I wrote the run report for Grove Fields Parkrun Event #127. Here it is below:

First time at Grove Fields Parkrun being an avid Parkrun goer for the best part of a year now looking to get a bit more touristy. We arrived in Wantage on the bus preparing for what looked like a market - enjoying the feel of a small town compared to Oxford which is often a fair bit busier.

With the OxTrail still going on throughout July and August, I jogged around the town to the charity shop, library and The Beacon to find and collect them. For those not aware, the OxTrail is organised by Sobell House Hospice dotting difference ox sculptures around Oxfordshire to raise money and awareness for Sobell House. The charity is working with Wild in Art and other institutions with each ox designed by different people such as artists, community groups, schools etc. Many to collect in Wantage (see below).

Arriving at the course, I was delighted by the location with all the flowers of the meadow and wild flowers. I felt lots of enthusiasm from the congregation of volunteers and runners ready to scamper round such a scenic course.

A bang average attendance of 126 runners (compared to a an average of 127) finished the course on this very warm, summer holiday morning. At the first timers briefing, many of the 28 tourists declared their home parkruns from places including

Southport, Dublin, Plymouth, Newbury, Newcastle, Salisbury, Oxford, Leeds, Didcot and Maidenhead.

Congratulations to the singular First Timer – Iain Norburn completing his first ever parkrun. Further congratulations to Duncan Willbery completing his first milestone of 25 parkruns! I enjoyed my quite quick Parkrun despite being drenched by the end due to the glorious sunshine – a bandana is no good at keeping sweat out of your eyes if it’s still in your backpack! Overall a lovely intro to this parkrun which I would be very glad to visit again. Alas, the touristing continues. A huge thank you to RD Kirsty Taylor and all the volunteers for putting on a great event all running smoothly making it nigh impossible to get lost or forget to do sufficient loops.

Kieran (and Megan)