“An incredibly popular parkrun and it’s easy to see why; a fast, flat and beautiful course through the heart of the National Forest.”

Conkers is a parkrun that I’ve wanted to run for a while and I nearly missed it after travelling over to find a road closure enroute! Thankfully I arrived with a few minutes to spare but was absent for the new runner’s briefing.

Conkers is an incredibly popular parkrun and it’s easy to see why; a fast, flat and beautiful course that cuts right through the heart of the National Forest. The route itself is a lollypop running out and back along an old railway line (after an initial windy route which is madly congested) with a loop in the middle featuring “The Hill” and a canalside jaunt. “The Hill” which is garnished with a number of humorous banners and cheering marshalls is short and sharp and provides the benefit of a rolling down over the next few hundred metres.

It was a very busy parkrun – nearly 600 people in attendance – which made overtaking extremely difficult, especially at the narrow start. It was well marshalled, though having missed the briefing it took me a while to realise the barcode scanners were back at the Waterside Centre 400m away from the finish.

Facilities wise: free and plentiful parking with two different car parks serving the conkers waterside centre; toilets 400m from start in the centre next to where the runner’s briefing takes place; a great day out if you decide to hang around the site including Go-Ape; there is even a cafe serving a large range of drinks and food after.

Find out more about Conkers at parkrun.org.uk

Personal Stats

PB – 25:54
Best Position – 131st
Times run – 1