womensrunninguk.co.uk
CHRISTMAS PARKRUNMARCH 2017 95
“This was my first year running the double. After a very late
night celebrating, I decided to stay local and run Havant
and QE Country Park, only 10 minutes drive apart. New
Year’s Day morning was grey, miserable and drizzly but,
when I arrived at Havant to see so many friends running and
volunteering, I knew I’d made the right decision to stay local.
“Havant is a great course run on gravel paths around the
lawns of Staunton Park with a few gentle hills which, after
my late night, didn’t feel gentle at all! QE Country Park is my
favourite place to run but, when I arrived, I felt grumpy, cold
and hungry and sat in the car for 10 minutes in my soggy
clothes questioning how I was spending my NYD morning!
“Then I bumped into friends who had just ran Havant, Fareham and Lee-on-Solent.
There was such a buzz. QE is run on gravel, grass and forest trails, it’s a tough course
with some steep hills but it has this astonishing charm and beauty.
“The atmosphere was incredible, despite a few Bambi moments. As I plodded around
both runs, chatting with friends, they just reaffirmed that parkrun is a run, not a race,
always to be enjoyed.”
Ros Clarke, Gosport Road Runners“I always look forward to the NYD parkrun double. It feels
so special that you can do two parkruns in one day. Two of
something you love... perfect! I try to do two different ones
to make it extra special so, this year, we chose Chichester
and Bognor Regis as they’re so close in distance.
Chichester is a hillier parkrun on grass, whereas Bognor
is all on paths and flat so they were a great contrast. The
weather was different, too, with Chichester being dry and
Bognor deciding it would be more fun in the rain – which
it was! Both runs were taken at a steadier pace because I
was running with my son. It was great to enjoy new views
and not worry about speed.”
Paula Williams, Fareham Crusaders“My husband and I decided to do the double on New Year’s
Eve. We picked Lee-on-Solent at 9am and Southsea at
10am. After finishing Lee, we had 25 minutes to get to
Southsea. It was touch and go. We parked and then heard
the ‘3,2,1 Go!’ My legs had stiffened up slightly in the car but I
didn’t have a chance to think about that as I literally sprinted
to join the back of the Southsea runners.
“For the first 2.5K, my legs felt surprisingly OK but, at
the turn point, I quickly realised I had been running with a
tailwind helping me along. The last 2.5K I could definitely
feel the Lee parkrun in my legs but just relaxed and tried to
remember what a parkrun is all about and not look at my watch! It was a great feeling to
have done both and with the normal great atmosphere at parkrun, I was buzzing all day.”
Jen Elkins, Southampton Athletics ClubWE RACED!