Bushy parkrun

Updated: Aug 5

My 44th different parkrun course, and it was an extra special one, because after nearly 7 years of parkrunning, I was finally heading to Bushy Park for my Bushy Pilgrimage. The reason I was going is that my running club Redway Runners had picked Bushy for their latest parkrun road trip, so I got to do the Bushy Pilgrimage surrounded by fellow Redway Runners, so it made it all the more enjoyable.

Good Turnout considering Bushy is 75 Miles from Milton Keynes

For those of you that don't know Bushy Park was the location of the original Bushy Park Time Trial (the forerunner to parkrun), as a result it is easily the busiest parkrun in the country, and is a very popular tourist destination. At over 1000 acres, Bushy is the second largest of London's eight Royal Parks. It is just to the North of Hampton Court palace, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife including herds of Red and Fallow Deer. It is worth having a wander around the park after the parkrun, because there is a lot to see. It is very busy, but the start is wide and open so you shouldn't have too much difficulty slotting into the crowds, and it is mostly on footpath and is very flat, good times are possible here, but you might need to run on the grass a bit until you can slot into the right pace window. Most of all if you visit, enjoy it, it is very special parkrun, and remember to look around you on the way round, there was a herd of deer that ran right past us during the run and it was amazing to see, but some of the runners didn't see them as they were too focused on the course and the other runners, so they missed seeing the deer. There is plenty of parking and best of all it is free to park, there are at least two car parks, one of which is closer to the start and is the more popular of the two, the second is at the Pheasantry café, which is where we parked and this is where you can get tea/coffee/breakfast after the run. It was event 868 of this parkrun on the day of my visit, and it was bright sunny and warm, perfect conditions.

[I first visited this parkrun on 19th March 2022]

Difficulty

This course is a 1 out of 5. With only 4m of total elevation, arguably the most difficult aspect of this parkrun is the regular attendance of over 1000 runners (1112 on the day of our visit). The paths are compacted gravel or dirt track, and it's a very easy run. There was a bit of wind on the morning of our visit, but even this wasn't too bad as you're normally in the middle of a pack of runners.

Briefings

The visitor and first timer briefing gave a very good description of the flat one lap Butterfly shaped course, including a very good map of the route (which I have included in the course section of this page). They made an appeal for volunteers as a parkrun of this size needs 60-70 volunteers a week.

They also mentioned a two funnel finish system (which is the first time I had come across such a thing), don't worry about this, when you finish you will be directed into one of two funnels, and the funnel managers manage the people arriving to ensure everyone gets the right finish token.

Two Funnel System was a first for me, but worked well.

The main brief was on a PA system so all the over 1000 runners could hear the brief which covered the various milestones and significant visitors and visiting clubs from across the UK and farther afield.

The pack lined up to listen to the main brief

The Course

You start on a wide open grass area, with everyone spread out initially and you head east where before long you come to a footpath heading east, and you will need to slot into an appropriate gap according to your pace. You keep heading east along the path for the first km or so, until you reach the cricket pitch where you will take a left turn followed by a right turn and then another left turn which takes you around the cricket pitch, it is North from the cricket pitch and you will take a slight left to join Cobbler's walk, which takes you up to and past the Leg of Mutton pond. You will then take a right turn leaving the footpath and joining a brief section of dirt track which takes you up to a left turn onto another section of path, which runs North West across the Northern parameter of the park. At the end of this path you will reach the main road into the park Chestnut Avenue, you take a left turn here and run along a footpath which runs alongside Chestnut avenue heading south. After a short time you will be directed left back onto Cobbler's Walk heading towards the earlier turn point in the course. If you are a particularly quick runner you may see people from further back in the field who are just leaving Cobbler's walk for the first time. Just before you reach the earlier turn point you will be directed right, where you head South West towards the Heron pond and following that the finish, and you will have completed the roughly Butterfly shaped course.

Lovely detailed course map can be found at the Visitor Briefing

Elevation

Virtually no elevation here, possibly the flattest parkrun I have ever run. According to my Garmin, there are only 4m of Elevation on this course, and I am not sure where those 4m actually are. Look at the graph below, there is no elevation here...

Parking, Facilities and Coffee

There are two car parks mentioned on the parkrun website. The main one is close to the start but can fill up as you get closer to the start time. The second car park is next to the Pheasantry cafe, which is where we parked. However be aware that if you arrive early you are better off at the main car park, as some of the park gates between the Pheasantry and the main park are closed before a certain time in the morning. You can get into the park but we had to take some detours and squeeze under a chain or two. After we had done this we did see a member of staff heading to open the gates in question. Parking is free with a machine where you can make optional donations. Toilets can be found in the same building block as the Pheasantry, so if you park here the toilets are right next to the car park. We stopped at the Pheasantry after the run and they do excellent range of breakfast rolls, cakes, tea/coffee, soft drinks, and snacks. And if you stay until 10:30 you can even order a beer. You can sit outside and admire the park, you might even see a parakeet or two in the trees as there are loads of them in the park. On the morning of our road trip there were loads of Redway Runners sat outside catching up over a coffee and comparing stories of what was (to me) an epic parkrun adventure.

Other Points of Interest

This is the biggest and the original parkrun, and it is an amazing venue to boot, a great park to spend time in. Watch out for the Fallow and Red Deer during the run. Keep an eye out in the trees for parakeets.

Board describing some of the wildlife in the park

The Diana fountain is fairly close to the start, and makes a nice backdrop for a group photo. Lots to see and do here, you could easily spend a pleasant morning enjoying the park after your run.

Summary

This parkrun should be on anyone's to do list. Even if it weren't the original parkrun, it would still be a stunning setting for a parkrun, it was well worth the longer than normal drive and is a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning. Come here with friends if you can so you can share the enjoyment, and if you have time aim to spend some time after the run exploring the park and the cafe is well worth a visit. It is a very welcoming parkrun and most tourists end up here sooner or later. It's a long drive but I would love to go back and do it again.