Brooklands parkrun - event 198

On the 29th June 2024 I ran the Brooklands parkrun which was the 198th event held at the venue, my 190th parkrun and 112th different course I'd attended.

In 2006 I started working for a company called RMG Connect in London and was responsible for updating the Shell Motorsport website with race reports from Ferrari and Ducati detailing their achievements in Formula One, MotoGP and World Superbikes. Whilst on duty awaiting the race report I'd watch the formula one races and somn became a fan of the sport.

It's for this reason that the appeal of running Brooklands parkrun has always been there, since the event takess place on a former racing circuit and where the formulative years of motorsport took place. When not racing, and after the circuit fell into decline, the venue in Weybridge, Surrey became home to an aviation facility and further established itself in local history.

Whilst the Motorsport and aviation histories sadly declined much still remains of both heritages -  including part of the runway and part of the banked turn from the racing circuit.

It was a warm morning when I arrived and I had still hadn't quite shaken off the cold from the week before. I parked at the Tesco's as directed by the event Facebook page and walked across to the recreational area which includes whatevers left of the former runway.

Looking across the wide open expanse of land you couldn't have found a further opposite to Hadleigh where I'd been just the week before. You could see any of the banked turn which is hidden from trees out of view, but you could see people running about in all directions warming up for the parkrun about to take place.

People running about in all directions was the summary highlight of the event too, not just the warmup. Two and a bit laps the course starts on the right hand side of the runway facing the Mercedes Benz factory in the distance. Running to the far end of the runway the course circumnavigates it before turning back around the way you came on the other side of the runway. At this point everything remains fairly standard. Until the course starts weaving around in various directions ands heads into a what was at one point a former go-kart complex.

This miniature circuit features various bends of both left and right hand varieties. The parkrun snake of people from the fastest at the front to the slowest at the back weaves all.arpind the circuit and so from afar you have a maze of people running in all directions - it's quite a sight to see!

After the go-kart track has been successfully navigated there is another short stint on the runway before the course heads into the woods on a single path trail that loops all.the way around to a road that feeds back onto the runway.

It was a really warm day, possibly the warmest parkrun event of the year and so.the.route through the trees was very welcome as I needed the shade. Being out in the runway everyone is open to the elements and the sun was a scorcher. I can imagine when the wind picks up in the autumn and winter that would be a whole.other challenge!

Whilst running through the trees you got tantalising glimpses of the banked turn through the leaves over your right shoulder. I took a walk after the event onto the steep concrete road and it was awe-inspiring to think of those old school open cockpit sports cars hurtling along it at speed.

After two laps of the course the finish funnel is at the bottom left hand side of the runway which means a long flat sprint from one end of the runway to another. There were plenty of good wholesome battles going on and some impressive sprint finishes taking place. I had a 28 minute pacer for company and was desperate to keep up with here despite the heat and difficult running weather.

I finished in 261st place out of a field of 556 participants in a time of 28:06. It was a larger than normal.showing due to other cancellations in the area which made for a brilliant event and atmosphere. The snake of people running in all kinds of directions was something I wasn't quite expecting and so well worth the visit for. One to head back to I think!