I’ve been slow in updating my parkruns recently. I visited Cusworth a couple of weekends ago, on the 9th September, the very warm Saturday in the UK that locals will remember well! At just a few days, it wasn’t much of a post-summer heatwave, but really we were lucky to have avoided the heat that hit most of Europe and other places (though how we avoided it - rain and teen temperatures making the weather the stereotype of the UK).
This is a lovely course with all the facilities right next to the start, and the car park a short walk away. Car parking is even free till 10.30, which is very generous - just stick a parkrun barcode in the windscreen and park in the separate area (though that didn’t seem to be enforced or encouraged when I was there, and I didn’t find that area).
On this sunny day it was a clear and hard-packed path underfoot at worst, though there’s a bit of potential for puddles and mud in places. It’s not flat, but it has a very fair, flat start to get you going, with a drop and then a climb towards the end.
You run right past the other side of the hall (compared to the start), but that didn’t make for a great photo because you go so close. Instead, remember to look right at the bottom of the route and you’ll get a better version of the view below. (Trust me, even this duff photo is better than the close-up one from earlier in the route.)
The route loops the bottom section, but the briefing pointed that out, there’s a sign there and a marshal to help, so it isn’t complicated.
Other than that, the terrain is lovely and varied, as I hope the pictures below show. Some parts are hedged or lined with trees, others open up to views, and you run past a lake and adjoining water.
Most of the route is on tarmacced paths, as you can see above, but there are some long sections on grass too. The last of those takes you up hill past the hall again, for another good view of the building. Something to look at while you work harder up the hill and against the camber!
I had met some lovely fellow tourists on the short walk from car park to start, and was looking forward to breakfast with them in the cafe that’s *right there* while you’re warming up (or hanging around, being quite warm enough already, thank you). Unfortunately I took a phone call near the finish with sad news and had to dash off (I finished the run first, mind). I’m betting breakfast would have been delicious - just bear in mind that parking is only free till 10:30, so if you want a longer breakfast, you get the chance to financially support the place even more. It’s worth it.
Results from Cusworth Hall parkrun #132, 9/9/23; 124 finishers