Q is for QE Country Park and a Quick splash and dash
It was quite appropriate that on April Fools Day the weather played its part in Parkrun. Rain in the previous 24 hours — of biblical proportions — had led to flooded local fields and rivers. And when I opened our garage at 7.20am on Saturday morning, I was greeted by about two inches of standing water underneath the car. And a first world problem that the automatic doors would not shut, presumably because of water having seeped into the mechanism.
Louise got her bike out of the garage — as she was cycling to our local event at Dinton Pastures — and I took the car for the hour and a quarter drive south to the Queen Elizabeth Country Park, just off the A3 near Petersfield.
The driving conditions were quite treacherous, because of the puddles that covered large sections of the carriageway, meaning that on the country lanes near Selbourne I rounded a corner to find a stationary car in front of me waiting for oncoming traffic to pass so that they could avoid the flooded section on our side of the road. Not quite a full emergency stop, but sharp braking none the less.
The digital car park entry sign showed 8.41am (remember that time) as I pulled into the country park. I had safely made it, although the weather had worsened enroute and it was now raining hard. I parked at the lower car park, which is marked by the event park run sign meaning I was at the right place. Once I had rain jacket and trail shoes on, there was a throng of letter seeking park runners around the sign. And everyone was very happy to take a photo on behalf of another visitor in the style of “I’ll take yours if you take mine”.
We then walked up the hill to the rendezvous point waiting for the action to begin. The first timers briefing was well attended — I would say at least 80% of the 92 brave souls taking part today were visitors doing the letter Q. There were runners and family groups from Stoke and Weymouth who had all made the ‘pilgrimage’ to the park.
The course layout was then explained as two loops — a long followed by a short — which apparently was in the reverse order because of the 1st April date, although to be fair for most of us as first timers it didn’t make a difference. And the RD — in jester’s hat — was not joking when he urged caution on the descents, and if you see a puddle then “go straight through it” rather than slip and slide by trying to change direction at the last minute. Very sound advice for what was going to be a “proper” cross country run.
Today milestone was a 300th run for one participant and then we were ready to go. And I have to say the first uphill kilometre was the most strenuous start I have had to a Parkrun, particularly with limited warm-up to get the body ready. But soon we were turning right and heading down across a muddy section of grass — the decision to bring trail shows had been a key decision that morning that had I got right. The bottom section of the loop was on marked trails, but it was no less muddy and puddly, so tough conditions for running.
The second loop was shorter, but the initial section of hill was just as hard. I kept concentrating to make sure that I didn’t take the easy option and start walking, and mind over matter worked as the gradient levelled off and we turned right much sooner than on the first lap.
It was then very much a case of rinse and repeat to avoid slipping on the grassy downhill and then managing the puddles on the bottom section.
I was very relieved when the finish cones came into sight and even managed a half-hearted attempt at a sprint to overtake the runner in front.
The results showed I had crossed the line in position 19, and third in age group. I was actually quite surprised that it wasn’t my slowest ever PR (given the conditions) but 27 minutes was long enough of a mudfest for me today.
And very many thanks to the hi-viz heroes for braving the conditions. As I have said on previous occasions, we runners actually get the benefit of staying warm as we go round the course, whereas the volunteers get chilly and just as damp as they provide their support. So big shout out to Gregory, Giles, Phil, Ivor, the two Johns, Neil, Ian and Paul for making today happen.
And for Louise — and our local event at Dinton — she was not as lucky as overspill from the lake had flooded the PR course. And she was cycling to the start before a call from her friend let her know the situation. At least my journey today was mission accomplished.
I retrieved my bag and decided — in formula one pit stop style — that I had just enough of a window to do a ‘splash and dash’ to avoid an additional car park charge. When I was researching the QE Country Park website I found out that the parking rates had increased today as April marks the start of the summer season. It’s quite a hi-tech setup that with number plate recognition your vehicle entry time is recorded and then when you are leaving you find a payment machine, enter your reg number to confirm the amount and take card payment. The charges are based on a hourly rate, so now it’s summer that’s £2.50 for one hour and £5 for two hours. I paid at the machine at 9.41am, exactly on the time limit for a single hour charge.
Now to be fair, the cost I pay to the local council for the upkeep of QE park is not the moral of the tale. It’s that by avoiding a second hour charge, I will now donate the £2.50 (saving) to my charity. It’s a win-win, and worth the dash to exit.
And it’s been a good week for my fundraising. This weekend marks the end of our triathlon club winter cycle rides. I lead a group (as a volunteer) and so I put out a note to all my club mates who have joined me over the training season asking that, if they have appreciated the rides, then would they like to make a donation to British Heart Foundation? And the following morning the call to action had worked as I woke up to a series of emails about the donations made.
Thank you TVT — and I was thinking of you as I was splashing through the puddles today. It made it so much more worthwhile.
