The Course

The course is 5000m (5K) long. This has been accurately measured by us using a professional measuring wheel. The course is flat, fast and all on tarmac paths, with all of us running it under the watchful eyes of the town’s own inimitable Brian Clough, as the course passes his statue twice - what a motivator that will be!

Please remember that Middlesbrough Albert parkrun uses shared paths. For the continued success of the event, please give way to other park users. This won't hurt your time, it won't stop you from getting a PB and it will make sure everyone continues to to enjoy the event.

We recommend that all participants arrive for the race by foot, bicycle or moped. We are trying to reduce our carbon footprint and any help you can provide in this regard is appreciated. The start is a short walk from public transport routes.

If you do drive, take care in the small car park watching out for other runners and their children. Parking is limited so try to arrive early or preferably park some distance away and jog into the park to warm up. Please congregate on the side of the path near the start rather than in the car park areas.

Course Safety

The Albert parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. We wish to make the run as safe as possible, so runners, spectators and helpers are asked to take care about the following:

  • Please be considerate to the park and other park users at all times.
  • Please arrive by foot, by pedal-power or by public transport if you can - your efforts help to reduce our impact on the park and the planet.
  • Please consider volunteering to help occasionally - this event survives only because of your generosity - please vist the volunteer page for more information.
  • Take care near roads and car parks - some vehicles drive very quickly. Please congregate away from the cars and be careful in particular if you have children. If you’re driving to the run, please drive carefully even if you’re late!
  • When running, take care on uneven surfaces - whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other runners, pedestrians, children, deer, dogs, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
  • Runners with dogs are welcome, but please keep dogs on a short lead and under control throughout the event.
  • Runners pushing buggies are also welcome, but please take extreme care of other runners around you. If possible start from the back of the field and try to keep to one side of the main body of runners.
  • Please make sure you’re fit enough to run 5k (3.1 miles) – if you’re in any doubt, please consult your doctor.
  • Remember to warm up before the run.
  • If you see a runner with a serious problem, please stop to help them out and get help as soon as possible.
  • If you’re watching, keep clear of runners on the course, and look after any children and dogs you may have with you.
  • This is a free training event, so all run and attend at their own risk.

We hope these tips help to ensure that Albert parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.

Age Grading

All parkrun events use Age Grading to help athletes compare results.

Age Grading takes your time and uses the world record time for your sex and age group to produce a score (a percentage). This score allows you to compare your personal performance against other people's performances even though they might be a different age and a different sex to you - the higher the score the better the performance. The scores can also be compared across different race distances - to allow you to, for example, compare a 5km time against a marathon.

For more information, please see the Running For Fitness website.

Course Map


View Albert parkrun in a larger map

Course Profile

Min Elevation 6m
Max Elevation 13m
Total Ascent 10m
Total descent 14m

Andy is keen to point out that the overall route profile is downhill (4m drop start to finish):

Course Description

The clockwise course starts from just behind the Visitor Centre at the lake (Clairville/Fire Station) end of the park. It starts by running along the main path through the park towards and then turning right at the fountain, a short straight stretch then takes you to a right turn that brings you to the main path around the perimeter of the park. A right turn at the lake takes you along to the Visitor Centre near the lake. From there it is then 2 laps of the permimeter path, finishing back outside the Visitors Centre at the conclusion of your run.

There are toilet facilities in the visitor centre and bags can be left there for collection after the run.

Getting There

The run starts behind the Visitors Centre at the Clairville Stadium end of the Park (next to the lake). There is car parking available at that end of the Park and at the opposite end by the main gates. Bike stands are also available at the Start/Finish line too and the Park is on many major Bus routes both in and out of the town.

Those taking part can meet and prepare at the visitors cenrtre (where bags etc can be left) before walking round to the start.

After the run, if you don’t have to get straight away, there will be the chance to socialise with everyone in the Café at the Start/Finish line to maybe swap stories about your run that day, chat to other runners over a cup of tea or coffee and just be an important part of this new running community.