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I've been missing parkrun. There are 9 within the Belfast city limits, and I decided I would try to visit as many as I could in one go. I managed 7, and it was tough but quite a good run. /Thread
First stop: Victoria Park, 2 miles in. This is fairly close to home and I'm here quite often. Very flat and definite pb potential. Looked like some members of local running club @VPCAC_Lions were out training (some very fast indeed!)
About 3.5 miles in, a break in the clouds let me snap part of the city centre from the John Hewitt bridge.
Next stop, 5.5 miles in: @Waterworkspark1, where I saw a rainbow (although rather than a pot of gold it appears to end at Solitude, Cliftonville's ground). This was the island's first parkrun, and I set my 5k pb here.
From the north of the city to the south! Off to Queen's parkrun. I passed the Lanyon Building at 8.4 miles - but the eponymous parkrun is actually at the Queens Sport facilities a couple of miles down the road.
Made it to the Dub, for parkrun 3, Queens Parkrun, at mile 10.8. Didn't do much of the course becase the grounds are being used for covid testing and I didn't want to get in the way. One for the future!
Next, back up the Malone Road and then down the river to Stranmillis College, home of @StranmillisPR, 12.6 miles in.
Next, a short trot up the river to Ormeau Park, home of @ormeauparkrun, seen here at 13.8 miles. This is a good parkrun that I usually do as part of the double-header on New Years Day. Some hills but lots of long straights to pick up the pace, and beautiful foliage colours.
Next, off to Orangefield Park, home of @orangeparkrun. This is from 15.9 miles. The greenway sections of this park are paved really well, and it's well lit at night, so I sometimes come here during winter to run up the big hill, which I didn't dare go near today
Finally, I got to parkrun 7, @StormontParkrun, at mile 18.5 For my money, the best park in Belfast, and a tough but enjoyable parkrun. Weather had picked up by this point, so it was full of families, and the leaves on the main drive have begun to turn beautifully.
