bus or train.
Other
- Café with a deal of a drink and pastry for £5 when showing your parkrun barcode. Indoor and outdoor seating (most of which is under cover).
- Play area.
- Tennis courts.
- Mini golf.
- Skatepark.
Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury Course
- A two lap, flat course. Mostly with a keep right approach.
- A mixed of path, dirt track and grass.
- Some parts had big puddles and so my feet did end up getting wet.
- For the finish you go up and back round the “V” before a short straight and onto the grass.
Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury course is so well organised and marshalled that each sign has its own “what 3 words” location to ensure they are put out in the right place. Using Velcro to attach them to stakes to further enhance visibility.
Things to Note
The course description sounded really complicated. Further not helped by people talking. However, there are a few things that were good to know.
Around the Pitch
Remember on each lap you go around the football pitch twice. This is actually a pathed area and not grass as I was expecting. Also it is a dog friendly course – but this part has signs saying “no dogs.” It also has a sign showing you where to go on each lap. On your first lap you want to keep left to allow people to split off to the right to leave. Then on the second lap move over to the right.
Note here you have to go through a gate on the way in and out. This often means stopping and allowing others to pass (for example if they are coming in and you are going out).
Near the Finish Area
Another point it is a little confusing is when passing the finish after the first lap. It is still keep right as people are coming towards you in the other direction. It feels as if you should move over to the left to allow people to overtake and finish on your right.
Our Experience
Finding the car park itself to Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury was a little confusing in the end. There were a number of them and my husband did figure it out in the end. He feels it may be easy to accidentally end up in a bus lane though!
We knew our friend Sage and her dog Milo would be there too. Who we met through the Boomerangs. Additionally, another friend Manda also surprised us. We had met her at Sharkrun where she celebrated her 99th! This is her local event but as her other half was doing Endure24 she didn’t think she would make it. Well done to her on her event PB.
The Run Itself
The Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury course sounded a lot more complicated than it actually was. Coupled with the fact that my calf hurt (so much that I worried whether I would be able to walk it), my husband stayed with me. Setting my watch for a 30:30 intervals on my watch and planning to see if I could Jeff it.
Straight Running
But when we began it felt quite crowded to just stop and walk. Especially as there were signs on finishing positions to help self-seeding. It didn’t feel like we were going very fast so I steadily just kept on running. Then I just kept on running. My husband did check if I needed to walk, but it didn’t feel too bad.
Overheating
As I didn’t expect to be able to get around very quickly I kept my top on. Never do I run in more than a sports bra top as I just get too hot. Needless to say it was when we reached the pitch that I ended up tying it around my waist. Then when I realised we were near the finish I popped it on a bench. According to Manda this is when I also sped up!
Timings
According to my Strava I had great negative splits. With the first 2kms being equal, the second two slightly faster – but also equal. Obviously the last one being faster as it had the sprint finish. Although arguably slower for me at a 3km pace. Note I only try and run faster for around 100m!
Victoria Park parkrun, Newbury Stats Event 16
Exactly 350 finishers participated within times ranging between 18:09 and 1:03:51.
188 male, 154 female and 8 unknown. Although there were more people on the course but they chose not to go into the finish funnel. Believe they were also Endure24 runners.
Including:
- Four runners under 19 minutes
- A total of 8 runners under 20 minutes
- 36 runners under 22 minutes
- With first lady in a time of 21:58 (68.06% age grading)
- 76 sub 25 runners
- 193 sub 30
- With my first non-stop running for ages of 29:11 (and my husband 1 second behind).
Welcome to the eleven people partaking in their very first parkrun. A further 203 participants were tourists.
Age Grading
Fantastic performance by Mary Stringer (VW65-69) finishing in a time of 23:19. This was the highest age grading of 93.92%.
Highest male was 80.47% in the VM60-64 category and a time of 20:39.
Junior with the best age grading was 71.15% (JM11-15) in 19:56. Just one second slower than the week before which was a new overall PB.
None of the nearby parkruns have been completed by myself.
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