Yet again, it has been a while since we’ve posted anything. In my defence, I’ve been struggling mentally and physically with a chronic ankle issue that means I haven’t run much this year.
Still, over the past couple of months, we’ve eased back into some parkrun tourism, and as we try to make that a habit once more, we will try and start writing about our experiences again too.
These days, we generally try not to visit a parkrun too early; we like to give it time to bed in, and for some of the initial rush to die down. But this week the stars just aligned for us to visit Five Arches parkrun in Radstock on event number 2.
Radstock was just over an hour’s drive for us, and we arrived there around 8:15. Although there is a relatively small car park at the start/finish area, the team ask parkrunners not to use it, to leave its use for the general public. Instead, they suggest a couple of free car parks in the town itself. Both are only a short walk away, and are free (though you need to display a ticket). There is a small public toilet block in the start/finish area, and although moderate queues developed, it didn’t get as crazy as some parkruns we’ve visited!
That said, a combination of my timing and the toilet queue did mean that I missed the first timer’s briefing…
The course runs along the Norton Radstock Greenway, an old railway line (the Somerset and Dorset Railway) now converted to a cycle trail. The path is firm tarmac along the entire route, though it is slippery in places. The path width varies; at its widest, two pairs of runners could comfortably pass each other, while in the narrowest, you’d struggle to fit three abreast. The parkrun starts a short distance from the car park (that you’re not allowed to park in) and heads west along the path for around 850 metres before a turn around a cone takes you just shy of the start, marking the first “lap”. You then turn around a second cone and head back out west once more, this time going much further, roughly 1,600 metres (1 mile) out to yet another cone; the third (and final) turnaround point, before a straight run back to the finish. Each leg has a nice landmark when you pass under the eponymous Five Arches Viaduct, which is roughly 400 to 500 metres from the start/finish, and a great point to start gearing up for that sprint finish!
Our run went really well. I ran with Lani, while Lolly ran with KK. Both children had good mindsets, and on a flat, tarmac course, they both beat their current parkrun PBs. While the double out-and-back might not be ideal for the super speedy runners because of the momentum killing turns, for most this will be a good course for PB attempts. It is also suitable for both wheelchairs and buggies, but beware of the relatively narrow aspect of parts of the course.
After a reasonably quiet inaugural of 77 runners, event two had 207, which was plenty on this course. Only 17 of the runners this week had also visited the inaugural, so it will be interesting to see what the numbers end up at.
Post-parkrun, we spent a little bit of time in the conveniently located play park right by the start/finish area, and then we headed over to Cottles, a bakery-cum-deli, which did very reasonably priced breakfast rolls and the like. There are a few other café options in the town, as well as a Morrisons Local and a Coop.
Overall, this is a nice addition to the south-west; thanks to all the lovely volunteers for putting it on. I’m not sure when we’ll be touring again, as October is looking like quite a busy month for other stuff, but hopefully we’ll have more words up here soon.
