Clacton Seafront parkrun

Clacton Seafront parkrun is based on the Essex coast. There is plenty of free car parking on Marine Parade and public toilets on the lower prom, which were free and open before parkrun . The start and finish is by the Toby Carvery, but I wouldn’t advise parking there during parkrun, as it’s private land.

The course is three laps and, as a seafront course, I was expecting it to be totally flat. It’s not! You first head out along the upper promenade, which is on a long, upward incline. There are sections of flat, but it is definitely uphill overall. The course goes almost as far as the pier, but the turning point, which is marshalled, is just before it. Here, you take a sharp right and head down a short, steep hill. This section is very narrow and only wide enough for two runners, so there is a chance of congestion around here. At the bottom of the hill the course returns back along the lower promenade, which is completely flat. Then repeat it all again… twice… though on the final lap, instead of turning right and heading uphill again, you carry straight on past the Toby Carvery.

The whole course is on concrete/tarmac and apart from the turning points, which are narrow, the course is very spacious and not at all congested. It’s a really straightforward route and impossible to get lost – the marshal at each end will ensure you turn when you need to. Clacton also has a very pretty, sandy beach, which would be fantastic to spend some time on during summery months. For post-parkrun breakfast, most people seemed to head into the Toby Carvery, as it was packed with parkunners – everyone was very friendly and happy to chat.

Clacton Seafront parkrun has lots of positives (clean toilets, free parking, cooked breakfasts on the doorstep, lovely views) and we really enjoyed it.