Parkruns are a great way to get out and get some exercise in a really friendly, non intimidating environment full of people from all levels of fitness and being a personal trainer for the last 10 years in South Bucks working in private PT studios from Amersham to Chalfont St Peter, I am a huge advocate for anything that encourages free exercise
here is a little bit about parkruns from the official wikipedia page
Parkrun (stylised as parkrun) is a collection of 5-kilometre (3.1 mi) events for runners, walkers and volunteers that take place every Saturday morning at more than 2,000 locations in 22 countries across five continents.
Parkrun was founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt on 2 October 2004 at Bushy Park in London, England. The event was originally called the Bushy Park Time Trial. It grew into a network of similar events called the UK Time Trials, before adopting the name Parkrun in 2008 and expanding into other countries.
So if you are someone who is a keen runner or a novice these events are a great way to get involved.
Let me share with you some of the best ones in or near South Bucks
Black park parkrun (slough)
If you have never been there black park is a great place to go for a walk, walk the dog, take the kids to the play park and see the ducks. It also has go ape a fun thing to do with the kids.
However every Saturday morning at 9am a free parkrun event takes place, this is a great course because its all pretty much flat, so if you struggle up steep hills or your knees can't handle it then this is a pretty good run. The other great thing about this parkrun is that its all on compact wide paths so really good under your feet on a nice stable ground, that never really gets horrendously muddy unless there has been excessive rainfall. There is also plenty of parking (not free) and a nice cafe to have a coffee and cake after your run. The scenery is also very nice, running through woodland. The course doesn't go around the lake however you can have a nice stroll around the lake afterwards if you have the energy left
for more info head to the black park parkrun website
Church Mead Parkrun (Amersham)
Church mead parkrun has been dubbed by many as the hardest in the area. It is based in the picturesque town of Amersham the reason people find it challenging is because it is mainly an off road course where in the winter or after heavy rainfall can get quite muddy under foot, but the other main challenge is the steep hills on the course and the best part is to complete the 5k course you have to do 2 laps of the course so you have to tackle the hills twice. However if you are up for the challenge the views from the top of the chiltern countryside are unmatched. I have many clients who come from Amersham and have take part in this great course and their kids love it too.
for more info on this course head to the Church Mead parkrun website
Rickmansworth Parkrun
The course is at Rickmansworth Aquadrome, Rickmansworth. The course is run on a mixture of tarmac paths and trail paths and is pretty much a flat course with no steep hills. If you have never been to the Aquadrome before it is a great place to go for a walk with some lovely views around the lakes, there is also a great kids play park and its only a short walk into the town centre. This a great course to attend on a saturday morning for a fun run and there is plenty of free parking too.
for more info on this course head to the Rickmansworth Parkrun website
Wycombe Rye Parkrun (High Wycombe)
The Rye is a Scenic urban park, with the course on a mixed terrain but predominantly sticks to hard paths on the edge of the park. It is also a relatively flat park run with no steep hills. The run is an out and back route looped around the water "dyke" having the feeling of one lap. At one point there will be a short section (shown 2k/3k on image) where leading runners will be passing back markers moving in the opposite direction. The track is wide enough to take 2-way running. It will be a coned and marshalled position. The park covers an area of more than 53 acres and is the second largest park in the district which also forms part of the grounds of Wycombe Abbey School.
This a great park run, with a great kids play park at the Wycombe Rye it is also a short walk into the main town centre where there are plenty of shops and restaurants
for more info on the Wycombe Rye Parkrun head to their website
there you have it four of the best park runs in or close to south Bucks, I and many of my clients have taken part in these local park runs.
If you are keen on getting a little fitter and stronger and want some strength training to compliment your running then I'd be happy to help and get you in for a free trial PT session at my private PT studio in Chalfont St Peter simply head to my website www.the-fitness-dad.com to get in touch
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