"T" is for... Tring
17.08.19 - #4 Tring - Hitting a Home (park)run!
Today's run took place at The Woodland Trust's Tring Park in Hertfordshire.
A letter "T" was required for my 'Spell-it-out' challenge and it was an absolute no-brainer to choose my home course, Tring parkrun.....the parkrun that means the most to me.
Nestled in the Chilterns, Tring is home to one of the prettiest but hilliest parkruns in the UK - a scenic and picturesque course with red kites flying overhead, wild meadow flowers underfoot (before the mud comes!) and often grazing livestock nearby. Thanks to the resident herd of cows, Tring parkrun enjoys the quirky accolade of being the home of 'Cow Marshalling' (my favourite of all Volunteer roles - aka "Cow Whispering"!)
The cows allow parkrunners to share their space and stomp around their ground (watch out for the pats!) Today the herd stayed well away from the course so the cows didn't require any marshalling - only us humans!
Themed fancy dress events are a big highlight of the Tring parkrun calendar - this bunch of parkrunners certainly don't take themselves too seriously, despite being seriously dedicated to parkrun and its philosophy. Tring is about fun, friendship and fitness all wrapped up in one!
The course has changed a few times during the (almost) 5 years since this parkrun first started, moving around various different parts of the park. This latest incarnation is very much an 'out and back' course which is 'high five' friendly!
As the saying goes, "What goes up, must come down" and sure enough, although the first half is uphill and very tough, you are later rewarded with an almost entirely downhill return leg to make up for it!
Whether you run it all, walk it all or do a combination of the two, you'll be equally welcome and in great company.
In stark contrast to last week's gales (Hello Littlehampton!), the weather at Tring was much more like what you'd expect for mid-August. It started out a little hazy but dry - fairly warm with sunny spells and a welcome breeze....pretty much ideal weather conditions for a challenging 5k run.
I'd had a concerning niggle in my ankle for a few days before (it turns out that running around the garden after my young Nephew and Nieces perhaps wasn't the best preparation after all!) but on Saturday I was feeling well-rested and relieved that I'd be able to run at Tring - the 4th consecutive week in my MS parkrun Challenge schedule.
I'd had a concerning niggle in my ankle for a few days before (it turns out that running around the garden after my young Nephew and Nieces perhaps wasn't the best preparation after all!) but on Saturday I was feeling well-rested and relieved that I'd be able to run at Tring - the 4th consecutive week in my MS parkrun Challenge schedule.
We parked at the free car-park (shared by the Woodland Trust and the nearby Natural History Musem) and then walked along the adjacent public footpath which leads to the Park, via a pedestrian footbridge over the main road (A41)
The start of the course is a little way off, out of sight, but the parkrunners, volunteers and Run Director all congregate a short distance before the start (by the finish funnel) - flourescent high vis bibs, signage and the tell-tale tarpaulin covered with all manner of stuff marks the spot!
With lots of people limbering up and looking like parkrun pros, it's probably quite daunting for people who are totally new to parkrun - I know that even as a Tourist it can be a bit nerve-racking turning up at a new place. As people mingled and the crowd grew, I did my usual warm-up ritual and made sure I chatted to a couple of first-timers who looked a little nervous.
After the official 'First Timers & Tourists' briefing, all runners made their way, en masse, to the Start area for the 'Main Briefing' by Run Director Katie.
Despite the loudspeaker system being accidentally dropped and going kaput halfway through, Katie still managed to
As ever, the whole team of volunteers got a well-deserved round of applause. Katie informed us that we had a 100 parkruns 'Milestoner' in our midst (well done!), a lovely 'Voluntourist' all the way from South Africa and also a large extended family of parkrun Tourists coming together from all over the south of England (I think there were about 16 of them!)
195 runners (and walkers!) hauled themselves out of bed on this Saturday morning to take part and take their place in this starting lineup, plus a few infants in (sturdy!) buggies and furry, four-legged friends....and without further ado we were finally off!
The course starts on open parkland but after a short distance across the grassy terrain you enter the shaded woodland with dirt trail tracks, where the majority of the course takes place.
For the most part, the course leads you through a leafy tunnel, the canopies of the trees providing welcome shelter from the heat and dappled light decorates the paths. Today there was a light breeze rustling through the trees - a welcome distraction from my heavy breathing!
After reaching the edge of the park and the turn around point (at the "Run Around Me" Marshal), you retrace your steps back through the woodland the way you came.
Emerging from the woods it was a relief to know that the Finish wasn't too far away, although hidden by the hills and contours of the park. Approaching the Finish I dug deep and somehow managed to pull a sprint finish out of the bag, being pushed on by another runner and a sense of occasion.
I love Tring parkrun and feel privileged to run here, especially after being out injured for so long.
Click here for a more detailed review of Tring parkrun and a guide to its course, including a little background on the famous park where wallabies once roamed free!
In keeping with parkrun tradition, after a bit of a chat, a photo opportunity (with the official parkrun photo frame prop) and a bit of time to catch my breath, we headed off for a well-deserved coffee and brunch.
It's definitely the nicest post-parkrun pitstop I've visited (and I've tried a fair few!) - more fashionable bistro than greasy spoon and well worth stopping by for a drink or bite to eat.
And if you're wondering.....Yes, I can totally recommend the eggs. Delicious!
Please click here for my Just Giving page - raising funds for MS Society charity
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