I seem to have some sort of magnetic attraction to Cassiobury Park over recent months. The first visit was back in November for the Grand Union Half. I parked in the car park and took the paid for race coach back to the official start area (it’s a point-to-point race). My second visit was on the same day as I ran into the park and over the finish line. Maybe I’m stretching that one a bit to call it two visits but it’s my blog so nerner to you.
I was then back in December for the Sunday XC League fixture where I ran across the park to discover that there is a muddy set of hills hidden away to sap all strength from your legs. It’s a green pleasant park on the surface but a delightfully monstrous hilly & muddy winter cross-country fixture in the corner.
Now there’s a brilliant new parkrun in the park that Other Dan accompanied me to visit and tick off another LonDone venue. How is Watford in London you ask? Well, it’s within the M25 and if even has a tube station next to the park. That’s why it’s part of the LonDone set (because of the M25 bit that is, the tube station bit isn’t really a proper criteria).
We’d heard that it was a fast course and the tales were true. Two and a bit laps, all on tarmac (except for the obligatory finish funnel on the grass), and a flat course (because it avoids the monstrous hills over in the distance). It’s not pancake flat and you can see a teeny-tiny slope on one side but it’s still a belter. Other Dan decided to have a watch-less crack at his Jantastic time (didn’t make it) while I decided to whir the legs and go sub-25 minutes for the first time in ages (23:35 thank-you-very-much).
No time for drinks & snacks due to family obligations but a lovely addition to the parkrun community and somewhere that I’ll definitely be visiting again,