We headed to Wolverhampton parkrun due to the fact that I had agreed to work. It was also one of the closest ones not done yet. Plus there were a lot of cancellations due to the storm. Opting for it due to it being all on tarmac – which worked out well as I did achieve a lifetime 5K personal best!
Wolverhampton parkrun, West Park, Wolverhampton, WV1 4PN
Facilities at Wolverhampton parkrun
- Free parking around the park. Apparently there’s usually over 500 participants and this can be hard to get some arrive early!
- Also accessible by bus. If you get the train then you will additionally need the bus.
- Toilets – asked not to use the café and so again get there early as there can be quite a queue.
- Playground
Wolverhampton parkrun Course
All on tarmac and mostly flat. Starting at the bandstand it is 200m out to the perimeter of the park. Then it is 3 times around the perimeter and another 200m back to the bandstand for the finish. No massive hills but it did feel like some nice downhill.
Well-marked out for each KM that were spot on. Although I ended up measuring further after the 4km.
The finish is set up before you start so you can see where you are going. There’s also a sign out on the course to show where to go to head to the finish. Plus it has a reminder of how many laps to do first.
Liam Payne Shrine
It wouldn’t be right not to mention the Liam Payne shrine. This is quite a moving tribute to the Wolverhampton born artist. With signs saying enter if you dare!
The Feel of Wolverhampton parkrun
Such a welcoming parkrun. There were a lot of people there early warming up. Although apparently it was a lot less than usual. Straight away I was asked if I was looking for the start (I was actually looking for the toilets right in front of me!)
Also after the first timers briefing I was helping a lady get her barcode. John, who had done this briefing, then brought over another man for me to help. Explaining and showing how they could be accessed from the app. John later thanked me for this.
Finally at the very end I was ringing the bell and was asked for my photo for the run report.
My Experience of the Run
Recently I have invested in some more expensive trainers than usual and they have given me a bit of bounce. When I started I again got stuck behind others. The first people I met had explained about the bottle neck but that despite this that it could be a PB course.
My husband had gone off on the grass to get around people so I was surprised when I caught up with him. Then when the first km ticked over I saw that it was because I had completed it in 5:12. But I felt okay and kept going.
As I say each KM marker was absolutely spot on and as I went by the 2km marker I saw my watch said I had done it in 4:59!
Pushing On
But maybe seeing this was a bit of a downfall as it made me feel that perhaps I was going too fast and would end up walking.
Trying to just keep going as much as I could. Thinking that my husband would be overtake me at any moment. However, I kept going – if not slower.
The third km was in 5:14 and somehow I managed to speed up for 4km. Perhaps because mentally I was telling myself a mix of two things. One I could get a PB, or two just at least keep going until 4km. This was 5:06.
Doing the Maths
All the time trying to do rough maths to see if I could manage to break my 5Km PB (25m 46s). Although my Strava had recorded that course short! Therefore, no matter what I thought I need to keep pushing as this is the best I could have ever run.
Plus this was on my own! My son had helped me previously. Somehow I managed not to walk!!
The Finish
Suddenly the branching off to the finish seemed crowded and I ran faster too soon. This is because I do it 100m before the 5km. However, when I started increasing my pace it turned out I actually had 200m to go. This also was slightly uphill!
My watch beeped a 5Km personal best and I realised it was just too far to push for a parkrun PB. Still pushing but not my usual sprint.
My Results
Official parkrun result was even slower than I recorded, even with 3 seconds for the countdown! It was my fastest parkrun time this year, but as not a PB I wasn’t too bothered. It is a highest ever parkrun age grading (62.75%). This takes me up to the second highest in the family!
My strava recorded my 5Km as 25:23.
What Wolverhampton parkrun Has Added to My parkrun Tourism
- Currently I have done 46 parkruns this year.
- Wolverhampton parkrun took my West Midlands percentage up to 68% complete.
- Including volunteering at Junior parkrun I have attended a total of 150 different locations. 138 which are 5km.
- My current and longest tourist streak is 106 different locations in a row. This does not include Junior parkruns which would make it longer.
Other Things to Know about Wolverhampton parkrun
- There are different numbered buckets for your finish times.
- A bell for your PBs
- And if it is raining your belongings may get moved into a wheelie bin to keep them dry.
- It appears that you may have to queue at the finish, My husband only just got across.
Wolverhampton parkrun Results Event 635
- 385 finishers and 27 volunteers
- Finish times between 16:10 and 56:40.
- With a junior as first lady in an impressive 18:50. Not even her PB time!!
- 5 people doing their very first parkrun.
Highest age grades went to Colin 87.85% (VM85-89) in a time of 29:46 and Lucie 85.24% (VW50-54) in 20:26.
Despite my lifetime I was third in my age category (VW45-49) with first in my category flying in at 22:22. Best of it is her PB is 20:47!!! Even second was in 22:51 – so I have a lot of work to do still!!
By Finish Times
- 375 sub 50
- 352 sub 40
- 316 sub 35
- 209 of the 385 finishers were under 30 minutes!!
- 170 in 28 minutes or quicker.
- 113 sub 26
- 99 for 25
- 58 under 23
- 18 sub 20
- 9 sub 19
- 4 sub 18
- 3 sub 17
Other parkruns nearby that I have done:
East Park parkrun (1.8m), Perton Playing Fields parkrun (2.2m), Brunswick Park parkrun (6.0m), Dudley parkrun (6.8m), Walsall Arboretum parkrun (7.3m), Sandwell Valley parkrun (8.3m), Perry Hall parkrun (10.6m), Woodgate Valley Country Park parkrun (11.2m), Edgbaston Reservoir parkrun (11.6m)
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
Congratulations on your time and highest ever PB! What a fantastic achievement.