Event #55 parkrun # 225
My little darlings are both in showbiz, which often sees me poring over tour schedules, trying to match up cheap flights, affordable accommodation and nearby parkruns. It’s very rare that they are in the same place at the same time, but this year, on my birthday, all the stars seemed to align!
Except…….
Storm Callum arrived. My Friday morning flight had been due to take off at 8.30 am, and Jemima’s show was in Coventry at 7 pm. I’d been saying all week I could cope with a delay of several hours. But FlyBe made the decision to cancel all their morning departures from Belfast City airport, leaving me in a bit of a panic, booking alternatives. (To be fair to FlyBe, propeller planes do not take kindly to the gale force winds that we were subjected to). So EasyJet to the rescue, from the much maligned Belfast International. Check in and security were all very smooth, and I caught a train from Birmingham International straight to Coventry with no problems.
Saw Jemima’s show, i-Infinite that evening, and was ready for my Saturday morning parkrun fix.
Access:
I was staying at the Ibis hotel close to the station, which was an easy 15 minute stroll to War Memorial park. There are a number of buses which pass by, and a decent sized car park.
Facilities:
I was there well before 8.30, but already the team of volunteers was setting up (and storm Callum wasn’t helping them keep the cones in place!). This is a large parkrun, so a small army of volunteers is needed. They were very friendly and welcoming, and pointed me in the direction of the loos, in a very smart looking building.
Loos are clean and warm, and are opened about 8.30. I got chatting in the queue to a local student, and also the tail-walker/ first-timers-briefer for today. This is also the cafe where runners meet afterwards for cake and conversation, and where I enjoyed a bacon butty and cup of tea for under £5.
Course:
2 and a bit laps around the beautiful park. In October when I visited the trees were looking stunning in their autumnal splendour, but causing quite a bit of twigs and seed cases on the ground. It’s mostly tarmac all the way, not totally flat, but with cheery and encouraging marshalls at various points ringing bells and calling out “keep smiling!”. There’s a finish funnel, so keep in order and keep moving. Scanning takes place up by the cafe.
Crowd:
It’s a University town, so expect a good few speedy twenty-somethings. The start has signs for you to line up based on your expected finish time, which does make for a smoother and less bottle-necked first 200m. 
There were also a couple of dogs and prams, and a wide age range from under 10s to….ahem, people even older than me. Numbers are usually around 600.
Gear:
I’d forgotten to bring any sort of waist belt or pouch! When I’m running with Minnie there is a zippy pocket on the running belt, and I always have something to transport poo bags and treats. So I had to be inventive – I tucked some money and my hotel key into my wristband/ sweatband, and shoved my phone into my sports bra. My Garmin and headphones worked perfectly. I wore my black 100 shirt, and my cow cowl, which was recognised by fellow tourist Beth, though this is her local run.
Time:
Ugh, 35 minutes. But you know what? It doesn’t matter.
And the rest:
After a welcome shower back at the hotel, I caught a train to Birmingham New Street, which is a massive station with its own branch of John Lewis attached! Harry’s theatre, the New Alexandra, was right beside the Station Street exit,
and we met for a lovely lunch at Cherry Reds cafe. Service a bit slow, but funky and fabulous food. Motown the Musical is a non-stop feel good megamix of hits – guaranteed to leave you smiling. And a busy show for Harry as Head of Automation, lots going on all the time.
I caught a train back to the airport station, my goodness this is a big airport! I’d had to get on the phone to FlyBe earlier, since if you don’t take your outward flight they automatically cancel your return leg. But my 8 pm flight was very hassle free, and I was back home at 9.30 pm. That was certainly a fun packed couple of days, and a birthday to remember.
All my parkruns:
NI (and other) parkruns: summary list
Filed under: kids, Musicals, Parkrun, running, travel | Tagged: Coventry, family, travel | 1 Comment »
Dancing At Lunacy 