O is for Osterley and over-achievement in an outdoor oasis
The lettered runs in March are now being ticked off at pace, and part of this is down to pre-arranging trips to see friends and family. The third weekend in March in west London is one example of a date and the letter O that was locked down in the diary, as we had made arrangements to meet my sister, niece and her kids as they all live locally to venue of Osterley Park.
It was dry when we left home shortly after 7.30am, for a drive east along the M4 corridor, but by the time we parked up an hour later the heavens had opened. Proper rain, with no let up expected whilst the run was taking place.
We rang the family to give them the option of staying at home, but as everyone was packed up for the elements, they were keen to continue to come and spectate. Christine and her husband David are National Trust members — and this land is part of a NT estate — so had convinced their daughter Helen that there was a very nice coffee shop by the house so all would be good. And kids don’t care if its raining do they — it’s just an excuse to play with umbrellas.
In the car park, a very kind park runner saw me staring intently at the parking payment machine and promptly wound her window down to say that parking is free for participants providing we were not staying beyond 10.30–11. Yet another example of the PR community looking out for each other — thank you very much.
Louise and I walked round the lake to the main house, which is the gathering point for the start. And I do have to confess that my instructions to her as we were leaving that morning hadn’t been great. I stated (over confidently) “you don’t need trail shoes as the course follows paths throughout, and it’s going to be mild so you don’t need to run in a jacket”. As we splashed through the puddles in the pouring rain, I knew I had got it all wrong — sorry!
There was however a sheltered spot where the hi-viz heroes were congregating, at the top of the steps, underneath a very ornate building canopy. I can say — without it coming back to bite me later — that if there’s a star prize for the PR venue with the nicest ceiling, this would win it.
We then met Joy who did the first timers briefing (in the dry), flanked by a very soggy colleague who had just finished car park marshalling. He had definitely drawn the short straw this morning, but on a more serious note, it does show the 100% commitment of the PR volunteers. As runners we know that a bit of rain is not a problem once you start running, but we need to remember that it’s actually much more unpleasant to stand around in the wet conditions. So thank you to all the marshals who supported us today.
The start area for the run is equally impressive, as there is a large expanse of driveway immediately in front of the house, where everyone lines up. The RD’s introduction called out all of today’s milestone achievements— of particular note was a 100th volunteer milestone and a runner where this was his 100th venue. It does put into perspective the relative scale of my alphabet challenge i.e. 25 runs over the elapsed time of a year, particularly when I found out this week that there is now a ‘thing’ called a Cowell which recognises the 100 different venue achievement. And before you ask, no I won’t be extending my challenge to attempt that landmark.
The run itself is a two lap course around the paths and trails at the perimeter of the park. What I called in my head the ‘back straight’ was immediately adjacent to the M4 motorway, just the other side of the fence, where the road noise and moving vehicles were quite noticeable due to the spray. And then as you came back through a wooded section just prior to passing the car park, the noise changed to bird song. This was definitely nature’s green version of an oasis, particularly as you rounded the lake to see and hear the sight of a large jumbo jet on its final descent into Heathrow airport. It was that juxtaposition that struck me — the transport infrastructure of road and air contrasting with the green natural space that we are lucky enough in park run to visit every week.
After my second lap I crossed the line in position 39, in what felt like a fast time given the flat nature of the terrain, and after a week of really good training. And when the results email came out this was indeed the case — I had recorded by first sub 23 minutes park run, which was an overall PB on what was my milestone 25th event. Definitely over achieving my age grade athletic expectations, given that I’m really about 10% slower in distance time up to half marathon from my running heyday in my forties. But — you take every bonus on offer in such a lovely outdoor oasis.
And in terms of roll call for runners whose name starts with the letter 0, then of the 219 runners plus volunteers there was just a single participant — well done Oliver.
But there were some people participating who had the same name. As I was waiting by the finish funnel for Louise to complete her second lap, I shouted her name by way of encouragement. And a lady about 10 yards to my left acknowledged me — we had a quick chat and it transpired her name was Louise too!
And then in the coffee shop, Louise started talking to a park runner who we had met at the first timers briefing where there was momentary confusion when calling out the name Helen (my niece) with our newly made PR acquaintance, who was Helen too!
Following the café culture ‘pit stop’ for refreshments we made out way back to my sister’s house, for a very welcome hot shower and dry clothes. The second round of post run drinks were then served with home made pastries, which was a perfect end to a delightful morning.
And if you have enjoyed reading my blog, and/or spotted me out on the course in my bright red British Heart Foundation running top, then it’s not too late to sponsor me via my justgiving page. Thank you.
