London’s Hardest parkrun and Best parkrun
There are three commonly asked parkun course questions:
Q: What are the ‘Best’ parkruns in London?
Q: What is LonDone in the parkrun context?
Q: What is the hardest parkun (UK)?
This article will answer the first two questions; for answers to the most difficult parkrun, try this separate article.
I remember receiving my 100 parkrun T-shirt many moons ago. Ah, the good old days.
Memories.
But now that achievement is passé. Everyone’s got one.
So, what next? It’s time for another kind of challenge.
Sub 20-minute 5k? (plan here). That’s nothing either! If you look at the results for the anniversary Bushy parkrun (7Oct2017), you’ll see 81/1465 runners achieving that. Along with the 52 volunteers, more than the number of participants must be at some parkrun events in quiet weeks.
But what few parkrunners have done is LonDone.
LonDone – parkrun
LonDone is the art of completing every London-based parkrun, as defined by its being held in a London Borough. Simple? Probably only a few weeks’ work? Think again, as this map shows there are not far off 50 events to complete in practical terms that will take you at least a year.
Our valiant parkrun tourist (aka theparkrunner aka “HP”) is embarking on the even more valiant task of completing every UK parkrun. If not every parkrun, then, at least, a lot. By the time that task is completed, based on the current list of UK parkruns, there will probably be another 30 or more to complete.
Best London parkruns
Fastest London parkrun
Many London parkrun courses are flat enough to seemingly tempt you to PB. But the mantle of the fastest goes to Hackney Marshes (postcode E9). Yes, it’s flat but it’s also largely uncongested because of a single lap and also has a decent surface. On the downside, it’s quite popular, with 250 people initially contending with it. And bad weather may hinder your plans for personal glory at any fairly open-to-the-elements course. parkrun.org.uk/hackney-marshes
Best Chance for a chat
Bushy parkrun (postcode TW11) attracts the most people (see above). There will almost certainly be someone running at your speed to whom you can chat. If not slow down a fraction and those that are naturally a little bit slower than you will have no option but to engage in conversation as they won’t be able to speed up and leave you. FWIW, I have run in Bushy Park a fair bit over the years, and people there are generally friendlier than in other parks in SW London. parkrun.org.uk/bushy
Slowest / Hardest parkrun, aka Most challenging
The clue is in the name: Hilly Fields parkrun (postcode SE4). It has hills. And, err, it has fields. Neither is conducive to a fast time. parkrun.org.uk/hillyfields
parkrun : difficulty ratings, adjusted times for toughest / hardest / easiest courses
Prettiest parkrun
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Alexandra Park, with the nearby Palace, hosts the Ally Pally parkrun (postcode N22). It has some stunning views, yet only 200 people regularly visit to sample the scenic delights. parkrun.org.uk/allypally
Best Chance of Winning
“You’ve got to be in it to win it”. I once scoured a few nearby parkruns to find the least competitive. I needed encouragement by winning something (anything) after a long losing streak of board games the previous weekend against my young niece. The problem with this strategy is that whenever I try to win a park run, ‘Fast Bloke’ also has the same goal. Fast bloke always wins. If in doubt, always refer to the ‘true’ results, ie the age-graded results to beat him. Young fast bloke (Fast Bloke’s younger brother) will likely always beat you as well, albeit in an unfair manner, as he has the benefit of youth. However, the age-graded results mean you can skip competing with Young Fast Bloke and, probably, Fast Bloke. You have a GREAT chance of winning. So if you combine this age-graded fact with an event with a low turnout, then there is a superb chance that you could be competing just against yourself and Newbie parkrunner for that age-graded victory. Result. Pymmes parkrun (postcode N18) usually gets about 60 runners and rarely over a hundred. parkrun.org.uk/pymmes. You know what you have to do 😉
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As a semi-frequent Lloyd runner, I think it could be comparable in difficulty to hilly fields.
The surfaces on the Lloyd course are atrocious when there is even the slightest bit of precipitation, making it quite a slow course. Which makes the downhill sections treacherous. While Hilly fields at least has a paved section where some time can be made up, though it has more elevation gain with many shorter ascents compared to the less frequent and larger climbs of the Lloyd course.
I always had the opinion that Lloyd was London’s hardest one but Hilly Fields was not one I was aware of and that definitely makes it anything but an open and shut case.