Oaklands parkrun

Introduction / List of reviews

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Date of Visit

18/09/2022

Number of runners

70

Event Number

74

Visit Number

1

This was my current NENDY and I’d heard good things about it so was time to pay it a visit!

Results

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/oaklands/results/74/

parkrun Link

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/oaklands/

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/oaklandsparkrun/

Strava Segment

https://www.strava.com/segments/22251814

Weather

You can tell autumn is on the way. It was what most people would describe as “fresh”. My car reckoned it was five degrees when I’d left the house! Thankfully it warmed up a bit by the time it started and I was treated to sunshine and blue skies through the run. Need to make the most of it while it lasts!

Getting There

It’s directly off the A45 so well connected. If you’re coming from further afield the M6 and M42 will get you onto the A45 and it’s a straight road until you get to Yardley.

The parkrun page doesn’t mention public transport but it’s opposite the Swan shopping centre and there is a bus stop outside that. There website will point you to this bus information.

Birmingham New Street station is four miles away so you could feasibly get a train and a bus (or run if that’s your thing!).

Facilities

There’s a very small car park on Holder Road (B25 8AS) that’s specifically for the park. Main recommendation though is to use the Swan Centre (B25 8UJ) and as you drive in keep right and park near the bushes. From there you cross the road and you’re in the park. It’s a really busy road though so use the crossing by the swan centre.

There aren’t any toilets in the park itself but the Swan Centre also helps out on that front. Opens at 8 by all accounts and I went in about 8.30 without issue.

I had a quick chat with the timekeepers for the day and they pointed me in the direction of Costa in the shopping centre for post run refreshments. They had a tea and croissant breakfast deal I took advantage of!

Briefings and Volunteers

Both briefings were the standard description of the course and safety notes but what really stood out was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Marshals on the course were also some of the most encouraging I’ve come across for some time.

Start line and finish funnel

Start line was on the path that circles the park and makes up the route. Was a bit of a narrow section so any other park users in the area at the same time may have a bit of a surprise.

Finish funnel was perfectly placed. Nice straight part at the end of the turn off from the last lap which then turned onto the grass for scanning.

Course

Three laps.

It’s almost as if the path was made specifically for parkrun. It goes around the whole of the park and each loop is a mile. At the end of the third lap you turn off to straight section for that sprint finish to the end.

It’s a weirdly fast course. It’s not totally flat but none of the climbs are that dramatic and the downhill section is enough to make up any lost time.

Park itself has plenty going on. As well as the path for walking around there is an outdoor gym, kids play area and skate park. You get a really interesting view of Birmingham too. One of the paths also is a half mile loop and has distance markers on the floor for runners to use.

Shoes

Road always. The run is exclusively on good quality paths so whatever the weather you’ll be fine

Short or Long? (based on our watches and checking out other Strava profiles)

Bang on according to my watch. Couple of people near the end also specifically commented on that too.

Andy Stats

parkrun number:

65

Tourist event number:

32

Official time:

18:35

PB!

Position:

1 (74.53% age grade)

Bryony Stats

No Bryony this week.

How did it go?

I finished first and knocked 17 seconds off my PB so I’d say it went pretty well! I’ve been in really good shape recently and after some good times on more challenging courses I knew I might be in with a chance of getting close to my PB. I hit the front straight away and manged to keep the gap to the second finisher pretty much the same throughout.

I’ve never been the first finisher at parkrun before and while I know it’s not a race it’s one of things that’s a nice feeling when it happens.

In terms of the event in general. I was really surprised by the park itself. On paper I wasn’t expecting much, in part as I do know the area a little but also a park off the A45 opposite the shopping centre didn’t sound like it would exactly be a scenic but there was really amazing view looking into Birmingham. I also had a nice chat with one of the locals who told me a little bit about the history of the park and how the community group is doing lots of projects to improve it.

Return Visit Likely?

I think so, at least because I think Bryony would like it but it’s not too far away so in the same way we often pop to Babbs Mill pretty frequently this may get added to the rotation!

Pictures and that.