Clacton Seafront parkrun - event 417

On the 21st March 2026 I ran the Clacton Seafront parkrun which was the 417th event held at the venue, my 281st parkrun and 194th different course I'd attended.

Spring is a great time to take part in parkrun, the sun is out, and temperatures are warming up but isn't to warm for running. Trees are carrying blossom and everything is brighter and just feels more cheerful. Running by the sea feels fresh and the waves are calm and it just somehow feels a whole lot better than the cold, grey depression of winter.

Next up on this slow visit of the UK's parkrun venues was Clacton Seafront on the Essex coastline resort of Clacton on sea. Greeted by a tourist hotspot coming out of hibernation with the fun fair pier dusting off cobwebs and hopeful expectation of another strong summer season. 

Bright sunshine, beautiful clear blue skies it was the perfect spring morning. Parking on the seafront was free for three hours giving Foordy and In plenty of time to enjoy the event and it's immediate surroundings.

Located on the southern end of the resort Clacton Seafront parkrun is a three lap course which takes in the upper and lower promenade. Starting next to the toilet block and shelter on the upper promenade the route heads south for a few hundred metres and u-turns anti-clockwise to the lower levels aside of the beach.

The course then heads north, nice and flat along the wide promenade with colourful beach huts over the left shoulder and the north sea over the right. Up ahead the pier lies in the distance with a rollercoaster and other adrenaline rides making their way out to sea.

Eventually the course turns left up to the upper promenade via a short sharp hill. Where once at the top the course u-turns anti-clockwise again and comes.backnonitself via a tree-lined route, gradually making its way slowly downhill to.the start line.

After this is repeated for the third time the course continues on to the U-turn where instead of turning left again and heading back along the lower promenade the course turns right onto the grass and a short 50m segment brings you to the finish funnel.

The course itself, aside from the last 59m is all on wide tarmac, except for the hill back upwards which is wide enough for two people to run side-by-side.

I managed to make the hill on both my first two laps, coping with the burn and using the slow downhill return to replenish my energy and let me burning calves cool down. My third attempt wasn't nearly as successful. I made it half way up and then lost my head. Started to walk and verbally swore out loud to myself forcing an apology on the startled lady who was overtaking me.

Midweek I had to call off my Wednesday lunchtime run on account of a poorly Achilles, which was the right thing to have done at the time based on the fact that I had no further issues on the Saturday morning. Listen to your body is the key takeaway here.

I finished in 100th place out of a field of 165 participants in a time of 31:48.

I still find it hard to fathom how I managed to run virtually the whole course, in a time where I felt I was running hard and fast. Yet the week before where I walked twice, up two long hills and finished only 90 seconds or so slower.

Running never ceases to amaze me!