u/foxystoat69

The link to this Facebook post is here: https://www.facebook.com/share/18BZhcAUvu/

As a RD at (another) parkrun in the UK, hats off to all those involved and were able to help with this 🙏

My second of two visits to Cornish parkruns whilst on holiday. This one takes place in famous 200-acre botanical and agricultural estate in Cornwall. It only started in the last few months (30th event today).

Fascinating, undulating out and back course (emphasis on undulating). If you're focused on a quick time, it's best to be at the very front as it is a heavily congested course to start with. Surfaces bone dry today, but very changeable in inclement weather.

A variety of eateries in and around the entrance. They even have a special parkrun breakfast menu Plus you get to exit and re-enter the gardens for free afterwards.

Thanks to all of the volunteers.

Did I mention it was undulating? 🤣

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/thelostgardensofheligan/course/

This has been on my 'to do' list for a few years, finally got the chance to do this today.

A totally unique experience, consisting of starting outside the main entrance, and then dropping into the far end of the site, and negotiating three laps of loops, twists and turns around a most iconic location.

Narrow in places, so no dogs allowed. Free parking and, best of all, all parkrunners get free entrance to remain inside the park (exit and re-entrance is possible until 10.30am). As the 'on the day' cost of entry is £40, this is a really generous thing for the owners to do.

I even found a cubicle to have a very quick shower by the entrance area today after the parkrun.

A great team of volunteers too. The team struggle at this time of year to fill the rosta did to the influx of tourists, so as always, I was appreciative of everyone's efforts to help.

An amazing experience. There's a dinosaur experience taking place throughout August, too.

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/edenproject/course/

A large, figure of 8 anti clockwise loop of a park and a small lap at the top end of the park next to the grandstand area that hosts the Isle of Man TT events.

It's a very narrow start, so if you're a quicker runner and easily frustrated by a crowded start, position yourself accordingly.

The run director was getting married (today I think?) so a lot of the regulars dressed up in bright clothing and celebrated accordingly.

It is narrow in places, and there is a small amount of grass to navigate. The marshals were incredibly happy.

Avoided the rain too, which started to fall at 10.30am.

*The regular course is not available 8th August to 29th August as the Manx GP is taking place. There is an alternative course. https://www.parkrun.org.uk/nobles/course/

I’ve waited a long time to do this one.

First, some basics in case you want to try it yourself. Prepare yourself for no (or very limited) phone signal whatsoever. Think of it as a couple of hours of downtime from the pressures of the world.

Also, by comparative parkrun standards, car parking is expensive at this location. It worked out to be £5 for the two hours I was there. But it's worth it when you take everything into account in terms of the surroundings and the maintenance of the facilities (you're on Forestry England territory, after all). Some people were circumnavigating this by parking on the road a distance away from the Visitor Centre.

Bearing in mind it’s early July here in the UK, we parkrunners were treated to nearly horizontal rain and gusty conditions. Still, it kept the midges away 🤣

An enthusiastic Run Director used the words 'run' and 'up' far too many times for my liking! 🤣

It is a course that quite literally takes your breath away. I’ve uploaded the elevation profile with these photos.

It thoroughly deserves its reputation as one of the UK's toughest parkruns. You'll hate it and, quite possibly, love it at the same time. 🤣

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/whinlatterforest/

Located just a stone's throw from the Trafford (shopping) Centre, this is the newest parkrun in the Manchester area. It was their 8th parkrun at the weekend.

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Three laps, which is 95% grass, 5% tarmac. The course was bone dry over the weekend, although I'm not sure i'd like to run on it on a wet weekend in the winter 🤣

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There's a large car park to cope with the 400 people there on Saturday and a very friendly bunch of volunteers. It's based next to a leisure centre, which provides toilet facilities and somewhere for refreshments afterwards.

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https://www.parkrun.org.uk/kingswayparkurmston/

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