100th parkrun at Aberdare

I COMPLETED my 99th parkrun at Clair park, Haywards Heath two weeks before Christmas.   Knowing that I couldn't run the following week due to work it meant that my 100th was going to be on Christmas Day, but where?

Working within the emergency services means that I cannot guarantee that you will be off at Christmas, but this year I was and we were going to be in South Wales with family to celebrate.   I had checked out the local parkruns and there were two to choose from either Pontypridd, which I have run on a number of occassions or Aberdare, which I have run once.

We were staying at the Aberdare Premier Inn and my wife volunteered to come with me and help marshal the event.   This was the first time for her and the first time she has seen me at a parkrun!   So, it was decided that the small but beautiful park in Aberdare would be the venue for my 100th parkrun.

We woke up on Christmas morning and got ready for the run.   Staff at the Premier Inn has spayed snowy boot prints along all the corridors in the night, so it felt very Christmassy already.   As we stept out on that morning South Wales was raining, and I mean it was raining.   But we got the park in plenty of time and Mrs. 50+ was given her marshal point for the morning.   I found the big hill (that you have to run three times) and the start line.

It was then that we set off with me passing Mrs. 50+ three times, waving cheerfully through the rain each time.   The email results came in which were pretty good, I made good time around the course and came 1st in my age group.   Very happy with the run and Aberdare parkrun.   Now looking to going back again in the future.

The following day I set off for a 10km run across the main Brecon Beacons, just to celebrate the success of Aberdate.

Aberdare Parkrun

Genuine Welsh Parkrun sign!

I HEARD on the grapevine that Aberdare had started a new Parkrun and thought that I would check it out, even though I wanted to have another crack at Pontypridd!   The upside of it was Aberdare was closer and easier to get to giving me a whole extra five minutes in bed!

I have been to Aberdare a number of times over the years but never realised they had a park until very recently so I was quite excited about this..even though I have never actually been in there!

There was a really good turnout and talking to runners on the start line it turned out that it wasn't a brand new run.  The previous week was their first  anniversary and this was their 50th run.   I was only one week late for the first anniversary, I was pleased with that.

Aberdare Parkrun start line.   On your marks ...

Starting the run we headed clockwise arond the park and at the back gate took a small detour and got back on course again.   Coming round to the front gate we headed for the lake and where the finish line was.   It was then I spotted it, the imposing hill that took you up to the start line and end of the first lap.

This was quite challenging being both steep and quite long.   It certainly drained your strength but at least once you made it to the top you had a good recovery time before coming round to the hill again.   In total the course is three and three quarter laps.

Aberdate Parkrun in Welsh, think it's going to rain, style.

This is a beautiful park, so much more than I expected and the run director was so welcoming that it was made even more enjoyable.   Now I have two Welsh park runs between which to split my allegiance.