
Photo by Kate Tettmar
This morning really did feel like the start of the autumn parkrun season, sunny and bright but a real nip of cold in the air. Standing listening to the new runners briefing I did ponder if I had worn enough clothes as despite my well covered frame I was starting to get goose bumps despite being surrounded by a huge horde of tourists – 99 first time tourists!
My feeling is that many like me made the journey as they knew that this was the penultimate opportunity to run here. But hidden amongst all the tourists:- Todd HOULAHAN, Scott DENCH, J TABOR & Andrew O'DONNELL took their first steps on their parkrun journey running using their parkrun barcode for the first time. So a huge welcome to them.
It wasn't long after walking up the hill to the start that the cry of go was echoed by the beep of GPS watches and 232 runners started to make their way round the beautiful course. If it wasn't enough to enjoy the scenery a multitude of wooden carvings added visual interest on route not that Harpenden Arrows Running Club's Steve BOWRAN (VM45-49) would have had much time to notice them as he hurtled around the course to be first finisher in a new personal best of 17:51. Bearbrook Running Club's Laura GUSH (SW30-34) crossed the line in 30th place in a time of 21:33 to be first lady home. Great running both of you.

Photo by Sinead Howland
As I panted through the carved archway I realised that I definitely wasn't cold anymore! But it was definitely a day to be running rather than standing outside for an hour not moving a huge amount. Yet thankfully that is what all the #HiVizHeroes willing did today so that we could all get to enjoy our parkrun.
Many of those in the tabards today on route and at the finish were ladies from Athena St Albans. On behalf of all those who ran today many thanks to:- Tracey ASHWELL, Jo ASKHAM, Wai Meng AU-YEONG, Denise CASIERO, Carly EAVES, Emma FLIN, Julie FULLER, Christina HARRISON, Laura HICKS, Angela HICKS, Alison HILLS, Sinead HOWLAND, Emily JOHNSON, Alex JOHNSTON, Ruth KENT, Helen KILLNER, Sandra LYNCH, Caroline MARVEN, Hannah MCEWEN, Tracey MOSTYN, Kate MUNRO, Amelia NEILL, Julianne NIGHTINGALE, Maria PETTS, Libby SHERIDAN, Kate TETTMAR, Richard UNDERWOOD, Alex VARRAN, Paula WERRETT, Johanna WOODCOCK who made this week's parkrun possible.

Photo by Sinead Howland
Passing the turn for the finish I knew I had another lap to go – the first part all slowly and steadily uphill! The perfect path helped me maintain my running for as long as possible but my lack of running due to injury meant that passing the run briefing point I gave in to a walk! My legs just didn't have it in me to run uphill anymore.
Or so I thought.
At the 'Keep right sign' as the returning runners pass an encouraging comment from one of the marshals forced me to restart my running again and continue it all the way to the turn at the top.
Passing into the young planted trees I kept my eyes peeled for unicorns that the marshal mentioned on the first lap – however they were nowhere in sight!
But there was the joy of the long downhill through path amongst the trees out the wooden arch and down on the path towards the finish.

Photo by Sinead Howland
Crossing the line I pressed my watch and gave a tired smiled – this was my fastest time since my recovery from injury. It was then that I realised I had left my well-travelled homemade parkrun picture frame in my car! After failing at Wimpole Estate I wasn't failing here... So I ran to my car and back.
Mission complete – a picture of many of this week's parkrun volunteers in my frame! A few of whom even ran in carrying signs.
Having spent just a few hours at Heartwood Forest this morning I can see that over your 46 events you have already built up a great friendly parkrun community. I wish you all the best finding a new venue for your event so the signs, scanners and barcodes can be used again and you can build upon the friendships you have made on the Saturday mornings running and volunteering and having a coffee after and give many others the chance to start their parkrun journey.
In the meantime celebrate rather than commiserate on the 6th October all the good things that Heartwood Forest parkrun has done and enjoy a bit of tourism until you can find another venue to call your homerun.
Happy parkrunning
Daniel Connolly
A58845

Photo by Daniel Connolly