Sadly Knockbracken Reservoir parkrun ceased to be earlier this year, but the team were quick to identify a suitable nearby location in order to keep momentum going for local runners.
Access:
It’s in the Belfast metropolitan area, so there are buses (Metro 6c and d) that operate nearby. Car parking is recommended at the Boys Brigade hall, rather than the closer playground park or Belvoir Activity Centre, in order to keep the spaces there for those users.
It’s a bit of a walk to the start line, so make sure you leave plenty of time! But I got a 6d at 10.40 afterwards which was perfectly timed.
Facilities:
Loos in the activity centre. The team currently seem to be providing tea and coffee afterwards in the playpark car park, but that may be temporary. Start and finish are in the same area, so find a tree for your jacket!
Course:
It’s one small lap and 2 large ones (which also incorporate the first small one). It’s one of those courses which seems to be all uphill, even though I know that’s a geographical impossibility! Keep the River Lagan to your left, do not cross over the river! The paths are typical forest terrain, packed gravel, watch out for puddles and squidgy grass.
It’s quite a narrow start – runners are encouraged to self seed and place themselves in the appropriate area. There’s an important crossroads point, well manged by cowbell wielding volunteers. And you run past the ancient Belvoir Oak, as well as many other fabulous trees and forest life.
Crowd:
I was there at event 4, along with 170 others. So I would expect it’ll even out around the low 100s. It’s rather volunteer heavy, that might be an issue in winter months. Great one for dogs, a bit tricky for prams or wheelchairs.
Gear:
I was tailwalking in my windproof trews, world tourist jacket and jog Lisburn hat. I also had a backpack on as I was heading downtown afterwards. Blue Hokkas. Could have done with walking poles!
Strangely Appropriate Song:
I don’t use headphones when I’m tail walking in case I need to be on the alert for urgent safety messages. But that cowbell at the crossroads was a great indicator of where I was. So here’s my favourite song featuring a cowbell.
Now the past couple of years, a part time job in tourism, coupled with being a one-car family, has seriously hampered my regular parkrun attendance. So it’s with great elation when I discover that I have a day off work AND access to the car, and oh lookee, there’s one left of the newest crop of Norn Irn runs that I need. AAAAND, it’s a letter N which I need for my Namely challenge. So off to Newry I went!
Access:
Newry is well connected by the A1 dual carriageway, and the directions on the parkrun website plus the postcode (BT34 2EQ) will guide you through the city’s one way cobbled streets to get close to the start. There’s plenty of on street parking (2 hours for £1.60) as well as a number of handy carparks. The Buttercrane Shopping Centre is also nearby.
Public transport is less easy – the train station is 2km outside town, and the first Goldliner bus from Belfast arrives at 9.30. Mind you, the bus station is very handy to the start line so if you do arrive this way then it’s a short hop, skip and a jump.
Crowd:
I was there on their 13th event, and there were just over 100 runners. Plenty of folk walking, pushing buggies, and running with furry friends. Chatted to a few folk I’d met before, but didn’t spot any other cow cowls.
Course:
Dead easy out and back along the side of the canal. Flat all the way, packed gravel surface. There’s a friendly marshal at the turnaround point who might even take your photo.
Gear:
The weather was fine, quite warm but no too hot, with a slight dampness in the air. I was in my grey skirty calf lengths, I think they are really a tennis garment, but I like them for comfort. Rarely worn 250 T shirt, because the numbers are peeling off. Sauconys. Zippy waist pocket which is too small for my phone, but I was carrying my phone taking photos so that didn’t matter.
Facilities:
Toilets at the market, or the shopping centre. Coffee afterwards at Courtneys, though I opted for Krem, where an americano and a granola bar cost me the very non-Belfast price of £4.50.
Strangely Appropriate Song on Shuffle:
I’ve got out of the habit of running with music, but I had dug out my Aftershox and charged them up for today. I was doing a “jeffing” approach of run for 20 seconds, walk for 20 seconds, but when running with music I up that to 32 bars, as anything else messes with my inbuilt musical qi. Lots of Eurovision songs came up, these are great for running to as they are 3 minutes long, usually upbeat and in neat 8 bar phrases. But I laughed out loud when Vangelis Chariots of Fire appeared.
Now this might be a bit of an ouroboros, in that it’s a blog post about a podcast interview I gave about writing a blog.
Alan Ladd, a sports coach and nutritionist, broadcasts a weekly podcast, https://www.therunningrules.com/ covering all sorts of information connected with all sorts of running. I was flattered when he asked if he could interview me about this here parkrun blog, given that I’m coming up to my 400th run. I’m episode 133 if you’re interested.
Over a zoom call we chatted for more than an hour about milestones, how I started running, how I put the blog together, parkrun disasters, and advice for newbies. After the call I thought – I didn’t even get to talk about cow cowls, or dressing up, or cakes, or the many wonderful friends I have made along the way! But he was well jel of my Milestone Running Buddy, which does take pride of place on my kitchen windowsill.
It was a very enjoayable experience, I did manage to forget that I was being recorded, and just rabbit on. I could indeed talk parkrun until the cows come home.
Now I’d better go find my I’verunallthenornirnparkrunssoIhave T shirt and update its buttons, and think about what I’m going to wear for my arbitrary 400th….
Reason for visit: seeing the fab-u-lous Jemima Brown in Midsummer Night’s Dream!
Access:
OK, I am notorious for being beset by travel problems, and this weekend had them writ large. Flight out on Friday afternoon (Belfast City to Luton) was delayed by an hour because of French air traffic control strike (meant the incoming plane had to take a longer route), but the airport link and train were all pretty good, and I got to London Bridge about 7, time to find my hotel (Premier Inn on Tower Bridge Road), check my route to the Bridge Theatre, chat to security guy Dominic to see where the stage door was and where I might get some flowers, get some pink roses, deposit them at stage door, and go for a kick ass Bloody Mary at The Ivy in time to see Jemima’s post that she had received the bouquet.
Saturday morning should have been a short stroll to Tower Gateway to catch the DLR, but when I got there the barriers were down, and staff told me I’d need to get a replacement bus. Hmmm, choices. Abandon parkrun and go back to hotel for a leisurely breakfast and shower? Walk to previously done parkrun tourism: Southwark? Or put my big girl pants on and find the replacement bus? I mean, how hard can it be?
Finding bus stop L was a bit of a puzzle, if you are ever looking for it it’s tucked inside the bus depot. But safely aboard I enjoyed the ride through “Call the Midwife”‘s Poplar, before alighting at Canning Town. Where I found lots of other parkrunners, and we all made the one more stop to Royal Victoria, from where you can practically see the start line.
Course:
This part of the river is heavily used by other sporty types, so the usual route as described on the web page was not feasible today. Instead we were running an out and back 3 times. Dead flat, but the surface is a bit cobbled. With all that out and backing you’ll have runners going in both directions, so a fairly strict keep left instruction is in force. London City airport is nearby, so there are frequent planes passing overhead.
Facilities:
No loos, though there are a few cafes etc dotted around for parkfaff – I had to dash off to get back and changed ready for the afternoon matinee. The start area is right beside the cable car, although it currently doesn’t start before 9 am. I ruled it out as a return journey option as I assumed it would be taking me out of my way – actually it would have joined me up with the Jubilee line so I really should have looked at a map….
Crowd:
I’d chatted to a South African runner with a 50 venues T shirt on – no, I had no matches. And then someone approached me cos of my cow cowl and said, you’re not local I take it, where are you from? When I said “Norn Irn” she said – you’re Linda aren’t you! It was none other than Cathy, who I’d met before at the NI Cowfest , also in town for a thing. I mean, it’s London, there’s always something on, so this is a big tourist friendly event. Lovely encouraging volunteers, well marshalled course. Lots of dogs!
Time:
Still hobbling and shuffling rather than running, so 50 minutes and some seconds was perfectly respectable.
Gear:
Cow cowl, With Me Now T, blue hokkas.
And the rest:
My baby sister, who resides in Oz, was also in town this weekend, so we managed to squeeze in a quick catch up over coffee, before she queued to get returns to the play wot she wrote her dissertation on.
Well Jemima is just stunning, if you get a chance to see Midsummer Night’s Dream before 20 August 2025, then go there!
My journey home on the Sunday (Stansted to International) saw me getting a bus to Liverpool Street, where there were many signs about the perils of taking the Stansted Express. But look, on the departures board there’s a Greater Anglia train, the livery of the train is GA, and the wifi on board is provided by GA. So I was rather taken aback when arriving at Stansted I was forced to pay a £50 fine as – no madam, that was in fact the Stansted Express. The fact that there was a fully staffed desk and a queue of 20 people in the same position as me reassures me this was not just me being dumb. And they were indicating on the fine ticket how you could lodge a claim. (I have lodged a claim, it has been rejected).
Boarded the plane, in the rain, stairs rolled away, and the pilot comes on to tell us that yes, it’s raining so heavily that air traffic have restricted the number of take offs to 11 per hour, and we are number 29 in the queue. So another 90 minutes was spent on board before take off ….
No fewer than 4 new parkruns have started up in Norn Irn in recent weeks, so getting round them all when I work part-time and don’t often have access to a car on Saturday mornings is proving challenging. But lo and behold – a work free Sat, an available vehicle, and the sun was shining! Time to head west for the rather remote but beautiful Loughmacrory.
Access:
The sat nav took me down some very hairy twisty country lanes, often meeting a tractor head on. It might be less scary to stick to more main roads and go via Omagh, though that would make the journey longer. 54 miles from me, so an hour and a bit’s drive. The postcode given on the parkrun page will take you there, and it’s wasy to spot the GAA club.
Facilities:
Plenty of parking, though it does get more congested as the morning wears on. Loos available. Post parkrun coffee in The View, where to my delight they had a delicious selection of overnight oats – for a non meat eater I always sigh at the usual parkrun special offer on bacon butties. My ONO and iced latte was definitely not-Belfast prices, costing just £5-20.
Course:
2 laps of the GAA pitch, then 2 laps of the Lough. It is absolutely beautiful – tree lined around the waters edge which was a blessing in the hot sun, and fairly flat.
Crowd:
Even though it’s still a baby (I was there at event 7), they are not overrun with tourists. I walked round with the tail walker and came in at position 41. There were a few of my Jog Lisburn stable mates there, and couple of rarely spotted 500 T shirts. And 3 dogs. I do worry that they might struggle for volunteers during the winter months.
Gear:
It was a warm day. I opted for capri pants and my With Me Now T shirt, Saucony trainers.. Cow cowl of course, and sweat wristband. Sunglasses, though it was thankfully a bit overcast during the run time.
Time:
That was a fairly brisk walk, at 52:38, and we were not the only ones walking. Results were processed by the team in the cafe, and were very quickly sent out.
Reason for visit: There’s been a rash of new Norn Irn parkruns opening in recent weeks, so all the regionaries are trying to once again complete the set. With a rare Friday AND Saturday off work, I took the train up to the north coast to visit my parents in Portstewart, which is only a few miles from this Coleraine venue.
Access:
The course is based around Christie park on the Strand Road.
Course:
It’s a T-shaped course run on the riverside walk by the mighty River Bann. From the start point by the underpass, go left to a turnaround point, then head the other direction to a turnaround point (which will be your half way mark), and then repeat the first turnaround. Start and finish at the same area. Tarmac path the whole way, quite narrow so there is a very strict “keep right” instruction repeated throughout. It’s very pretty down by the river, and Coleraine is famous for its Olympic rowers, so expect to see rowing teams out practising.
Facilities:
Plenty of car parking in the Riverside Retail Park, where there are also many options for loo/ cafe. There are a small number of car parking paces at Christie park itself, also a toilet block. Note – if you use the underpass/ subway route you will be on the wrong side of the busy dual carriageway to reach the retail park – please use safe crossing points.
Crowd:
Lots of familiar faces among the 150 or so attending event 4. This is the town where I went to school, so I said hi to a few old school chums as well as other parkrun friends. I did have to “shush” a chatty pair behind me during the run brief – I am constantly surprised by how often this poor etiquette is displayed. Nearby Portrush parkrun is a “no dogs” course during the summer months, so any canine pals will probably find a seasonal home here.
Gear:
I was in my blue Hokkas, waterproof leggings, had my cow cowl and 250 T shirt on, barely visible under my blue jacket. I got absolutely drenched. There is very little shelter on this path, so if there is any rain or wind you are going to feel it. Umbrellas and umbrella hats were teh order of the day!
Now that’s got to be one of the coolest names for a parkrun, as well as “roo” being the nickname for my youngest grandson. We’d had a long standing agreement to take family holiday in Scotland, with plans to climb Ben Nevis. But we ended up staying in a holiday park near Pitlochry, which I felt was too far for the highest peak. Plus I hadn’t done nearly enough climbing or even walking this year, and didn’t think I’d be up to it. So we opted for Schiehallion instead, given its links to Scottish Country dancing, as well as being the peak where contour lines were first developed.
As for parkruns, I’d assumed I might be revisiting Faskally Forest parkrun, but to my great delight I discovered that this one in adorable Aberfeldy had just started a few weeks ago. And the Saturday would be Harry’s actual birthday. So off we set!
My son was pushing a double buggy and running with super speedy O, while I was accompanying H on his first ever adult parkrun, though he’d done plenty of juniors.
Access:
It’s on a fitness trail just by the fabulous John Wade bridge. Parking on some grass, which can get slippy and mucky, but there’s space for 100 or so vehicles – we even managed to park a motorhome! I recognised the car park marshall as none other than PFS ambassador Davie Black, who I’d first met back when doing parkrun tourism: Edinburgh
Facilities:
No loos on site, but parfaff afterwards is at the Ailean Craggan Hotel, where they do a parkrun special offer on bacon butties and coffee.
Crowd:
There were 120 when I visited – plenty of local Scots, some holiday makers like myself, I spotted one other cow cowl. Lots of family groups, and plenty of dogs, both running and volunteering. Speaking of which, the timekeepers had really smart little umbrellas to avoid the phantom times recorded by raindrops.
And the RD wore a kangaroo costume!
And a visitor celebrating his 500 delivered the parkrun brief in the style of Rabbie Burns. (Don’t go looking for the statue, it’s away for cleaning. So they say).
Course:
3 laps of the fitness trail, lovely views of the bridge, trip trap over a few wooden bridges, well marshalled. Some of the course is on grass, so wear appropriate footwear. We had a female first finisher this day!
Gear:
I was in long black running pants, my 250 t-shirt though it wasn’t visible under my blue raincoat, saucony trainers that I was travelling in. Midge repellent is a good idea!
Time:
We were walking. My muscles were still aching after the climb on Wednesday, and I was wearing an ankle support on my right foot. So it took us just over an hour. And I did my signature skip-change step over the finish line.
My parkrun tourism has been severely hampered over the last year for several factors. Firstly, I now have a part-time job, which often requires working on a Saturday morning. Secondly, we are now a one-car family, and my other half needs the car every Saturday at 10 am. And new parkruns tend to be in remote places inaccessible by public transport. So imagine my delight when I discovered that 2 new Norn Irn ones started last week, one of them was less than 20 miles away, AND I was not working AND had access to the car! So it was with much excitement that I set off to Lurgan Park.
One downside – my phone is still refusing to take photos, even after 3 visits to the Genius Bar, so this report is in black and white.
Access:
It’s very easy to get to by road, not too far off the main M1 motorway. I did get stuck behind a railway crossing fro a few minutes, but I could see there were trains in both directions arriving at the station a few minutes before 9.00 am, and that’s less than a mile from the park.
Facilities:
Plenty of parking, loos in the cricket pavilion, and a cute little coffee cart with lots of tables for afterwards.
Course:
2 laps through the frankly downright gorgeous park, with a lake, and some ancient trees. Packed gravel paths, a narrow start to get yourself in a suitable position (ie slower runners, dogs and buggies near the back). There are a couple of slightly less than flat sections, but it is not what you’d call hilly.
Gear:
it was a bright sunny day, so I opted for a sleeveless black top. To be honest, that was a bit chilly in the shade provided by the trees. Had to hunt around for my wristband barcode, but I found it! Saucony trainers. Toby was with me and I was worried that his hand held lead was starting to show signs of fraying, but we survived!
Crowd:
It’s a new kid on the block, so lots of familiar faces aiming to regain regionarie status. As 2 parkruns started in the same week, and a 3rd the week after, there was a period when there were NO Norn Irn regionaries. It will take me a while to tick the others, but hey ho. Jog Moira is a great local club, and no doubt they will be faithful attendees here.
What’s another year, eh? OK mes enfants, here is my take on this year’s Euroviz offerings.
TLDR – I think it’s Sweden’s year. Again. Though my personal favourite is Ukraine.
Themes this year: Suggestive Lyrics (SL), we love Italy (I), national selection controversy (NS) and earnest long notes (ELN)
Estonia – Espresso Macchiato
Bendy legged send up of Italian cliches. Will have its fans for sure! (I)
Iceland – Roa
Reykjavik’s answer to Jedward in bacofoil suits. Sounds like last year’s “Luktek”, but has a key change!
Poland – Gaja
Very long note, bondage backing singers (ELN)
Portugal – Deslocado
Nerd rock to fall asleep to, shoe-gazing stuff.
Slovenia – How Much Time
Upside down plaintive environmental plea (ELN)
Sweden – Bara bada basta
Well. Mans was a bit put out that his boring Revolution wasn’t chosed, but this is an extremely catchy number from a Finnish group sung in Swedish about having a sauna. You’ll be singing along and flinging your towel around your head by the end of it. Bookies fave, it’ll be beloved by the televote even if juries snub it.(NS)
Ukraine – Bird of Pray
My “instantly love it one”, gives me goosebumps. brilliant moment of silence, lovely chords. Not getting a lot of fan love, but the juries will like it. Doubt that Ukraine really wants to win, though.
Albania – Zjerm
Long haired songstress with orchestra, giving Kate Bush vibes (ELN)
Azerbaijan – Run with U
Ermmmmmmm. OK-ish synth pop.
Belgium – Strobe Lights
Blatant gay club anthem, dyed red hair, falsetto. Yeah it’s an impressive high note, but not particularly easy on the ear. (very ELN)
Croatia – Poison Cake
Yum yum nursery rhyme meets gothic (SL)
Cyprus – Shh
The hotel corridor from The Shining, 90s rave tune
Netherlands – C’est La Vie
Catchy! But does it stand out enough?
Norway – Lighter
Knights in shining armour, lots of pyrotechnics going on
San Marino – Tutta l’Italia
DJ and a granny. Is everyone being Italian this year? (I)
Armenia – Survivor
Compulsory to have a song with this title every year, clearly. Raucous vocals/ rap
Australia – Milkshake Man
Going for the comedy voters this year, with suggestive lyrics and an 80s feel. I really like the tune, but cringe at the puerile lyrics. I mean, sure your milkshake brings all the boys to the yard, but I’m trying to have me dinner here! Televote winner, jury thumbs down. (SL)
Austria – Wasted Love
Squawky falsetto from Cillian Murphy. Getting a lot of fan love (I don’t get it) (ELN)
Greece – Asteromata
A young Nana Mouskouri very demurely dressed, a refreshing contrast to all the porn show numbers this year
Ireland – Laika party
Autotuned chipmunk. What shall we make a Euroviz song about? I know, that first dog in space! I mean. Spaceman worked for the UK, so this is the logical next subject matter, right? Pleasant enough number, should make it through the semis OK, but will then plummet. “I’ve heard of her” Samantha Mumba lost out in the selection process, and was not best pleased. (NS)
Latvia – Burma Kim
Close harmony ethnic folk vibe from a girl group. I quite like this one, but I doubt it will win. Will be on my jogging playlist though!
Lithuania – Taca alps
In a straight jacket, angst ridden, tuneless. Could grunge win Euroviz? I doubt it. (ELN)
Montenegro – Dobredosil
Severe hair, black dress, red lip. Earnest. (ELN)
Czechia – Kiss kiss goodbye
More falsetto, more 90s rave
Denmark – Hallucination
Sparkly leotard body positive, but at least no visible buttocks. You-e-oo-e-oo. Hopefully will break Denmark’s non qualifying streak.
Finland – Ich Komme
Nothing left to the imagination, pole dancing and suggestive writhing. Televoters will be slobbering, jury anathema. (SL)
Georgia – Freedom
Wistful young singer in red ballgown
Israel – New Day Will Rise
Still using the current war situation to contrive heart tugging ballads. Pro Israeli diaspora will flock to it, but it’s bland and unmemorable, and really doesn’t deserve to win.
Luxembourg – La poupee mente le son
Meh, bit old fashioned, if catchy. But has a costume change!
Malta – Serving
Already had to be censored, let’s see if the audience fill in the missing word. It’s a decent song though, and the bouncing on yoga balls is bound to catch on. (SL)
Serbia – Mila
Gave up professional wrestling to deliver this power ballad. Probably best contender for this year’s Bond Theme Tune.
France – Maman
Previewed at the six nations, a powerful singer, and giving good odds with the bookies. It’ll be a jury darling, definitely left hand of the table.
Germany – Baller
Is there a tune? On subsequent listens, I quite like this. Strings.but smashing a cello? Oh those Germans!
Italy – Volev essere una duro
In need of a big plate of pasta. Kiss make-up
Spain – Esa Diva
Put the buttocks away!!! Sneak preview of the final costume suggests it’s more covered up, for which, gracias. Diva diva diva diva
Switzerland – Voyage
Interesting – speeds up and goes through several keys.
UK – WTHJH
What genre would you like girls? Yes! “Clutches at pearls” is a common phrase used on Mumsnet, they may well adopt this as their official anthem. Stands out. They can sing. Might manage to garner both televote AND jury points, so could be a …..nah, it’s not gonna win!
Reason for visit: a weekend in Devon with my grandkids! The promise – a cottage by a lake, hot tub, kayaking on the lake, parkrun, aquarium, maybe a trip to the seaside……..
Access:
My son (and grandkids) live near Salisbury (plane to Southampton, train to Salisbury from the station literally across the road, there are at least 2 an hour, and you get to watch the many many freight trains on this line). Three hour drive to Devon. We were staying in a cottage in north Devon, and on Saturday morning followed the very good sat nav directions from the parkrun page.
Facilities:
Good car parking,with a marshal to direct you, but you do need to pay. Toilets. Cafe during summer hours only.
Course:
It’s a beautiful run round the Tamar lakes, crossing into Cornwall at some point, and in the beautiful autumn colours it was just a glorious way to start a Saturday morning. Pretty flat – there are one or 2 inclines which might challenge a wheelchair or buggy, but wide gravel paths all the way. Big love to the volunteers who had to pick up those spilled finish tokens in the mud!
Crowd:
Stable numbers are around the 100 mark – the weekend we were there was Storm Bert which had resulted in MULTIPLE cancellations across the country, so I thought there may be more attendees, but perhaps folk were avoiding getting stuck in flooded roads. (See later). One of thier regular runners was fundraising for an upcoming marathon, so there was a fundraising bun stand
Many gorjus doggies, including a pointy eared ginger Portuguese hound, and of course our own sprocker, Apollo.
Gear:
It was cold and windy, and I’m not running fast these days. Windproof trousers, Sauconys that I travelled in, warm Michelin jacket, and Cow Bobble..
Time:
I was supposed to be the responsible adult of an under 11, but I was far too slow for him, so I jiggedy jogged around in just over 53 minutes.
Strangely Appropriate Song On Shuffle:
OK. Let me fast forward you to the Sunday, where my return journey was spent in the back of a recovery truck, avoiding the flooded roads, gridlocked town centres, accident blocked tiny roads…..and the song on the radio was “The tide is high, but I’m holding on…”
And the rest:
Storm Bert put the kybosh on any hot tubs, kayaking, or seaside strolls. We had a few splashy puddle walks, an indoor climbing wall session, takeaway fish’n’chips, and then the van was displaying warning signs, so there was no way we were driving back.
Hence the recovery truck return journey, with my son and I exchanging awful Hamilton puns (Look around, look around, how lucky we are to be alive right now!), and us negotiating closed ring roads hence 40 minute stand offs up and down a steep hill, 33 point turns when a road was blocked by an accident, and then 10 miles form home having to take a half hour break, for understandable tachograph safety rules. Truly Unforgettable!
Dancing At Lunacy 