Trentham Gardens parkrun - event 190

Trentham Gardens parkrun

On the 14th February 2026 I ran the Trentham Gardens parkrun which was the 190th event held at the venue, my 276th parkrun and 190th different course I'd attended.

Children under the age of 11 years old have to be accompanied by an adult when taking part in parkrun. With Hayden turning 11 years old on the 24th February, our trip to Trentham Gardens will be the last event we take part in together. My view is if he is old enough to take part unaccompanied then he's also old enough to wait at the finish line for me. He is also obviously very welcome to take part himself, but unlike me he hasn't really caught the parkrun bug!

We stayed on site almost at the Trentham Gardens Premier Inn, a stones throw from the start line. Hayden 'injured' both knees crossing the car park and got a stitch less than 50m into the start of the event. It was a fight I wasn't willing to have and so I walked the course with him without muttering 'come on Hayden' as I usually do.

But you know what, if you are going to walk any course then Trentham Gardens is certainly one to walk around.

Covering 300 acres the estate and gardens are Grade II listed and are made up of various woodland and formal Italian style gardens. At the centre of the property is a lake, which the parkrun course runs around.

Starting near the main entrance, Trentham Gardens allows participants entry for free on the basis that they leave straight after the event has completed. Taking an anti-clockwise route around the lake before climbing up a hill on the northern shore. A circular lap of the field, which climbs back downwards towards the lake offering fine views of the estate and beyond into nearby Stoke-on-Trent. The last few hundred metres runs through the formal Italian gardens with various statues, fountains and topiary exquisitely laid out as you go.

Overnight the rain had stopped, the clouds disappeared and the temperature plummeted. The grounds were covered in firm frost and lots of puddles had frozen over. Whilst there appeared to be little risk of a cancellation it was an opportunity to see the course and grounds in fine condition. Blue skies and sunshine just adds something to any view, let alone one set in such magnificent surroundings.

I finished in 780th place out of a field of 858 participants in a time of 55:46

I realise that I am lucky to be able to travel the country watching my football team play and combine that with parkrun tourism which has afforded me the opportunity to visit both Fountains Abbey and Trentham Gardens already this year 

Both are places that i would never ordinarily get to see. If I suggested visiting either place to the wife and kids whilst looking for something to do they'd roll their eyes and show absolutely no interest.

Which is a huge sadness really as these visits are incredibly enriching. Hayden might moan and complain about these early Saturday mornings now, but I am convinced they'll be childhood memories that will last the grains of time whether he likes it or not..

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