Adam Bird - My Personal Blog

On the 25th July 2026 I ran Egham Orbit parkrun, which was the 76th event held at the venue, my 297th parkrun and 209th different course I'd attended. Back in May when I was researching Egham Orbit parkrun I came across a cafe in town named Egham on Toast, which I was thoroughly impressed by. As puns for cafes go, that's certainly up there and I felt obliged to visit after my parkrun had finished. Of course back in May we never ever made it as far as that, being stuck in traffic on the M25 meant no parkrun at all that morning. So when it came to rearranging my visit for another day it became a perfect birthday weekend venue. Over the past few years we've turned my birthday weekend into a celebratory family breakfast. Last year was Markshall Estate, where we all trudged along to, kids against their wills and wife not exactly enthusiastic either. The breakfast trumps parkrun which is 30 minutes that they have to endure as an aperitif. At least this year they got to enjoy wat...

On the 18th July 2026 I ran Oaklands College parkrun, which was the 70th event held at the venue, my 296th parkrun and 208th different course I'd attended. Last week I missed my second parkrun of the year and only my seventh in the past four years. Whilst I got stuck in traffic back in May, my absence this week was for much better reasons. My nephew Elijah was turning 18 and my sister wanted to celebrate as a family. A few ideas were thrown around from a trip to London, to Dublin before someone lobbed the word Ibiza into the mix. As soon as that was mentioned I developed a severe case of FOMO and so a plan was born. A flight out Friday afternoon from Stansted to Ibiza, a night on the tiles, a club overnight and a flight straight back to Stansted early Saturday evening. No hotel, no change of clothes, a proper no fuss, no thrills visit to the party island of Europe. To say that the weekend went well would be an understatement. Elijah, least expecting his boring Uncle Adam to be boa...

On the 4th July 2026 I ran The Plens parkrun, which was the 83rd event held at the venue, my 295th parkrun and 207th different course I'd attended. Had it not been for parkrun I would never have heard of the Plens, Desborough or Desborough Leisure Centre. But there I was, two hours from home on a Saturday morning outside a shiny new leisure centre slap bang in the middle of a new housing estate ready for another 5k run. The Plens was celebrating it's 83rd event and in my quest to reach 100 on the Wilson Index I took an opportunity to fill a gap. After all, with no football to rush home for, and long warm summer mornings what better things to do with my time than driving up the M11 and A14 in persuit of a place is never been to before and likely never will. Some courses are simple and straightforward to explain, others are a little more complex but achievable with the clever use of words. Others are batshit crazy and require seeing to understand them. In simple terms the Plens ...

On the 27th June 2026 I ran the Ben's Yard parkrun, Ely which was the 65th event held at the venue, my 294th parkrun and 206th different course I'd attended. Working through the event numbers attempting to visit all events from 1-100 requires a little bit of planning and a lot of patience. There are elements of luck involved too. For example, event 65 and Ben's Yard coincided nicely with the hot summer months. Running a trail course on a farm during the winter would be great fun, but avoidable where possible. It was also lucky in that after the event I was able to pop in again and see Auntie Sue, cousin Nick and his wife Jenny. Eating breakfast in the garden under a gazebo isn't something we can do at home, so to be able to do it with the company of family we don't see often was a bonus. With the hot weather continuing and my ankle still showing levels of discomfort after my twist at Dereham two weeks ago I wasn't planning on full beans attacks. The course, mos...

On the 20th June 2026 I ran the Clair parkrun which was the 609th event held at the venue, my 293rd parkrun and 205th different course I'd attended. I had been putting off Clair parkrun for the longest time. It sat out quite obviously on the map as I visited parkruns around it and left it increasingly isolated as I avoided it like the plague. Originally I had planned to visit St Alban's parkrun, but Foordy didn't fancy another trail course and he rightly pointed out that my ankle wouldn't appreciate it if I twisted it again having still been in recovery from the week before. By rights I shouldn't have ran at all, but my addiction needs to be fed and so I compromised with Foordy. I'd fine him a nice tarmac based course, but found him a course I could walk around if the need may be. Clair parkrun fit all of the criteria. What was four laps on tarmac around an undulating course which a former work colleague had labelled disgusting was an opportunity for me to walk...

On the 13th June 2026 I ran the Dereham parkrun which was the 99th event held at the venue, my 292nd parkrun and 204th different course I'd attended. Dereham parkrun isn't exactly around the corner and with a 2 hour and 15 minutes drive ahead of me I questioned my life choices more than once whilst turning off my alarm clock at 5:45.  I've debated the pros and cons of traveling distances to get to parkrun on these pages before and have attempted to ease my guilty conscience by combining it with trips to football. That could almost be true with my trip to Dereham, afterall the event parking is located at Dereham Town Football club who play in the Eastern Counties Premier League Division (Step 5). I even entered the stadium both before and after parkrun to use the toilet although I can't claim a stadium visit on the basis that no football took place. Sadly I couldn't really see much of the ground as it was surrounded by fencing, and was surrounded on each side by sma...

On the 6th June 2026 I ran the Meon Valley Trail, Wickham parkrun which was the 62nd event held at the venue, my 291st parkrun and 203rd different course I'd attended. Socially speaking my life plans are formed around parkrun on Saturday mornings, football and how I can combine the two. Sometimes real life gets in the way and I have to juggle a dilemma or live with the consequences. This week my aim of driving almost two hours to a parkrun event on the basis that it was hosting it's 62nd event collided with Hayden's end of season football presentation evening. Do I change parkrun plans to allow for a heavy nights celebratory drinking, or do I remain sober and go to bed early like a good parkrunner and deny myself a good night out? The end of the season football presentation is a celebration for the parents as much as it is for the boys. The achievements that they've shared together after a long season. The parents have put in the hard yards, getting boys to training on...

On the 2nd May 2026 I ran the Whitecliffe Lake parkrun which was the 26th event held at the venue, my 287th parkrun and 199th different course I'd attended. My routine right now is a fairly simple one when it comes to choosing a venue on Saturday mornings. Is it the closest one to me that I've not done yet and does it coincide with an event number that I've net yet completed. When things come along that upset my routine I get more precious about it than I should and have to remind myself just what the hell it is that I'm getting anxious over - absolutely nothing at all! 6 months ago a new parkrun popped up on my radar, a brand new parkrun in Kent, bringing the number of venues in my home county up to 26. It also meant that I had a new NENDY, and even more was that I didn't have far to travel to get there. A mere 4.7km as the crow flies in fact. I had therefore planned to visit the new Whitecliffe Lake parkrun in Ebbsfleet at the soonest opportunity, providing that ...

On the 25th April 2026 I ran the Upton Court parkrun which was the 625th event held at the venue, my 286th parkrun and 198th different course I'd attended. What makes a good parkrun and why do we enjoy some events much more than others? I'm not sure anyone knows the answer to that, but I found it fascinating that both Mark and I really enjoyed this parkrun when all of the clues suggested perhaps we might not. Upton Court parkrun takes place in Upton Court, a public recreational space in the town of Slough. The surroundings were nice with some rather fetching houses lining the roads leading up to the entrance of the car park. But the course primarily is a two lap affair which takes in majority of the perimeter of the space and is mostly ran on grass. I think part of the lower expectations were due to the grassy nature of the course. But the weather played a crucial part. Not only have we had a long dry spell, but the temperature was warmer than recent days and the sun was out. ...

On the 11th April 2026 I ran the Stretford parkrun which was the 448th event held at the venue, my 284th parkrun and 197th different course I'd attended. Salford City vs Gillingham might not be the most glamorous of football fixtures, but Hayden and I have attended every historic fixture between the two teams - all 8 of them. The away games in Manchester have given me.the opportunity to tick off a few of the cities parkrun venues at the same time. In recent years we've visited Heaton Park, Alexandra and now this time around we chose to visit Stratford. Joining us again this weekend was Henry, Hayden's friend who had enjoyed weekends with us at Morecambe and Port Vale and is infinitely more enthusiastic about partaking in parkrun than Hayden is. It was with Henry and Hayden in mind that I chose Stretford over one of the other Manchester venues as it has an additional novelty factor - part of the course takes part on an athletics track. Majority of the course takes part arou...

On the 4th April 2026 I ran the Tamworth Castle Grounds parkrun which was the 114th event held at the venue, my 283rd parkrun and 196th different course I'd attended. Being able to combine football with parkrun has been a real blessing and has made supporting the Gills more enjoyable as well as broaden the pool of available parkrun events for me to visit. This week with Easter and games being on Good Friday and Bank Holiday Monday I hadn't anticipated a parkrun/football double. Originally the plan was to visit Walsall away in a day, drive up watch the game and come home again as is the typical way. But talking with Steph I suggested we could make a weekend of it. Driving up and down the M1 this season and seeing signs for the National Space Museum had whetted the appetite and I really wanted to visit. So I formed a plan that meant we'd travel up to Walsall the usual way, watch the game and stay overnight somewhere either close to the National Space centre or somewhere in b...

On the 28th March 2026 I ran the Colchester Castle parkrun which was the 600th event held at the venue, my 282nd parkrun and 195th different course I'd attended. Upon arrival at Colchester Castle parkrun my heart sank a little. Our car was parked at a leisure centre at the bottom of the park and my eyes scanned upwards towards the castle in the distance and knew straightaway that I was in for a difficult morning. Hills and me are not compatible. With Mark and Foordy otherwise engaged I had expected to be travelling solo. But Hayden was on a punishment as a result of not doing as he was told. He therefore had to forfeit football training for accompanying me to parkrun. He was free to not join in if he didn't want to and he took that punishment with good spirit. The starting point for the event is three quarters away up the hill towards the castle on the southern end of Castle park. There is a flat thoroughfare with a bandstand and some ornamental gardens which makes for a good ...

On the 21st March 2026 I ran the Clacton Seafront parkrun which was the 417th event held at the venue, my 281st parkrun and 194th different course I'd attended. Spring is a great time to take part in parkrun, the sun is out, and temperatures are warming up but isn't to warm for running. Trees are carrying blossom and everything is brighter and just feels more cheerful. Running by the sea feels fresh and the waves are calm and it just somehow feels a whole lot better than the cold, grey depression of winter. Next up on this slow visit of the UK's parkrun venues was Clacton Seafront on the Essex coastline resort of Clacton on sea. Greeted by a tourist hotspot coming out of hibernation with the fun fair pier dusting off cobwebs and hopeful expectation of another strong summer season.  Bright sunshine, beautiful clear blue skies it was the perfect spring morning. Parking on the seafront was free for three hours giving Foordy and In plenty of time to enjoy the event and it'...

On the 14th March 2026 I ran the Cranleigh parkrun which was the 452nd event held at the venue, my 280th parkrun and 193rd different course I'd attended. The more weeks I visit new parkruns the harder it is to find a new parkrun and the further distance I have to travel. Having only got 1 more event to visit in London, 1 more in Kent and a small handful left of Essex parkrun choices are coming harder to rationalise. My goal is to ultimately visit all events that comprise the Greater London, East of England and South East England regions. This would be around 300 different venues in total and an amount that would take 6 years to complete if attempted in full. But with Gillingham away games providing opportunities to visit other regions and life getting in the way then that should be plenty to keep me going. Next on the list for me this week was Cranleigh in Surrey, 8 miles south of Guildford and often referred to as the largest village in the UK. It's parkrun venue is situated ...

On the 7th March 2026 I ran the Ingrebourne Hill parkrun which was the 59th event held at the venue, my 279th parkrun and 192nd different course I'd attended. The world of parkrun is forever shifting and changing, new events cropping up whilst others close. In the past few months new events have popped up in Essex, Kent and Greater London which has impacted my ability to 'complete the set'. I had carefully planned the last Greater London venue and tied it in with the first available gap in my Wilson Index, number 59. Meaning a wait of over a year before I could visit and mark the event as done. Of course they are my own rules and nobody else's so I don't have to stick to this methodology, but it works for me and I quite like it. Waiting is all part of the fun! However, as I worked my way around our great capital with the goal of making Ingrebourne Hill the 64th stop of 64 parkrun venues in Greater London a new one popped up! Greenwich Peninsula parkrun started on t...

On the 28th February 2026 I ran the Fell Foot parkrun which was the 493rd event held at the venue, my 278th parkrun and 191st different course I'd attended. Last week I revisited Bushy Park parkrun to celebrate with Mark and his 50th milestone. It was great to be running again at the home of parkrun, my second visit after celebrating my 100th milestone back in 2022. It was just as good as my first, the rampaging, Braveheartesque start, throngs of people and chaotically organised finish complex all in the wonderful grounds of a royal park. But this week was back on the road and back to the Lake District for my second visit. Barrow Vs Gillingham is not for the faint of heart. A near 650 mile round trip, with almost 11 hours in the car. With great mileage and travel to contend with Barrow away is almost certainly best done with an overnight stay. I fully commend those who do it in one day, or take the long slow trudge up by coach. Two years ago we did the trip with Reaso and George a...

On the 14th February 2026 I ran the Trentham Gardens parkrun which was the 190th event held at the venue, my 276th parkrun and 190th different course I'd attended. Children under the age of 11 years old have to be accompanied by an adult when taking part in parkrun. With Hayden turning 11 years old on the 24th February, our trip to Trentham Gardens will be the last event we take part in together. My view is if he is old enough to take part unaccompanied then he's also old enough to wait at the finish line for me. He is also obviously very welcome to take part himself, but unlike me he hasn't really caught the parkrun bug! We stayed on site almost at the Trentham Gardens Premier Inn, a stones throw from the start line. Hayden 'injured' both knees crossing the car park and got a stitch less than 50m into the start of the event. It was a fight I wasn't willing to have and so I walked the course with him without muttering 'come on Hayden' as I usually do. B...

On the 7th February 2026 I ran the Panshanger parkrun which was the 536th event held at the venue, my 275th parkrun and 189th different course I'd attended. Running during the winter months can be a precarious pastime. Ice, snow, rain and mud are all potential obstacles that can get in the way of a good morning out. Luckily for me I like and enjoy those conditions and find it all rather fun.  There is the cautionary parkrun tourist who plans their winter based itinerary around venues and course that are tarmac based and save the grass based courses for the summer. I take it on a week by week basis and a luck of the draw. If a course is a trail based event and had a possibility of mud, then so be it. If it's hilly and on tarmac, so be that one too. If an event is cancelled due to weather conditions then that is also fine, I'll just rearrange my calendar and visit the next one on the list. Which is why, when I arrived at Panshanger Country park on Saturday morning I arrived ...

On the 31st January 2026 I ran the Foots Cray parkrun which was the 311th event held at the venue, my 274th parkrun and 2nd time I'd attended the venue. February is promising to be a busy month. Gillingham are almost Tuesday night, Saturday night back to back for the full month. The week they aren't, I'm taking Hayden to White Hart Lane as a treat. I've also got Uncle Paul's funeral in the West Midlands and so lots of miles on the road. When Foordy asked me what parkrun I was visiting and would I fancy something close by it didn't take me much convincing. Originally I had Dereham in the diary as it was running event 80, which I needed for my Wilson Index, but the thought of a two hour drive there and another two hours back felt unpalatable. So instead I had the enjoyment of looking up closer events that I'd already visited and one that enabled me to get Foordy home in time for a shift at Bluewater later in the day. I last ran Foots Cray Meadows on a warm Ma...

On the 24th January 2026 I ran the Fountains Abbey parkrun which was the 526th event held at the venue, my 273rd parkrun and 188th different course I'd attended. There are parkruns and then there are parkruns. The events that are 'must visit' or 'iconic', at least in the eyes of the parkrun tourist community. It's an elite list of parkrun venues which stand out as scenic, brutal or both. Whinlatter Forest for its elevation and scenery, Great Yarmouth North Beach for running on sand and Woolacombe Dunes for its location and tough as nails course. Fountains Abbey is often spoken of and features weekly on Facebook groups as one of the most beautiful and scenic parkrun courses in the UK. Bring based near Ripon, North Yorkshire it's an event that's not exactly on the doorstep. Fortunately as a football fan and supporting Gillingham around the country there are opportunities for me to combine two things, parkrun with love of the beautiful game. Once the footb...