Cake Dave....you mentioned CAKE!!!!

I have a 10k race in Northampton the following day, so I could be up for a spot of volunteering on that day, I'll put my name down.

Derek - Oh yes, cake!

I hope you've been training, mate - new shoes and a go-faster haircut and I smashed my PB!

I'm not sure whether to run or volunteer next week - which will be most fun?!

Everyone's asked to wear green if they can, and to bring a friend... we're hoping to break our 179 record (177 today). There'll also be various prizes handed out. Mary even managed to get the Tea Room lady to agree to put tables outside for us!

Rachel - your experience seems to mirror that of so many parkrunners! I ran at Roundhay on my birthday, event #7, which happened to be their 'runfree' event (it must have been a bit warm running in PJ's), and yes, it was very well organised and well attended. Not a PB course, but a lovely one, and the encouragement is really helpful on that 'little incline' as they call it!

I hear on the grapevine that there'll be a parkrun in Stafford very soon.

Anyway, must sign off, I'm late for a party!

If I remember correctly there were several items of discarded clothing lying around when I left. I presume they were recovered later!

Just be thankful they don't run the other way round the course - up the side of Hill 60. I was at the XC Nationals last year, which went up the muddy bit.

Helen, I love you!

It's great that you're prepared to do this even though you're quite new to running. I presume parkrun's 'Man in The North', Tom Williams, is involved... if not I imagine he will be!

I had wondered if Rowntrees Park might work? (I even worked out a route a while ago, including Millenium Bridge, a three lapper).

Best of luck, anyway - I'll definitely be there the first time I'm up north after it starts!

If you're ever in the West Midlands give me a shout and I'll introduce you to the folks at Cannon Hill parkrun.

Dont know if thwe Oxford and Abingdon parkruns have had a mention yet, i havent got through all the posts yet!

Oxford is great they have 2 different routes depending on the time of year, the winter one does 3 reduced laps with a short rise and the summer one is 2 longer laps with the short rise turning into a much longer rise!

Abingdon is a fantastic route almost completely flat but you do have to watch out for the bit that gets extremely close to the river! its also a 2 lapper.

I have done both about 3 times each and for speed Abingdon is best but unfortunately Oxford is closer to me so i go there if/when i can.

oops dont know what happened there!

Well, Andy, it would seem not a single bad experience of parkrun - all very positive comments... I can only assume that the Cannon Hill Park dog-walkers don't use this particular forum to vent their spleens;)

Since my early posts on this thread I've added these parkruns to my list:

Colwick (Nottingham), a lovely setting near Colwick Hall and the river Trent,

Elliðaárdalur (Reykjavik), another lovely setting within the city by a Salmon-fishing river,

York, not quite so picturesque (sorry Helen!), but potentially VERY quick, provided it's not windy, and

Walsall, would you believe another lovely setting? It'll be even nicer when the work in the arboretum is finished and the course changes.

Well there is lot of information, all positive, built up on this topic. I'll try and correlate it all and put out some sort of list of personal takes on each parkrun mentioned as its always better to have a personal report of someone who has actually run them. Its a bit of a moveable feast as there seems to be a new one each week, but i'll see what i can do. 

Meantime I've put on our race finder all the parkruns i can find especially those mentioned here. If you have a gps of the route it would be helpful to share it if not already shared or on the race page.

Special mentions have to go to recent posts where Eastbourne looks fun, thanks Martin, and York looks like potentially the fastest ever, like running round a racetrack...oh, see what i did there :)

The Harrogate parkrun started in January and we have had all sorts of weather to contend with and thankfully now having settled weather and less mud and wind. its flat but can be muddy. This week there were 186 happy smiling people all ages all abilities. I have gone from being a non runner to now looking forward to parkrun each week and glad its in my life. They are a very friendly bunch of people and we always have a lot of visiting people as they know Harrogate is such a lovely part of North Yorkshire and is run on the Stray which is protected grassland near the town centre.

Fantastic! It's now in the race diary (another parkrun i missed!). i'm not suprised you get a load of visitors as its a wonderfully historic and beautiful  town. In fact, it's my Wifes' favourite place to visit in this country so highly recommened for eating, drinking and shopping. And its in a lovely area for running also.