“A fast, generally flat course that boasts a straight runway to the finish!”

I’ve run Ellenbrook a hat-trick of times, and whilst it can get muddy in the winter, it is a fast, generally flat course that boasts a straight runway to the finish!

The course is a mini and then large loop around Ellenbrook Fields, site of the former Hatfield Aerodrome. It’s run mainly on crumbly path (replace that with mud in the winter) with some tarmac sections including a very fast finish. The finish is, in fact, the former taxiing strip from the Areodrome’s heyday and the pro-tip is to not start your finish line sprint too early as it is a good 800m or so strip! There is a section in the middle where cows graze at points during the year, but marshalls are on hand to provide advice if needed. There is one slight incline around the back of the loop, hardly noticeable if you are gunning for it.

Numbers are generally around the 170 mark and there is enough space to overtake on the route apart from right at the start when it can get a little congested. It has been well marshalled each of the times I’ve run and there are lots of friendly people to help you find your way from the car park to the start line (around the back of the Swim centre, to your left, past all the bus stops).

Facilities wise: free and plentiful parking at the nearby de Havilland Campus of the University; toilets 400m from start in the Swim Centre; there is even a mobile coffee van serving a range of drinks before and after.

Find out more about Ellenbrook Fields at parkrun.org.uk

Personal Stats

PB – 24:29
Best Position – 43rd
Times run – 4