We headed to Walsall Arboretum parkrun for the last parkrun before Christmas. This year that fell on Saturday 21st December. It happened to be a prime number event but that’s not why we had gone!
There was no Walsall Arboretum parkrun sign that I could find and I asked several people. Not sure if I just didn’t see it!
Walsall Arboretum, The Broadway, Walsall
Nicola’s 250th Milestone parkrun and 100th at Walsall Arboretum parkrun
The reason that we went was because it was Nicola’s 250th milestone parkrun and her 100th at Walsall Arboretum parkrun. This was originally the week before which I couldn’t make as it clashed with a Santa Run – but due to the storm one had been cancelled forcing her to move it.
I had met Nicola when I had a stress fracture so was a tail walker at Brunswick Park. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t find her. We had gone without the boys too and therefore we headed back to them after a quick look around.
It also marked my 50th parkrun of the year.
Facilities
Toilets are available in the visitor centre by centre green and in the children’s play area in the arboretum extension.
The start is approximately 5 minutes’ walk from the Grange car park (which has free parking) or about 100m from the arboretum road entrance. It is around a mile from the train station and there’s a bus.
Walsall Arboretum has a play area, skate park and splash pad.
Walsall Arboretum parkrun Course
The course is a 3 lap clockwise loop around the Victorian area of the park, passing by the bandstand, lake and visitor centre. The course consists of mainly tarmac paths and is described as generally flat.
In fact it is one of the faster parkruns in the West Midlands, along with Isabel Trail and Worcester Pitchcroft. With my Strava saying that my elevational gain was 133ft.
My Experience at Walsall Arboretum parkrun
Walsall Arboretum parkrun is a beautiful place to run and everyone was really friendly. In the briefing they reminded us that they were having a Christmas Day parkrun.
We were reminded of the importance of community and there was also a Foodbank collection.
Festive Dress Up
There was lots of festive dress up. We even had a visit from Father Christmas and a Christmas tree!
Plus the finish line was made up of it saying Merry Christmas.
It was cold so I had started in my Christmas jumper, besides I intended to be festive. Near the finish there was a fence where I managed to stop and pop it down on one of the laps. The lady who I had focused on keeping up with, kept her jumper on even longer than I did and I was very impressed.
Speed
Disappointed that I wasn’t as fast as I would have hoped but still managed lovely negative splits and a sprint finish. In fact there was a lady behind me shouting (friendly like) to go faster that she was on my heels – she knew I wanted to give up! In fact there was lots of lovely encouragement from other runners – as well as the volunteers.
My time was 28m 24s – not too shabby seeing as I had spent most of the year just wanting to get a sub30 time!
Thanks to the photographer who got some great shots. Since I stopped Jeffing my husband has found it more difficult to get photos of me!
Walsall Arboretum parkrun Stats Event 593
- 476 scanned participants (506 total) ranging from 15:47-59:05.
- 289 male, 187 female and the rest unscanned.
- 62 PBs, 68 people first time to no Walsall Arboretum parkrun, but no-one doing their very first parkrun.
The First Finishers
Well done to first finisher Ben Allen, in the JM15-17, finishing in an incredible 15:47. With an age grading of 88.17%. A new parkrun PB!
The first female finisher was Ffion Collins in 31st position. Age JW15-17, with an amazing time of 18:12. Her age grading was 84.97%. Also obtaining a new parkrun PB!
Not surprising that these two youngsters both got the top age gradings!
Young Runners
There was a real feel of a lot of young fast runners. A lot of warming up going on and expensive trainers. It actually took until position 10 before someone over the age of 34 crossed!
Sub 20s
There were 64 people who crossed the line in sub 20 (but three were not scanned). That is just under 13% of scanned participants.
- Ben was the only sub 16.
- 11 crossed sub 16 (plus an unknown)
- 24 crossed sub 17 (plus another unknown but they may have finished sub 17)
- 43 crossed in 19 minutes or less.
- 64 crossed in 20 minutes or less (plus a third unknown).
Sub 30 Times
The average overall finish time for the event as a whole was 29:39.
273 people crossed in sub 30 (plus 15 who were not scanned). This accounting for over 57% of all those who were scanned.
Over 60s
But it wasn’t all about the young runners, with 80 recorded runners over the age of 60! Making up just under 17% of registered runners. 27 of them did it in a time of sub 30. That is just under 34% of those who ran over 60 achieved this in a time of sub 30.
Of those who were scanned the over 60s made up just under 10% of sub 30 runners!
- VM60-64 = 23 – 14 sub 30
- VM65-69 = 7 – 4 sub 30
- VM70-74 = 7 – 4 sub 30
- VM75-79 = 7 – 1 sub 30
- VM80-84 = 1 – 1 sub 30
- VM85-89 = 1
- VW60-64 = 16 – 2 sub 30
- VW65-69 = 8
- VW70-74 = 9
- VW75-79 = 1
Other parkruns nearby we have visited:
Brunswick Park (2.8m) and the not currently running Aston Hall parkrun.