team kerr

I should maybe declare an interest in this one as I worked on the Stormont Estate for years and it is somewhere that I will never tire of exploring as it is such an idyllic location despite being so close to the bustle of East Belfast. There is some parking at the main gates but I’d recommend going beyond the gates and into carpark on the left – from the carpark, it is a short walk past the Mo Mowlam children's play park (toilets are here) over to the start on the Prince of Wales Avenue.  The Run Director's brief is done at barrier then everyone walks back along avenue to start line, which gives a few minutes for a chat with the runners around you before starting this two-lap parkrun. It is a fantastic setting and the avenue is very wide so it is easy to get into a position during the initial run (start closer to front if fast). Beyond the barriers the run turns right off the avenue onto trail paths (bump up a kerb), the path narrows here so it can be a wee bit slow and there is a small but sharp hill.  Much of the run is on good paths (tarmac or gravel) through interesting forest trails, passing the children's park, playing fields, wooden carvings etc.  There are some narrow bits, slight hills and a couple of bumps up / down kerbs but we didn’t find encounter any significant challenges for the running jogger and overall found it to be a fast course.  There are approx 250 runners each week but course can easily accommodate this.  It is our favourite so far and the kids loved the play park afterwards.

stormont