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How far is it round Brockwell Park?

beeboo said:
If you wanted a change of scene (depending where you're starting), running down to Dulwich Park, doing a lap and then running back would probably be a similar distance to two laps of the park, and be almost entirely flat.

I hate doing laps of anything - lovely as the parks are.
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That's a good idea - but I have a feeling it might be further. I will check it out though. :)
 
There`s a notice on the board by the Norwood Road entrance with details of the circumference for runners.

I`m really pleased to hear people say it`s tough.. I usually do two (very slow) laps usually clockwise because it appeals to my sense of order and also because everyone else runs the other way so I don`t get overtaken by tons of people which is pretty bad for the spirit!! :D
 
Are there any gates left open after the park shuts?
I was running one evening last week and got locked in!
I've now got a bit of a hole in my knee from clambering over a wall near the Hobgoblin. :(
 
The wooden fence by the Arlington Road exit is often broken... you go through the bushes opposite the toilet block in the children`s playground. It gets mended every now and then but then someone opens it up again.

It`s not too hard to climb over the wall to the right of the gate at the Tulse Hill exit as we all found out recently when the gate was broken for a month or so.

Otherwise the HH junction gate has a low bit of gating to the left by the disused toilet block that`s really easy to get over.
 
There's also a railing which has been pushed out of shape where the lido car park is, so you can get out there pretty easily.
 
Ms T said:
That's a good idea - but I have a feeling it might be further. I will check it out though. :)
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You were right! It's almost exactly the same distance at 4.5 miles.
 
gaijingirl said:
There`s a notice on the board by the Norwood Road entrance with details of the circumference for runners.

I`m really pleased to hear people say it`s tough.. I usually do two (very slow) laps usually clockwise because it appeals to my sense of order and also because everyone else runs the other way so I don`t get overtaken by tons of people which is pretty bad for the spirit!! :D
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Not any more there isn't.

And yay to two really slow laps!
 
gaijingirl said:
I`m really pleased to hear people say it`s tough.. I usually do two (very slow) laps usually clockwise because it appeals to my sense of order and also because everyone else runs the other way so I don`t get overtaken by tons of people which is pretty bad for the spirit!!
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Whenever I get overtaken by other people, I always convince myself they're not running as far as I am, and that they will probably collapse in a panting heap the second they round the corner out of sight, whilst I cruise onwards ;)

This is another reason to avoid laps - you never get to find out.
 
Good for you. I did my c25k in Brockwell and have done numerous parkruns since. I have come to know every camber, every slight incline or decline, every bend and, as a result,I love the park so much more for it.
 
Cheers.

I'm run 3 into the first week of c25k. Enjoying it!

I haven't really run in over 10 years. I've been reading a bit about running technique and it appears I was running 'wrong' all those years ago and should be landing on the ball of the foot, not touching the heel to the ground at all. So I'm trying out a lighter
more tiptoey style, but it's weird! What are your thoughts about that?

Are you a Brockwell Park parkrun regular? It's my aim to do that eventually, but at the moment I'm only going about 4 mph - basically walking pace! Obv building it up to 6mph is the aim. I'm going to run on grass for now to ease my old lady legs into it.

It's a wonderful park isn't it - my favourite in London. The variety of scenery, something for everyone in the community, it's ace.
 
Excellent thread.
I seem to be one of the few who runs it anti-clockwise, i do the 5km #Parkrun route.
I call the back hill the Cressingham Crusher but i am no longer daunted by it although it still has the measure of me. I love the free flow of the downhill into Tulse Hill and then the relative flat towards Herne Hill providing opportunity for recovery and the mental boost that you are approximately half way.

Often see the same faces, an eclectic mix of individuals sharing a common purpose. Running is a solitary pursuit but it never feels like that in the park. I put it on a par with meditation, i solely concentrate on the park, my body, the next tree and my time. I always take great music with me. All of that clears the mind and then you have the endorphin comfort blanket that comes to cuddle you.

I love the park but i also love this course. It provides me with a real challenge, physically and mentally.
When i started running in June last year i was really just walking fast and it took about 45 minutes. I "ran" this course 27 times last year and i'm going for my fourth run of this year later today. My fastest time around this course is 33.31 but currently i am around 40 minutes, i let myself go a bit.

How do i know all of this? Well, i spent all of yesterday evening making a spreadsheet to record my times and when i woke up this morning i had no way of knowing that in a matter of moments i would stumble across a thread like this, via Twitter no less. It's put a spring in my step!

I've never officially run this route as #parkrun but made my debut at Whitstable last August clocking 35:56 finishing 173rd (no, i wasn't last), i followed that up the next week (i was on house sitting holiday) with an official PB of 35:44 (178), again i wasn't last.

Plan to run sub 30 minutes this summer and i'm only weeks away from officially running this course, just need a bit of fitness.

Here is a photo of me running in Whitstable, i'm the sexy one in black, i ran twice with the guy in red, Dennis is a legend in Whitstable and i used him as a pacemaker (he beat me both times) and chastised me that i should be running much faster, "you have a good running style, you should be going faster!, you should be around 25 minutes with that style!"

photos Whitstable parkrun567.jpeg
 
Wow, great to hear about your running journey, Dexter. Amazing how you've gone from 45 mins to 40 and even 33.31! What an achievement. Is the Parkrun 5k route twice round or squiggly or what? Great pic by the way. [emoji4]

Today I alternated jogging and walking once round, plus the distance from New Park Rd and back. Really enjoyed it. I was amazed at the number of people running and slowly jogging round the park on a Friday morning, there must've been 20. Many more than when I used to jog round the park about 15 years ago! . I was listening to the BBC world service. My fave. I felt quite euphoric afterwards.

It's a nice combination of being solitary and in company isn't it - I really get what you're saying about that. [emoji4]
 
At the parkrun, you start at the Lido, do a full lap and then take a left, over the hill by the bmx track, back down by the ponds and onto the same circuit as before. The back hill is tough the second time around. Also, there's a gentle incline from the Tulse Hill entrance towards Herne Hill and it is tough to get up after you tell yourself that the back hill at the second attempt was the last challenge.

Everyone is really friendly, I couldn't recommended it more highly.
 
I doubt I'll go tomorrow - I would really like to finish the c25k first, but it's become one of my goals recently to do the Brockwell Park Parkrun so I'll definitely be down there soon [emoji4]. The whole idea is a wonderful thing.
 
han said:
Are you a regular then?
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Sadly I've only done 7 runs! I play a bit of hockey on Saturdays in winter so as soon as that's over I plan to be down there every Saturday that I can. It probably sounds a bit silly but I really want to hit the 50 run milestone (not just for the free t-shirt!). There's a Dulwich parkrun as well which I'm keen to check out, and a whole lot more a little further afield.

Smick said:
Also Han, I promise you that regardless of how much or little you run tomorrow and how much you walk, you won't be last.
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Agreed, but even if you did come last it wouldn't matter, in the end you're only ever pacing against yourself. Quite a few times I've set out for a slow jog and ended up setting a PB, the atmosphere and having other runners around you really helps.

Highly recommended.
 
han said:
Really?! [emoji3] how do you know that? [emoji6] thanks though [emoji4]
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Because i might run it tomorrow lol.
Just come back from a lovely run and my first sub 40 min of the year; only just.
Met two old acquaintances and had lovely chats with them both, i also had my bum sniffed by a very large dog when i was warming down, he came at me from behind but i was too relaxed to panic, there was much laughter.
 
kl8041 said:
Sadly I've only done 7 runs! I play a bit of hockey on Saturdays in winter so as soon as that's over I plan to be down there every Saturday that I can. It probably sounds a bit silly but I really want to hit the 50 run milestone (not just for the free t-shirt!). There's a Dulwich parkrun as well which I'm keen to check out, and a whole lot more a little further afield.
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I tried the Dulwich one because it is flat and fast and I wanted to break 20mins. I like the park and there are less people but I don't like doing three identical laps. Brockwell was much nicer!
 
Rushy said:
I tried the Dulwich one because it is flat and fast and I wanted to break 20mins. I like the park and there are less people but I don't like doing three identical laps. Brockwell was much nicer!
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Likewise, although i was faster at Dulwich the three lap thing i found more challenging than the undulations of Brockwell. I was impressed by all the fitness equipment in Dulwich park,which was well used and would like to see more of that in Brockwell, but for a posh park i'm surprised they don't have huts for the alcoholics.
 
Rushy said:
I tried the Dulwich one because it is flat and fast and I wanted to break 20mins. I like the park and there are less people but I don't like doing three identical laps. Brockwell was much nicer!
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I stopped doing Parkrun because my brother-in-law keeps winning it, sometimes in under 17 minutes.

Not going to resume unless I can go under 20mins - and that is probably beyond me.
 
Here's the Brockwell Park Run route.

It can be a little challenging with two steep climbs. But when you are familiar with what is to come then you can prepare yourself. I take it easy up hill, and then the trick is not to get carried away with a sprint down towards Herne Hill. Many runners pass me here. I catch them up before we reach the Herne Hill gates :D

It's a great event, entirely organised by volunteers. I was a little unsure at first of all the squeaky clean, whooping and fist pumping etc. But they're a good bunch. It can get a little crowded during the first stretch outside the lido. You need to know where to position yourself in the pack.

Oh - and it's NOT a race. Most definitely not... ;)
 
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