We headed to East Park parkrun for event 216. We usually need to go to a parkrun that is close enough for us to get back for our son to go to work. However, we like to do ones that we haven’t yet done too. This particular week I had work even earlier than our son! Therefore, it needed to be a parkrun event that wasn’t too far away. East Park parkrun was on event 216, which was also an number that I hadn’t yet done.
Obviously if we hadn’t already done Eastville parkrun then it would have counted as East for the Compass Challenge (see Parkrun Stats and Challenges).
East Park, Hickman Avenue, Wolverhampton ,WV1 2BS
Facilities at East Park parkrun
Parking is either in the carpark (but you can’t leave until a certain time, or just by the perimeter of the park. Which there is plenty of space.
Toilets are visible from the start and briefing areas and a very short distance away.
It boasts good play parks.
Course at East Park parkrun
The course at East Park parkrun is 3 laps all on path. Not totally flat but flat enough. With a small incline to finish.
Really clear about where you go for each lap with signage and volunteers. Just need to remember that the course is around the perimeter of the park, so not to take a wrong turn.
Can see the finish when at the briefing. This is ideal for people like me who find it better if they can visualise the finish before starting.
Starting times on the trees to help people self-seed.
My Experience
This was a really nice parkrun. Everyone was really respectful and quiet at the briefing. One of the volunteers noticed that I had put my hand up for tourists mentions and had put it down (to ensure I wasn’t missed) which was a really lovely touch.
Start was really clear that they were going to do a countdown before the 3,2,1 go. This was before the actual countdown, for those of us who want to track it on our watches, as well as not missing a valuable second!
At the end there was a nice board with hooks to put your finish tokens back.
The Run Itself
I loved that there was a nice bit of rain. If it is too wet it’s also good that the start and finish is near a bandstand!
Good sprint finish and a bench to sit on afterwards! Scanner joked that I hadn’t finished yet, as I went straight to sitting down!
East Park parkrun Event 216 Stats
109 participants – 65 male, 41 female and 3 unknown. Finish times 18:28-58:36. 57 sub 30. First lady 22:41. 19 volunteers and 13 PBs.
7 first timers to parkrun and a further 30 tourists.
I was first in my age category, as was our son and my husband was third in his.
Over 60s
There were 19 over 60s, making up over 17% of all participants. The first person over 60 across the line was in a time of 21:58.
Other parkruns nearby that we have done:
Brunswick Park parkrun (4.2m), Walsall Arboretum parkrun (5.7m), Dudley parkrun (6.3m)
Also see Mum of Three World who also covers parkrun