A fast and flat route, lively atmosphere, keen parkrunners and cheerful volunteers provided all the ingredients for a successful debut at Alvaston Park in Derby. Months of hard work, approvals and course planning – the latter a challenge all of its own – preceded this latest addition to the parkrun family. Alvaston parkrun joins Markeaton as one of two Derby-based events.

Run director Hannah Latham conducted the briefing outside the community building before sending everyone on their way to follow a ‘creative’, out and back route. They began with one and a half laps of the grass field then turned at the corner of Lakeside school and continued along a long section of cycle path before turning around near the Aldi supermarket and retracing their steps towards the school. The next bit was a short out and back section in the opposite direction followed by a turn at the lake before finishing near to the centre of the park.

Jack Dakin of Derby AC was the first man home in 17:43; Katie Dennis of South Derbyshire Road Runners AC was the first woman in 21:44.

Sebastian Taylor (JM10) was the fastest boy in 28:23; Lucy-Anna Boyd (JW11-14) of Shelton Striders, fastest girl in 27:04.

This run/jog/walk was followed by coffee in the Waterside cafe, rounding off a perfect parkrun day for this new event.

Image courtesy of Alvaston parkrun.