My First Time Out With Runners on Wormwood Scrubs

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Clare O' Brien brings her son in a jogging buggy to join the parkrun newbies

Parkrun 13 April

I woke to an overcast chilly morning and after putting on a few extra layers, I met up with my good friend Jas from Tooting, bid farewell to Fulham and waved a warm welcome to Wormwood Scrubs.

A great big open grassland greeted us upon arrival. We weren’t the only newbies to Scrubs, as 21 first timers took part today.

We made our way to the finish where everyone gathered before the start and could leave their belongings if needed. Soon 96 parkrunners made their way to the start and after a briefing by Run Director Ben, we were soon underway.

I was a little nervous to parkrun at Scrubs, as I complete parkruns with my son in a jogging buggy and the two and a bit lap course around The Scrubs is entirely on grass. I found the course tough, with sneaky gradients on soft long grass combined with muddy pot holes and an undulating ground underfoot it was hard work for me, but fun for my passenger, as he let out an enthusiastic “Wohoo!” as he bounced and bumped as I bounded along.

I think when you have these difficult parkruns it reminds you of why you run and why you take part in parkrun each week. Our running journeys take twists and turns and ups and downs but showing up, not giving up and being with others to share these moments with make the challenges a little less challenging.

Despite finding the course difficult I actually really enjoyed it! The route around Wormwood Scrubs felt like a cross country run, and the hustle and bustle of city life was soon forgotten and my focus was entirely on the course, plotting my footing and navigating the lumps and bumps. My time and potential pbs or not were no longer a concern and I ran for running.

Everyone at Scrubs this Saturday morning did themselves proud as they crossed the line. There were an amazing 20 pbs achieved. Isacc Adni was first through the funnel in 16:59, just one second outside his pb! The first female came third, well done to Emily Dudgeon who finished in 18:47 and also got the top age grade rating! Theo Signey was the first junior through the funnel in an impressive 25:47. A massive Kudos to James Malcom who not only completed the course in 20:03 but today was his 345th parkrun, which is equivalent to six and a half years of weekly parkruns!

Of course, parkrun never happens by magic, even if it sometimes seems like it! This week ten amazing superstars made todays parkrun possible: Charlie Le Rougetel, Run Director Ben Le Rougetel, Craig Gunn and Nick Michael for getting up super early to set up the course and getting everything ready, quick on the clicker timekeeper Gideon Reid, Amber Mullens for giving out those all-important finish tokens, Kirstie Tew who scanned the barcodes with a broken foot,

Nick Davies brought the run home as tailwalker , Peter Jordan for putting Wormwood Scrubs parkrun to bed for another week and my dear friend from Tooting Jaspal Dhalley for inspiring me to write this run report.

Claire O'Brien

April 29, 2019