Parkruns – the free weekly timed races held each Saturday – have become a phenomenon since starting in London’s Bushy Park in 2004. Now there are hundreds of events across the country with Parkruns now marking their 20th birthday this month.
I have taken part in almost 50 of them – not as often in recent years as I would like, mind you – and am well acquainted with the hills of Queen Elizabeth Country Park, the woods of Staunton Country Park and Southsea’s promenade. A parkrun is a wonderful way to kick-start a weekend, and the fact that they are free to participate in is a boon as well.
Here’s the lowdown on what the nearby courses are like to run.
Park run picture galleries: Southsea; Lakeside; Lee-on-the-Solent; Fareham; Havant
5. Fareham
Fareham's parkrun is on the Cams Hall estate, starting at the Cams Mill pub and then heading on the path on the edge of the golf course in a there-and-back route. It can be a bit muddy and the path is uneven in places, but it's largely flat. The pub is a handy place for a cup of tea afterwards, too. A small issue is the lack of parking as the recommended spot is the Lysses car park on the other side of the A27 Picture Ian Hargreaves (150220-16) Photo: Ian Hargreaves
6. Lee-on-the-Solent
The course starts at Marine Parade East and is mainly on the promenade, with one section on shingle. Being a seafront run it is very flat, but as ever in this area the wind can wreak havoc on a PB attempt (010120-8) Photo: Ian Hargreaves
7. Great Salterns
A relatively recent arrival, having been started last year, Great Salterns is a flat run that’s still challenging because most of it is on grass and also because of the wind. It’s supported by a small but loyal bunch of regulars so it has a supportive atmosphere, especially for new runners and park walkers Photo: Chris Moorhouse
8. Queen Elizabeth Country Park
It takes a bit of effort to get here - and to do this course - but it's worth it. As you'd expect from the area it's a very hilly course, with one downhill in particular a do-or-die moment, but on a sunny day it's beautiful. You'll not get close to your PB here, but it's a wonderful and strenuous run to set you up for the day Photo: Duncan Shepherd