Abbey Park parkrun

Introduction / List of reviews

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Date of Visit

27/05/2023

Number of runners

225

Event Number

7

Visit Number

1

It’s a new event and this was first chance we’d had to make it over

Results

https://www.parkrun.org.uk/abbeypark/results/7/

parkrun Link

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

Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/abbeyparkparkrun

Strava Segment

https://www.strava.com/segments/34204158

Weather

Glorious! Blue skies, slight breeze and definitely t-shirt weather

Getting There

If you’re not familiar with it Leicester can be a little fiddly to drive around (so many traffic lights!) and we could probably have found a better route to get there. That said. It’s a mile from Leicester train station and half a mile from St Margaret’s Bus Station so public transport links are good.

Being right in the city itself means it’s easily walkable and reachable by bike for locals.

If you’re driving there are a couple of parking options

There’s a small free car park at the Morningside Arena (LE1 3UD). There are signs and volunteers but only a limited number of spaces. It’s a small walk over the bridge after that to the start.

Outside of that Abbey Park Road, LE4 5AQ – £2 for 2 hours, card machine available. St Margaret’s Pastures, LE1 3AE – £2 for 2 hours, cash and card available

Facilities

There’s a lot of things to do in the park itself.

  • Boating lake
  • Bowling green
  • Changing facilities
  • Lavender maze
  • Orienteering courses
  • Pets corner
  • Ping! tables
  • Play area
  • Tennis courts
  • Sensory garden

(from Abbey Park (leicester.gov.uk) )

There’s a volunteer run cafe in the middle of the park which is also where the toilets are. This near is the bridge you run over. We were on a bit of a time limit so didn’t get the chance to check it out.

Briefings and Volunteers

First time briefing and the main briefing were both done by the RD for the day and she was friendly and enthusiastic. I had lovely chat with her afterwards hearing all about their new event.

Start line and finish funnel

One of the widest start funnels I’ve seen as they use the whole width of the park! Obviously narrows down onto the route itself but it’s good to see an event where everyone can generally start at the same time and there isn’t a queue just to get over the start line.

Finish funnel is in the same place as the start so there’s loads of space to hang around afterwards.

Course

Single lap

Course description makes it look complicated but it essentially loops around two different sections of the park.

Other than going over the bridge that joins the two sections of the park this is pancake flat so loads of PB potential.

Shoes

Road. Whole thing is on really good paths.

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

Andy Stats

parkrun number:

90

Tourist event number:

41

Official time:

18:20

Position:

8 (75.55% age grade)

Bryony Stats

parkrun number:

75

Tourist event number:

36

Official time:

38:55

Position

206 (39.53% age grade) 83rd Female

How did it go?

Andy – Very enjoyable! It’s a really lovely place to have a parkrun event and I do love a single lap course. Ended up running a really good time though with a club race planned the following day I eased off a touch in the last mile (only a little though!) Volunteers were all lovely. I had a chat with a couple of them afterwards as well as a visiting RD from Newport who was in the area visiting family.

Bryony – have only just starting to pick up a little bit of speed following 3 months of resting the knee. Meant there was some walking and was able to really take in the park. Would be a good one for parkwalkers. Keen to come back when I’m back on form to take it on properly.

Return Visit Likely?

Yes. We can get to this in 35-40 minutes from our house so it’s going to be one those in the local rotation. I’d like to have another crack at running a fast time here and also check out the café. With it being right in the middle of Leicester too we’ll likely tie into a shopping trip there too.

Pictures and that.

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Andy Parkes is Technical Director at Coventry based IT support company IBIT Solutions. Formerly, coordinator of AMITPRO and Microsoft Partner Area Lead for 2012-2013. He also isn't a fan of describing himself in the third person.

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