Finally we were able to visit Queensway parkrun. A lot of Saturdays I have had work so didn’t have time to travel there. Plus I wanted to wait until at least event 19 – and this was 23. Obviously this was for another Q to help complete my third parkrun alphabet, as well as going towards other parkrun challenges.
Queensway Park, Queensway, Wellingborough, NN8 3TG
w3w location: ///loudly.mole.swung
Facilities at Queensway parkrun
- Toilets (which we didn’t use)
- Parking – a short jog away and no-one else used the same designated carpark as us
- Also accessible by bus, train and on foot
- Café
Course Description of Queensway parkrun
Once you have done this course I think it becomes obvious but it does sound complicated. Basically start on the grass and head towards the road. When you get to the end of the park then turn left so that you carry on going around the edge of the park.
Thing is you are meant to stay on the grass but most people went on the path.
Most of the course I would say is on path and flat. With just a few small up and down bumps.
Back to the start
When you get back to the start area there’s a marshal and some cones to guide you to go back the way you came. This time following the park on the path, in the opposite direction to what you just ran. This is the first time you will see a sign saying “last lap” and “finish” – it is the third time you see it that you head into the finish.
Start Again
Next time you see the start a marshal guides you under a tunnel and along a narrow path. This is an out and back. Keep going until the turn around point. Of course this then sends you back to the area near the start where you were previously turned around.
Back to the First Sign
You then follow the course around the edge of the park on the path again. Once more seeing the first sign. This is where most people questioned how far to go. No you do not need to do the out and back again!
End is in Sight
This time when you get to the area near the start you just keep going around the edge of the park on the path. Until you get to the sign where it says finish! It then moves you on to the grass for the finish area!
Honestly it is easy to understand once you are there and it is well marked and marshalled.
My Experience of Queensway parkrun
A friendly parkrun with marshals being really warm and welcoming on arrival. Then parkrun_Karen came over to say hello. We follow each other on Instagram. Both my husband and I thought that the course description sounded a little complicated. He told me to just follow the person in front. However it was super foggy and I wasn’t even sure how much I would see anyone. Therefore he offered to run along with me.
The Start
With the run briefing over-running a bit I think the RD was keen to get started. Suddenly there was a 3,2,1, go. People were just not prepared and I heard a young girl exclaim about how she didn’t have her music ready.
As it started on field people seemed to charge around us. Although we did get moving pretty sharply. With faster runners so far in front that I was fooled into believing that we had started off gently.
Slowing down
It wasn’t long before I ended up looking at our pace and my husband exclaiming that it was a bit fast for him. So we slowed down. We managed to keep on going and on the narrow out and back people did overtake and then go even slower in front of me.
It had been asked not to do this – but people will do as they please. After we had turned around and were heading back my husband said to go on without him. Not leaving him behind I said that we would keep on going and walk at 3km. So that is what we did. Then again at 4km.
The Final km
By this point we realised that it wasn’t “two laps” at all because to do the out and back again would have been a lot further. When I knew how it ended I did speed up. Once on the grass for the finish I heard a man say goodbye to his other half and we both sprinted to the finish. Of course she beat me but was 12 years younger than me and with a much more impressive PB.
Afterwards
On our way back to the car there was a man walking. Still having to go past the finish and back around again. So I walked and talked with him until it was time for me to split off. He was telling me that it was only his 11th parkrun. Also that I had walked around a mile to get there. When looking at the results it appears that he got an overall PB!
Queensway parkrun Stats Event 23
Times ranging between 17:31-56:50. Thanks to the 30 volunteers.
- First female in 22:29
- Highest age grades were both the first finishers for each sex. With an impressive JM10 coming in between them
- Male – 82.87% (VM45-49)
- Junior – 79.05% (22:31)
- Female – 75.46% (VW50-54)
The Participants at Queensway parkrun Event 23
- 234 participants
- 122 male, 110 female and 2 unknown
- 6 first timers
- 158 tourists
Finishing Times
- 220 sub 50
- 199 sub 40
- 118 sub 30
- 96 sub 28
- 45 with a time of 25 minutes or less
- 27 sub 23
- 8 with 20 minutes or less
- Finally 2 sub 18
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
That does sound like a complicated course! I’m glad it wasn’t quite as complicated as it sounded.
I always like to see an FV50-54 as first finisher. That is very impressive – and it’s not a very small parkrun either.
It was a very misty morning. It wasn’t at all like that at Stroud!