{"id":33837,"date":"2025-02-20T19:58:42","date_gmt":"2025-02-20T18:58:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/?p=33837"},"modified":"2025-02-20T19:58:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-20T18:58:57","slug":"pomphrey-hill-parkrun-surprisingly-a-gloucestershire-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/02\/20\/pomphrey-hill-parkrun-surprisingly-a-gloucestershire-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Pomphrey Hill parkrun – Surprisingly A Gloucestershire One"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We headed to Pomphrey Hill parkrun<\/a> in Bristol because it actually comes under the Gloucestershire parkruns! It turns out this was actually one of two that I haven\u2019t done yet!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pomphrey<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Pomphrey Hill Playing Fields, Pomphrey Hill, Mangotsfield, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, BS16 9NF<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pomphrey Hill parkrun Facilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The parkrun is accessible by car, bus, bicycle, or on foot. There is plenty of parking, toilets and shelter. Also boasting a play area and visitors book!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pomphrey<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

First timers briefing happened by the shelter and toilets but the main briefing was at the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pomphrey Hill parkrun sign is also at the start (because it says start on the other side)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pomphrey Hill parkrun Course<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Three clockwise laps of the perimeter of the playing fields. Described as largely flat and run on gravel and tarmac paths – including the uphill stretch fondly nicknamed \u201cUp Pomphrey\u201d. Although the latter was a little muddy for event 489.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Up<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The start has predicted finish time start positions but unfortunately I don\u2019t think the people in front of me realised this and so it was a slow start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never mind with that hill it was never going to be a PB course but more a get out and get it done. The hill can be a bit narrow and so difficult to overtake – but to keep left and overtake on the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The big hill wasn\u2019t the only elevation on the course, but what goes up also comes down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Experience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pomphrey Hill parkrun I would describe as a rewarding course. You feel that you have got out and achieved something but also the volunteers were fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasonably clean <\/strong>course, but there is a bit of a mud,<\/strong> and so my not so muddy trainers now have mud on them (these are not my indoor totally clean gym shoes so don\u2019t worry!).<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It was raining so I took my pink jacket – which I took off and left near the area where the first timers briefing was. Thanks to the great photographer (Gary Woodruff<\/a>) for capturing me in each stage of undress as I warmed up! It\u2019s not often these days I even start in my vest top!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first time I reached the top of the hill the marshal told me it would be easier next time. The next time I walked up – and when I got to the top I said why it was easier! The third lap not only did I walk Up Pomphrey but also the bit near where the first timers briefing was. Therefore, I didn’t catch up with my husband but all things considered I was happy with my time of 27m 35s!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Finish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After running past where you started the finish is further up on the right – I had seen it on previous lapswhich always helps me. However, Ithought the finish was sooner than it was – and also where the cones were – but that wasn\u2019t the actual finish. Ended up speeding up too soon – but helped the person in front of me who turned around, saw me, and went faster!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pinkoddy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

My hands were so cold that I could hardly write in the visitors\u2019 book; however, didn\u2019t seem any point in writing in it before I experienced the course!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

18 of the 30 volunteer slots were taken up by members of the local Park Nordic Walkers group – many of them regulars at Pomphrey Hill parkrun. For six of them it was their very first time volunteering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular volunteer, Jackie, was celebrating her 70th<\/sup> birthday. She has volunteered on 76 occasions and has completed 287 parkruns!<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pomphrey<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

There\u2019s a volunteers QR code to make it even easier to sign up to help out in the future 6 weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A special thank you to volunteer Sarah, with her big sponge hands to encourage you before you go up Pomphrey. Hardest part was people not just running up – it is quite a relentless hill too. But then not being able to get past or run at your speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pomphrey Hill parkrun Stats<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Pomphrey Hill parkrun Event 489, there were 271 participants – 131 male, 132 female and 8 unscanned. First finisher Robert had an age grading of 82.95% coming in at 17:30. Times ranged from this to 1:03:51. With the First Lady coming in at 23:43.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 people were doing their very first parkrun and a further 35 were tourists<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Pomphrey<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

8 amazing individuals finished in sub 20. <\/strong>There were 134 sub 30s <\/strong>(just over 49%) and 33 people got PBs. The average time was 30:19 by that event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over 60s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Incredibly there were 43 over 60s. That is just under 16% of the participants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9 over 60s completed Pomphrey Hill parkrun in a time of sub 30. That is 32% of all sub 30 runners were over 60!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fastest over 60 participant finished in a time of 22:50 (71.46% age grading).<\/p>\n\n\n\n