{"id":33763,"date":"2025-01-29T21:33:58","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pinkoddy.co.uk\/blog\/?p=33763"},"modified":"2025-01-29T21:33:59","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T20:33:59","slug":"walsall-arboretum-parkrun-fast-one-with-lots-of-sub-20","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/54.155.211.39\/blog\/2025\/01\/29\/walsall-arboretum-parkrun-fast-one-with-lots-of-sub-20\/","title":{"rendered":"Walsall Arboretum parkrun – Fast One With Lots of Sub 20"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We headed to Walsall Arboretum parkrun<\/a> for the last parkrun before Christmas. This year that fell on Saturday 21st<\/sup> December. It happened to be a prime number event but that\u2019s not why we had gone!<\/p>\n\n\n

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

There was no Walsall Arboretum parkrun sign that I could find and I asked several people. Not sure if I just didn\u2019t see it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Walsall Arboretum<\/a>, The Broadway, Walsall<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicola\u2019s 250th<\/sup> Milestone parkrun and 100th<\/sup> at Walsall Arboretum parkrun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The reason that we went was because it was Nicola\u2019s 250th<\/sup> milestone parkrun and her 100th<\/sup> at Walsall Arboretum parkrun. This was originally the week before which I couldn\u2019t make as it clashed with a Santa Run – but due to the storm one had been cancelled forcing her to move it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had met Nicola when I had a stress fracture so was a tail walker at Brunswick Park<\/a>. Unfortunately, I just couldn\u2019t find her. We had gone without the boys too and therefore we headed back to them after a quick look around.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

It also marked my 50th<\/sup> parkrun of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facilities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Toilets are available in the visitor centre by centre green and in the children’s play area in the arboretum extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The start is approximately 5 minutes\u2019 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\u2019s a bus.<\/p>\n\n\n

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

Walsall Arboretum has a play area, skate park and splash pad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walsall Arboretum parkrun Course<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My Experience at Walsall Arboretum parkrun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were reminded of the importance of community and there was also a Foodbank collection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Festive Dress Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There was lots of festive dress up. We even had a visit from Father Christmas and a Christmas tree! <\/p>\n\n\n

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

Plus the finish line was made up of it saying Merry Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Disappointed that I wasn\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My time was 28m 24s – not too shabby seeing as I had spent most of the year just wanting to get a sub30 time!<\/p>\n\n\n

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

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!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walsall Arboretum parkrun Stats Event 593<\/h2>\n\n\n\n