Adam Bird - My Personal Blog

On the 12th July 2025 I ran the Old Deer Park parkrun which was the 696th event held at the venue, my 244th parkrun and 162nd different course I'd attended. I had previously arranged to visit Old Deer Park a couple of weeks back, but instead ended up at Reigate Priory. On the Old Deer Park Facebook group it stated that the course would be using its alternative route and so knowing what I knew about the original course I wasn't sure whether the alternative route would be an upgrade or not. Three laps, all on grass around the perimeter of some rugby pitches doesn't scream out and enjoyable run. But I should know by now not to judge a book by it's cover and that facebook comments/reviews are entirely subjective. Another factor, often overlooked when visiting particular parkrun venues is the weather conditions. On Saturday we were at the prakmof a third summer heatwave. The grass was yellow like straw and the dirt on the ground was dusty like a fine powder.  Worse still wa...

On the 5th July 2025 I ran the Battersea parkrun which was the 33rd event held at the venue, my 243rd parkrun and 161st different course I'd attended. When Battersea parkrun was announced I was grateful, a new parkrun event in easy commutable distance for me to visit and to tick off one of my lower event numbers i'd not yet visited. So for 32 weeks I had to wait patiently for my turn to visit was an immediately popular event. I remember reading about Battersea on Facebook groups, firstly why there wasn't a parkrun in Battersea park and then eventually the campaign and public consultation in order to organise one. Battersea is home to a multitude of running and other events so to not be home to a parkrun event for a long time seemed to be unusual. But where there is a well there is evidently always a way. My challenge this week, rather rarely in recent times was how to get there. Aside from a few events in London I've tended to drive in rather than use public transport....