Oldham parkrun - event 697

On the 30th August 2025 I ran the Oldham parkrun which was the 697th event held at the venue, my 251st parkrun and 168th different course I'd attended.

Last week I celebrated my 250th parkrun event and celebrated the official milestone in relatively low-key fashion. If you weren't already aware parkrun celebrates official milestones at 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1,000 events, with a range of coloured merchandise 'unlocked' and available to purchase at each stage.

3 years on from celebrating my 100th parkrun at Bushy, and five years at least until I reach my 500th I returned to Leybourne Lakes and took part in the event volunteering as a tail-walker. I figured that by walking the event I'd be able to encourage more people to participate alongside me and so I was joined by Stephanie and Hayden who walked around with me. Phoebe joined us in making the trip, but got as far as the start line whilst Oliver couldn't quite get himself out of bed.

That was my fourth effort at Leybourne Lakes, with the previous three visits under its previous name of Malling. By completing my four fourth event at the venue I raised my p-index up one to 4. Meaning that I have ran at least four different events four times, the others being Great Lines, Shorne Country Park and Cyclopark. 

A week on and it was back on the tourist trail with a trip back to the North West. The football fixtures had done us dirty in August with three long trips up the M6, but another chance to visit a region rich in events to choose from.

We'd been in Sandgate all week as part of the two-week summer holidays. After a fairly relaxed week, with some fun and activities thrown in we travelled back via the Ashford Designer Outlet. I'd hoped for a chilled out day on Friday knowing I'd have a long slog north in the afternoon but the opportunity was too good for Steph to miss so we started Christmas shopping in earnest...

No sooner had we arrived back home, unpacked our bags and packed a smaller one Hayden and I headed back on the road and the long trip up north. These trips would be endlessly more enjoyable if it wasn't for the Dartford Crossing, but hopefully they will eventually build the new one further downstream and cure us of some of our pains.

From our Premier Inn on Friday the choice of parkruns was actually quite long and a number of different events were in easy reach, but an opportunity to fit in a rare 'O' proved to be the persuading factor. 

As Hayden was with me, it was going to be a stroll around the park as opposed to any type of run, but that didn't bother me in the slightest as Oldham parkrun is based in what was a quote glorious park.

Alexandra park, based on the south west edge of town was created by the local people during the cotton famine caused by the American Civil war. It contains many features found in parks from.the Victorian times such as bowling greens, ornamental.gardens and gazebos.

It's one of the Gazebos, named the Lions Den that the parkrun starts and finishes. Situated on a long promenade the replica shelter hosts the welcome meetings and barcode scanners and where runners start the beginning of their three and a little bit.laps of the course.

From the start the route runs along the promenade in a clockwise direction before taking a smaller path up hill and around the top edge of park. Hayden made it the full 100m along the promenade before that was enough and walking the rest! 

The route sweeps downhill and zig-zags its way through the park, around the boating lake and.back uphill towards the promenade where it rejoins the course for laps two and three.

At the end of the third lap the path takes a detour through the woodlands that sit behind the Lions Den. So instead of running clockwise along the promenade, the route takes you around the back of the Lions Den and rejoins the other end of the promenade where the route diverts you back along the promenade in an anti-clockwise direction.

It all makes sense when you take part in the event and as I was plodding my way along dragging Hayden with me on the second and third laps we could congratulate everyone for finishing as they were running in the opposite direction towards us. 

I had hoped that seeing all the finishers in such close proximity they'd inspire Hayden. But that couldn't be further from the truth. He only really took part on the last 100m when making a sprint dash for the finish line!

I finished in 261st place out of a field of 266 participants in a time of 51:44. Despite the undulating nature of the course I think there's potential for a decent time there. The paths are mostly tarmac based, except the last woodland walk part. The paths are wide and smooth in most places with steep downhills and more gradual up hills. I'd actually like to revisit this one some day - without Hayden of course! Although this time he didn't complain of any aches or pains which is a start, I guess...