If you were trying to decide which of the Worcestershire parkruns to do then I thought it may be helpful to read a post by a local. You may have read my post Gloucestershire parkruns – Helpful Tourism Guide by a Local. This is because I live right between the two.
About the Worcestershire parkruns
There are actually only 5 Worcestershire parkruns. Three of which I have done a lot more times than the other two. As a bonus all the Worcestershire parkruns have pacer weeks at one point or another. Check their pages for more up to date details.
They are:
Arrow Valley parkrun
Arrow Valley Countryside Centre, Battens Drive, Redditch, Worcestershire, B98 0LJ
- Free parking. Plenty of room. 2m height restriction.
- Toilets
- Post parkrun coffee.
- Road shoes
- Quite a walk to the start from briefing.
- Fast runners need to get to the front as it is difficult to overtake.
- A little undulating.
- Has pacers.
See my review of Arrow Valley parkrun
Evesham parkrun
Boat Lane (by Hampton Ferry), Evesham, Worcestershire, WR11 4BP.
- Free parking. Plenty of room. 2m height restriction.
- Toilets
- Post parkrun coffee.
- Mix of grass and path – can get rather muddy
- Flat
- Has pacers
See my review of Evesham parkrun
Worcester parkrun, Worcester Woods
Worcester Country Hall, WR5 2NP.
Worcester parkrun has had a lot of evolving in the times we have been there. Now I think they have settled on a course that works for everyone.
- Free parkring, with plenty of room
- Toilets
- Play area
- Post parkrun coffee
- Short walk from briefing
- Mixed course
- Has pacers
- Most inclusive of the Worcestershire parkruns with a variety of parkwalkers at different paces.
See my review of Worcester parkrun
Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun
The Pitchcroft, Worcester Racecourse, Worcester WR1 3EJ
- Not allocated parking as such. There is limited free parking nearby, and paid for parking.
- There are toilets.
- Mostly tarmac.
- Flat.
- Has pacers.
- Also a very inclusive event with much celebrating of their world class athlete 97 year old Irene. Her age grading is 118%!
See my review of Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun
Wyre Forest parkrun
Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, Callow Hill, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY14 9XQ
- Pay parking
- Toilets
- Play area
- Short walk to briefing
- Fire trail path
- Has pacers
See my review of Wyre Forest parkrun
Fast Worcestershire parkruns
People often ask about how to improve their PB and the ones most likely to be considered as fast Worcestershire parkruns are likely to be Worcester Pitchcroft most notably, and also Arrow Valley. Saying that I have heard people say it about Evesham but that does have some pinch points.
Personally out of 101 parkrun locations my own parkrun PB was at Wyre Forest on the alternative course (which felt like it went up and up and up!). For me I think getting a faster time depends on what your current time is, and what kind of runner you are. When discussing fast courses I generally think they consider the people right at the front!
How old are the Worcestershire parkruns going on the Date of their First Events?
- Worcester parkrun – 18th June 2011
- Arrow Valley parkrun – 14th July 2012
- Evesham parkrun – 21st March 2015
- Wyre Forest – 29th August 2015
- Worcester Pitchcroft parkrun – 10th June 2017
Have you done all the Worcestershire parkruns and if so which is your favourite?
Visit these other bloggers who cover parkrun – Worcestershire’s own Chrissy at It’s Me Chrissy J – plus Sarah at Mum of Three World and Jackie at Never Imitate