All over the place. August to December 2025.
This year we managed 53 (Mark, A3228002) / 52 (Mary, A4975813) parkruns in 32 locations of which 27 were new to us, plus 5 countries of which 3 were new to us. That means over 50% touristing!
So much tourism this year I have broken this summary into chapters.
August to December Tourism:
- Skipton
- Riemer
- Westpark
- Whinlatter Forest
- Victoria
- Rising Sun
- Ingrebourne Hill
- Levengrove
- Edinburgh
- Strathclyde
Skipton 30/08/2025 32:04 [162 / 325].
We were invited to Skipton for a wedding celebration for friends Tuks and Paul. They have an apartment in Cisternino and we met as a result of helping some friends of theirs just outside Cisternino who were in need of directions. Earlier this year Tuks and Paul "eloped" to Gretna Green for a very quiet wedding but not want wanting to miss out on a party they planned a celebration later. We were touched to be invited as we have only known them a relatively short time. So it was a Weekend "city" break in Skipton and, of course a new parkrun.
We introduced Tuks and Paul to parkrun and they are now regulars at Skipton and Salento.
The course is four and a bit laps, undulating, on tarmac around a lovely park and the rain held off for a lovely parkrun. Mary was still slow at the time due to injury so volunteered as Tailwalker.
Reimer 03/10/2025 29:32 [87 / 151].
Part 1 of a German Unity Day double. This year it was the turn of Munich which happily coincided with Oktoberfest. The cost of flights from Puglia to Munich were extortionate so we went for Plan B - a four-day interrail pass and made a train trip of it, stopping off overnight at Bologna in both directions.
Friday it was a bit cool, there was still frost on the grass. The Run Director was English and was astonished at the size of the turnout. Unsurprisingly the vast majority were tourists, mostly from England. They had a record attendance of 151 of whom three-quarters (112, 74%) were first time visitors.
The locals, and a friend from Bratislava, even wore dirndls and lederhosen at parkrun!
Westpark 04/10/2025 30:00 [106 / 175].
The second half of the German Unity Day double. Two laps of a beautiful park with a lake, only a couple of gentle slopes and a cafe for parkfaff afterwards. We caught up with a number of people we had seen the day before as well talking to other tourists.
Another beautiful setting for a parkrun which attracted this heron.
The rest of the weekend was spent doing the tourist thing: eating, drinking, a concert and a palace. Read more at City Break - Munich.
Whinlatter Forest 30/10/2025 37:08 [69 / 86].
This parkrun had been a year in the planning to make Mary's 250th parkwalk coincide with her 100th different venue (known as a "Cowell"). This had originally been planned for German Unity day but injury scuppered that plan. A re-plan included a change of location and Mary volunteering for one week to keep the milestone in sync. The upshot was not only a double achievement but also completing all parkruns in Cumbria - three achievements for the price of one!
Lots of our friends turned out in support: Sandra, Tuks, Paul, Sarah, Siobhan, Nigel, John and Dixie. A challenging but beautiful course. Now definitely "over the hill"!.
Sandra baked some lovely surprise muffins.
The t-shirt was printed by Shadow of a Saint.
It's official and every single one a parkwalk.
The cow ears were supplied by our friends Marcus and Manuela (gifted to Mary at Esslingen in 2023 for her half Cowell).
Victoria 01/11/2025 29:11 [272 / 430].
Victoria Park, Glasgow for our second "V".
Three and a bit laps round a gorgeous park and amazingly no rain during the event. Great crowd with many in fancy dress for Halloween (no pictures, sorry).
Sister-in-law Sandra powering along.
Mary striding out in the Scottish sunshine.
There were a large number of marshals to keep us on the right path, courtesy of a volunteer takeover by the Vegan Runners. Also taking part were their nemesis, The Bacon Butty Brigade!.
Rising Sun 15/11/2025 30:43 [148 / 275].
We were in Newcastle for Dom Martin and Blue Nation at The Clooney on Saturday night and generally exploring the area. So of course we went across the day before to fit another parkrun and stayed at a home exchange apartment. Friday night we went out for a truly fantastic vegan Mexican Cantina literally just round the corner from the apartment followed by a luscious Pisco Sour in a bar called the Mortal Wombat two doors away.
Rising Sun parkrun was a change of venue (the original plan for Town Moor was again thwarted this time by another event in the park).
A single lap consisting of an out with a couple of turns, a loop then back on the same path. Like a tennis racquet with a broken handle! Good paths all the way however a bit muddy and wet at the time so trail shoes were ideal. It was a scenic course even on a grey day with lovely autumn colours and a lake, must be beautiful when the flowers are out.
Lots of marshals - very useful on a twisty course like this giving you positive reassurance that you are going the right way.
My job is paparazzo for Mary as she approaches the finish line. I was deep in conversation when Mary appeared and I missed her approach. This is her saying, "You had one job!". To be fair that is only the second time in 252 parkruns.
Ingrebourne Hill 29/11/2025 30:33 [148 / 275].
A hectic weekend in London see [City Break - London, November 2025]. We needed an "I" for our second alphabet so Thursday night we travelled to Romford, staying at Spark by Hilton right next to Romford Station.
Saturday was #parkrunday, of course, at Ingrebourne Hill in Rainham and the reason we had based ourselves in Romford. Tourists from all over with different reasons for being there. Some were there for an "I" like us. Another couple had set themselves the challenge of completing all parkruns on Forestry England land in the autumn to catch the best colours.
The advertised hill was not as bad as advertised, apart from the headwind which hit you at the top of the slope and was brutal.
Levengrove 13/12/2025 30:50 [85 / 140].
Quick trip up to Mary's sister for a Christmas present exchange and a chance to tick off another Scottish parkrun. Mary had been there before but only as a marshal at junior parkrun so it was a new event for both of us.
Three laps of the lovely Levengrove park with some undulations, lots of water (sandwiched between the Clyde and Leven rivers) and loads of dogs to make it interesting.
It was a bit blowy but at least no rain. With thanks to all the marshals and especially the ones who got the short straws and the more exposed posts.
Edinburgh 20/12/2025 29:22 [369 / 548].
We were picking up a friend from Edinburgh Airport on the Saturday, so it was an opportunity to tick off another Scottish parkrun. Edinburgh parkrun, outside Edinburgh and close to the airport, was the obvious choice and a very good decision. We booked ourselves an overnight stay in South Queensferry so we could do the parkrun, shower and change, then collect our friend and head home.
On arrival the first marshal we spoke to, Graham, recognised us from Salento where we met in September. It's a small parkrun world!
The first timers briefer explained that this was the first parkrun in Edinburgh and hence got the name, despite other later parkruns being much more central.
Out and back along the promenade with lovely views of the Forth bridges. A glorious day with no wind or rain and the sun even came out!
This is the Cramond Causway over to Cramond Island as seen from the picnic bench where we stopped for our post-parkrun coffees.
Strathclyde 27/12/2025 29:34 [369 / 548].
Dropping our friend back off at Edinburgh airport on Friday we went for another overnight stay this time with Mary's sister and another Scottish parkrun. Mary's sister Sandra had suggested Strathclyde as she knew from the 5K app that we needed one more "S" for our Snakes Challenge (complete 10 parkruns starting with "S").
A good flat course, a scenic out and back round a lake with swans and canoes. Great weather (no rain and only a little wind at the end).
Sandra power walks; this is her striding in at 41:26.
Mary coming in at a very respectable 46:57. The wind had picked up for her last km thence the hairstyle!
That's it 2025. Next: Parkrun Tourism Part 09 - 2025, Epilogue.
