E is for Ellenbrook Fields parkrun and my 24th venue. Ellenbrook Fields is on the site of the since redeveloped Hatfield airfield, which has now been replaced by park land, a University campus, as well as new residential and commercial areas on the outskirts of Hatfield. There is not much evidence of the old airfield now and the original runway has long since been scrubbed out as park land, but some of the old taxi-ways for the runway are still present, and form part of the route for the parkrun course. You can go hunting for some of the original buildings (including the now Hatfield Police Station) after you've completed your parkrun, and if you're interested there is a heritage trail to follow. The airfield was originally home to the de Havilland Aircraft Company, who produced many aircraft including the wooden World War II Mosquito. This parkrun is a (mostly) single anti-clockwise lapped course, but with a short loop section at the start. It is a quiet, secluded and scenic course as well as being fast and flat, and it is my new PB course and my first overall parkrun PB in about 18 months (despite there being a few grass sections on this course). A really enjoyable venue with some interesting history to it, it's certainly worth taking some time to read the history boards if you arrive early or after you've finished the parkrun. [I Visited this parkrun on the 13th April 2019 for event #154]
Difficulty
This course is another 1 out of 5, being very flat and on a mixture of concrete, compacted gravel paths and grass (mostly hard surface). Although it can get a bit congested at the start it is still a fast and flat course, and is my new PB course.
The Briefings
Both briefings are held on the start/finish straight (an old taxi-way), and we were just in time for the Visitor briefing, which gave a good description of the course, including how to handle the looped section, and also a forewarning that when you get to the finish straight don't try and sprint it, as it is a km long. After the Visitor brief the run director gave the main briefing (while rather skilfully sitting on the fence).
The Course
After the briefing everyone assembled behind the start post and before we knew it we were off. Despite being fairly close to the start the path isn't particularly wide so it can be a bit congested, at the end of the taxi-way there is a pinch point before a sweeping right left turn, and you are now heading roughly north on a moderately twisty path. After about 800m from the start, you'll reach a marshal, who will direct you left onto a grass track (and south) back towards the start. You'll soon reach the pinch point from earlier, but the second time around it's not a pinch point because the field has now spread out a bit, back up the twisty path to the friendly marshal who this time will direct you right, onto another grass section, heading north towards the next footpath.
Once you get to the footpath, it's a left turn to head west, and after a while you'll take a left turn and start heading south west towards a wood. You'll run alongside the wood without actually going into it, taking a left turn and then a right turn, and then leaving the wood behind you, you'll then take another left turn and then a sweeping left turn and you've now reached the taxi-way which is a long straight all the way to the start, don't try and sprint it, as it's a km long.
Elevation and Terrain
With a total elevation of only 12m this is a very flat parkrun, with no noticeable inclines of any sort. It's mostly hard surface except for a couple of grass sections, it might get muddy in the winter, but when I visited in spring the ground was hard and fairly easy to run. You will be fine in road shoes for most of the year, except in particularly wet months.
Parking, Facilities and Coffee
Parking is free at weekends in the University campus (AL10 9EU), which is a very short walk/jog from the course. There's plenty of parking, and toilets are available in the University Campus in the Swim Centre in the Sports Village (but please remove muddy shoes before entering).
Post parkrun coffee can be found in the Herts Sports Village café, just inside the main entrance. On the morning we visited there was also a mobile coffee van parked near the finish.
Other Points of Interest
There is no formal bag drop on this one, but despite this there is a fence near the finish had perhaps the finest display of jackets hoodies and bags that I've seen at any parkrun, take a look for yourself...
Summary
A scenic, fast and flat course with plenty of PB potential. Running surface is good (at least when we visited, and despite a bit of a loop at the start it really did feel like a single lap course, which are a fairly rare joy. Highly recommended parkrun, good for anyone looking for an historic venue, a letter E, or a PB.
Links
Link to the official parkrun site for this venue:
Link to my Strava record of this event:
Link to the Relive record of this event:
https://www.relive.cc/view/2285749870
Link to the results for the morning of my visit: