Victoria Park Parkrun started just a couple of months ago and offered us the opportunity to collect a V for our alphabet challenge – Newbury is less than an hour’s drive away down the A4. We parked in the Parkway car park, a large indoor car park by a shopping centre (£2.70 for 2 hours) and just across the road from Victoria Park. There were toilet facilities either end of the car park and most participants who needed to seemed to be using these.
On entering the park we could see the volunteers gathering in the distance. The park is flat although most of the course is on grass so damp and muddy given the wet weather – I was glad to have worn my trail shoes. It being the 22nd of the month I also wore my tutu – a few others had done likewise.
We made our way over to get pictures by the pop up and were welcomed by the volunteers. There was then time for a short warm-up before gathering for the first timers briefing – the large number of first timers was understandable given this is a new venue. The run director then gave his briefing, explaining that the start would be seeded on expected finish time and asking that everyone stay left to allow for overtaking.
The pack was directed to move down the park’s central path to line up behind volunteers holding signs for expected times – I stood behind 30 to 35 minutes. When the front of the pack started to move there was still a period of walking needed before everyone spread out and running could commence but this was the only congestion experienced so the seeding seemed to work.
The course follows the central tarmac path until a right turn at the top of the park is reached. Soon after this we veered right to cut across grass. Although not particularly large the park has many features. We ran past a skate park, around a pond, under a road bridge and alongside a canal – the path here was a narrow trail but with grass to the side. There were loops to complete and turns to be made but plenty of friendly marshals ensured we proceeded in the correct direction at each change.
The distance is covered in 3 laps so faster runners were overtaking me at times and I was overtaking those walking the course. The paths were wide enough to accommodate this. The slippery mud caught a few people out but I didn’t see anyone fall – something that is common in the muddy sections at my home parkrun.
Being a flat venue it was possible to see the snake of runners as they made their way around. As always, despite the pleasure of taking part, it was a relief to be able to turn right towards the finish funnel after reaching the top of the park for the third time.
251 participants passed through the finish funnel today, 185 of whom were at Victoria Park for the first time. The pack was led by Robert Jewell in a time of 18:38. Emily Finch earned the right to wear a new milestone t-shirt, completing her 100th parkrun.
Thank you to all the volunteers for turning up on what was a cold and damp morning to enable the event to happen. We enjoyed our run, despite the weather, and hope to return. Perhaps next time we will choose a warm and dry day when faster finish times may be more possible.
