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The course is 5000m (5K) long. This has been accurately measured by us using a professional measuring wheel. The course is in the North Wood of Pollok Park, and entirely on tarmac footpath, although some sections of the course do accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Dependent on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or temporary signs in place.
 Please remember that Glasgow 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.
Please use public transport wherever possible when attending Glasgow parkrun. The start is a short walk/warmup jog from public transport routes.
If you do drive, please watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. 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.
The Glasgow 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.
- While rare, Lyme Disease is present in areas where deer live, and occasionally passed to human’s through infected ticks. See NHS Choices website for more about Lyme Disease, and how to deal with ticks.
- This is a free training event, so all run and attend at their own risk.
We hope these tips help to ensure that Glasgow parkrun is fun and safe for everyone.
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.
Glasgow parkrun (like Edinburgh parkrun) starts at 9.30am; this is different to the other parkrun events; why is this?
- The sun rises a lot later up here in the depths of December (almost an hour later than London), so we thought it would be better and safer to start it a little bit later to maximise the light.
- The Burrell Collection only opens at 10am on Saturdays, and we're going there for the all important post-parkrun coffee, so the timing works out a lot better. It's also got toilet facilities which finishing runners may want to take advantage of after the run.
- Of course, we'll be keep the start time under close review as the event establishes itself.
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The route consists of two laps of the North Wood. It is scenic, sheltered, and undulating, with generally wide paths. It is designed to be enjoyable, rather than for pure 'PB' speed. It is all tarmac, although there are areas where water, mud and leaves can accumulate after rain, so please exercise caution. Regular running shoes are suitable.
From the start at the top of the Burrell carpark, follow the access road east, turning slightly left then right. Follow the road along below the Hay field. After 150m, just after the carved woodpecker, bear left into the North Wood. Follow the path around, and take the first right, joining the main path (across and bear left) through the North Wood, up past the pond. Follow the path down the hill, and turn sharp left at the bottom just before the Glade, and head up the path along the left/north side of the Glade.
At the top of the Glade, keep going left, following the winding path up the hill. Keeping left at the top of the field behind the shelter, follow the path around and down to the left, then bear sharp right at the base of the hill. Continue on, with the bridge to your right, take the left up to the main path, and turn hard left to start the second loop.
On the second loop at the top of the hill behind the shelter, take the first right and head down the hill, keeping to the path, bearing slightly right. The finish is at the bottom, on the right fork.
If you decide to run only 1 lap, please be sure to tell us at the finish so we can sort out the results!
The Pollok Country Park visitors map may be useful.
GPS users, please be aware that the course has extensive tree cover and a few twisting section, which means GPS devices will not be very accurate for distance or pace. Rest assured we've measured the course with a surveyors wheel, and are confident that the course is 5Km.
Facilities
- Toilets are available in the Burrell Collection (opens at 10am) and The Old Stable Courtyard behind Pollok House.
- The event director will have access to a basic first aid kit.
- Please familiarise yourself with the Course Safety notes, and listen at the pre-run briefing for any special notes.
- Please bring water for yourself after you finish. Race directors will only have access to emergency supplies.
Full details are available at The Pollok Country Park website.
Public Transport
Pollokshaws West railway station is nearest, and is a short warmup jog away. Shawlands and Maxwell Park (on the Cathcart Circle) are also very close - an easy 1km jog to the start. Dumbreck/Corkerhill Road stations are also within 2-3km. From Corkerhill Road station note that there is a more convenient entrance to the park further down Corkerhill Road.
Bus services operate close to Pollok Park. First Bus services 45, 47, 48 and 57 all stop on Pollokshaws road, opposite the main entrance to the park.
Ibrox underground station is just over 2 miles away (click for route), and makes a great warmup jog. Exit the underground and head for Paisley Road West, turning right when you reach it, then left after the BP station, heading along Dumbreck road and the M8. Follow the road over the M77, and head into Pollok Park at Haggs Castle Golf Club. Once in the park, take the left hand path off the road through the north wood for a more direct route, or follow the road along past Pollok House to the Burrell. Note the underground does become extremely busy when Rangers have home matches (check here for fixtures).
By Car
Pollok Park and The Burrell Collection are well sign-posted as attractions on the south side of Glasgow. From the East/Centre of Glasgow, take the M8 then M77 and exit from the M77 at junction 1. From the west, take the M8 and exit at junction 24, and follow the road around past Ibrox, and over. If entering at Dumbreck Road (from the M77/M8) follow the road through the park. Entering at Pollokshaws road, follow the road through and bear right at the second junction (The first you may turn).
A full set of parking tips have been published here.
Parking
On site parking by the Burrell is pay and display (£1/car), but has plenty of space. Parking at the Riverside car park is free, but has limited space, and we've been asked that parkrun participants leave the carpark for the use of other park users, who may be less able to walk. You may also park on surrounding residential roads and jog in to the park. Shawmoss Road is particularly suitable.
Finding The Start
The start and finish are on the path in front of The Burrell Collection, which is very well sign-posted throughout the park. You may also find the park visitors guide map useful: http://www.glasgowmuseums.com/assets/fileStore/Pollok-Park-map.pdf
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