Rickmansworth parkrun: NYD Double #1

Updated: Mar 24, 2023

As most of you parkrun tourists will know, New Years Day gives you the opportunity to run two different parkruns on the same day and get an official time for both. Courses across the country (and indeed the world) stagger times to allow completion of two parkruns, it is possible to complete three parkruns in some parts of the country, but you will only get a recognised time for two of them. The double I selected with my mate Will was Rickmansworth and Harrow, reasonably close together, both parkruns we hadn't done and start times of 9:00 am and 10:30 am respectively. There is a map to chart all parkrun NYD doubles for 2020 which can be found here... parkrun doubles map. According to this map, we were two of only nine parkrunners in total who completed this particular double on NYD 2020.

Anyway back to Rickmansworth parkrun, this is a two lap course around two lakes within Rickmansworth Aquadrome; a stunning Nature Reserve just to the south of the town of Rickmansworth. Great views can be had of both lakes on your way around this parkrun course, it is one of the flattest parkruns in the country, and it is a very quick course, in fact it is now my latest overall parkrun PB course. According to their website, the lakes were formed out of the holes left behind following the extraction from gravel during this parks previous life. Fun fact some of the gravel extracted from here was used to build the original Wembley Stadium... more information on the Aquadrome and Nature Reserve can be found here: Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

[I visited here for the first time on New Years Day 2020]

Difficulty

Despite being slightly congested in places, with a narrow path at various points I'm still going to rate this as a 1 out of 5, the elevation is virtually nothing, and the paths are all good runable solid surfaces even in winter. Put on your best race shoes, get to the front and go for a PB. Alternatively put on some comfortable training shoes and take it as an easy run enjoying the fantastic views.

Briefings

The briefings are held in a courtyard next to the cafe and toilets. Fairly standard description of the course and conditions, warning about one slippery wooden sleeper bridge as you leave the second lake towards the end of each lap as you head back to the start finish area. Tourist call-outs from Australia and New Zealand put our visit from Milton Keynes to shame. Frosty the snow man (from Oxford) was also at the brief. Congratulations also went to Bernie Conway who completed her 100th volunteer credit with Rickmansworth today.

Course

This is a two lap course and differs slightly (in terms of the start and finish) from the published course map on the Rickmansworth parkrun website. You start on a footpath near to the briefing area and head off East before taking a sharp turn left to head North West on a tarmac path, which runs between the two lakes, after 400m you'll take a sweeping left turn to keep Bury Lake on your left, after another 400m or so, you'll take a right turn away from the lake heading North West into the woods. The woodland path will soon fork right and you're now heading North East, after a few twists and turns the woodland path will bring you to Batchworth Lake, which appears on your right and remains on your right all the way back to the start/finish where you start the second lap. After the second lap you'll be directed back towards the Cafe and finish area.

Elevation

Total climb is only about 10 ft or 3m according to https://jegmar.com/stats-hq/fastest-races/parkrun/ which places it as joint 8th flattest in the country out of the 519 courses they have ranked.

Welcome to one of the flattest parkruns in the country.

Parking, Facilities and Coffee

Free car parking for up to 400 spaces. Toilets and Cafe are right next to the briefing area very close to the carpark. Another parkrun which is well served in terms of facilities. There is also a play area, but it is on the other side of the lakes from the car park, so it would be a bit of a walk.

Cafe and Toilet Block (Briefing held on the grass)

Other Points of Interest

The bins are all woodland creature themed which is nice!

Summary

Fantastic fast, flat and scenic wooded parkrun around a lake, with definite PB potential. Unlike some of the other lake based parkruns, you get great views of both the lakes at this parkrun. At the beginning of the lap Bury Lake is on your left, and then on the second half of the lap Batchworth Lake is on your right. Excellent scenery combine with a fast and flat course which makes this a fantastic parkrun to visit.