Aachener Weiher parkrun, Köln

11/10/2026

After last weekend’s Cologne Marathon, it was reassuring to discover that most participants had survived. Legs had returned to a vaguely functional state, throats were no longer sounding like at a pirate convention, normal service almost resumed.

Saturday morning greeted us with 11°C, clouds and a stiff breeze. In other words, perfect conditions to remain firmly tucked up in bed, embracing one’s pillow and checking on breakfast choices. Unfortunately, we’re parkrunners, which means we interpreted these conditions as an invitation to assemble at Aachener Weiher for parkrun #329.

A magnificent crowd of 67 runners and 11 volunteers made it there on time. We welcomed tourists from various corners of the UK and DE, alongside the legends from our local Aussie Rules club Rheinland Lions Aussie Rules, proving once again that poor decision making transcends all sorts of sports.

The first timers‘ briefing was expertly delivered by Mo, who received a thoroughly deserved standing ovation. Whether this was for the quality of the briefing or simply because everyone was already standing remains a matter for historians.

RD Danae then took control, reminding us to share the course with other park users. Having dispensed this excellent advice, she unleashed us at the scandalously punctual time of 9:03. This level of efficiency earned disapproving looks from the Deutsche Bahn punctuality inspectors. In retaliation, the finishing tokens were apparently jumbled up. Thus the first finisher was to receive token #97, till Danae noticed and corrected it with superfast reflexes.

Up front, Jens FriedRice and LaurentF1 blasted around the course in 19:24 and 19:26 respectively. Mei-O was first woman home in a rapid 21:47. As for me, I completed the 5k without requiring tissues to wipe away tears of either pain or self-pity, which represents significant progress.

Huge thanks to all our volunteers. If you were a music album, you’d be permanently at the top of all of our Spotify playlists.

Next week is parkrun #330. Come run, come volunteer or hang out with the brilliant Rheinland Lions Aussie Rules. We’d be delighted to see you there.

03/10/2026

03/10/2026

Today arrived cool and crisp at an autumnal 13°C with the unmistakable smell of the Cologne Marathon hanging in the air. Whether this was nervous anticipation or thousands of runners simultaneously applying Deep Heat remains unclear. At the Weiher 99 runners and 14 volunteers gathered on time.

We were delighted to welcome visitors from the UK, AU, TW, PL and various corners of DE. The 1st Timers Briefing was delivered by JLo (not that one). Her explanation of our famously complex 2-lap route was so eloquent it received a standing ovation from all present, incl several geese. We also celebrated a major milestone as 1 runner raised his bat aloft like Brian Lara to acknowledge his 400th parkrun. A magnificent innings indeed.

Today's event was somehow entrusted to my notoriously unsafe pair of hands. Fortunately, I was supported by our excellent core team and volunteers. After reminding everyone to share the park with other users, even those offering unsolicited comments on our legs, we set off at the outrageously punctual time of 9:01. This blatant disregard for German transport customs was swiftly punished when DB cancelled my train to Deutz tomorrow, ending my Cologne HM hopes prematurely.

On the course, Paul produced the fastest easy shakeout imaginable in 20:09, while Lili was first woman home in 22:13. Other asthetic displays of competence included Saj (25:52), Jo (31:13), Dorothy (31:31) and Sabine (38:38). Afterwards, we celebrated Unity Day with tea, coffee, cakes and Lena's dangerously effective brownies, which disappeared so quickly they may qualify as quantum particles.

A huge thank you to our wonderful volunteers. Without them we'd simply be a group of confused adults standing around a pond waiting for instructions, much like regular passengers at a train station. We always need more volunteers, so please consider adding your name to next week's roster.

Good luck to everyone tackling the marathon tomorrow. Run well, run wisely and if travelling by train, perhaps start walking to the start line now. We'll see you next Saturday at the Weiher for another 9am start.



📷.foto

02/10/2026

Am Sonntag ist es wieder soweit! Marathon-Tag!

Inzwischen schon traditionell treffen wir uns ab 8.30 Uhr an der Kreuzung Universitätsstr./Bachemer Str., um alle Teilnehmenden des Halbmarathons und des Marathons lautstark zu unterstützen.

Kommt gerne dazu, wann immer ihr möchtet!
Das Wetter wird gut, es spricht also nichts gegen einen Tag auf dem schönsten Grünstreifen Kölns. 😀
Verpflegung, Campingstuhl, Konfetti, Rassel und und Freunde und Nachbarn nicht vergessen! 🎉📣👐🏼

26/09/2026

Laufbericht AWPR #327 by Mark Perkins

Well, I travelled from Frankfurt by train this morning to Aachener Weiner parkrun so I could tick another German place off on my travels. It was my 21st overall and my 398th run and have now completed all of the runs around Cologne (or Koln)

So, a little about me, I live and work in Frankfurt and only moved to Germany 7 months ago. I started my journey quite early and after a couple of trains I arrived in plenty of time. I took a photo of my journey if this helps.

Today’s weather was a little chilly, but the sun made an appearance and made the run quite enjoyable, despite the small inclines.

The route is a hilly two-lap course that runs around the pond and the park landscape. The route winds through the park and follows the edge path of the park until you reach the pond at the b**r garden, where the runners turn to the left to return past the benches on the edge path of the pond.

The destination is on a gravel road, it is clearly marked and allows a nice sprint to the finish

As always there were a range of runners, walkers and first timers. 57in total, 8 whose it was there first time ,7 personal bests and 15 volunteers.

There were plenty of loos dotted around the area and the team go for coffee about 5 minutes away by foot at the end when everyone has finished. The team were very friendly and most spoke both German and English which was a bonus.


Youssef EL MOUZAKKI was first male home in 17.49 Mei MATSUOKA was first female to cross the finish line in 22.23

Saving the most Important people of note, we really enjoyed todays ruin, all the volunteers were supportive, encouraging and friendly. Thank you for volunteering.

Frank JÜTTNER, Murray MILLER, Danai Dimitra ANGELIDAKI, Moritz THESING, Leo MOWIUS, Sabine GOEGEL, Angelika HALL, Christopher HALL, Ellie HALL, Laura THESING, Hendrik STAMM, Mark PERKINS, Jennifer LENZ, Lena WEIDEBACH, Christopher YORE

Until the next time
Mark Perkins

14/09/2026

Aachener Weiher parkrun #325 began with me marking out my imaginary bowling runup this Sats AM in Cologne, a city famously containing 0 cricket grounds. The weather was a ripe 15°, cloud cover with breeze and a faint smell of overnight rain. Perfect seam bowling conditions, also good for running. I shuffled towards the Weiher ready to deliver another astonishingly mediocre performance

70 runners, 12 volunteers and a delegation of geese were also there. AngelaJolie led the 1st timers briefing with serenity of someone already halfway to transcendental meditation. She is following the Beatles footsteps to India for 2 weeks & recover from explaining our course’s hills to terrified newcomers. She encouraged everyone to take deep breaths, a technique essential for blocking tears during the 2nd lap. Tourists from Australia and the UK acknowledged this wisdom by performing clapping yoga

RD “Dont Worry” Murray welcomed us with voice like a calming herbal tea, reminding us to enjoy the event for as long as possible. He sent us off at 9:02 earning the wrath of Deutsche Bahn, again. All train passengers this weekend will be forced to travel in scorpion pose as retribution

Jens FriedRice (19:33) and RollzRoyce (19:41) blasted through while Jas (24:33) led the women. Well done Lucas (22:12) + aesthetically satisfying results from Sergei (22:22) Lars FriedRice (25:25) Chris “Karl” Marx (27:00) Calum (27:27) Sarah (35:35) and Isla (40:40)

Huge thanks to our volunteers, the true legends who ensure society keeps moving every Sats. Without you we would descend into a lawless swamp of confused joggers while I try to scan a loyalty card instead of my barcode. You stand firm against chaos and radiate the kind of optimism usually found in children TV presenters

Now we look ahead to parkrun #326. A new dawn. A new opportunity to run & volunteer. Put your name down. We will mention you in the report, even though nobody reads them. Not your friends. Not your family. Not even us as we wait for the audiobook version

14/09/2026

Aachener Weiher Park Run #324, Part 2

14/09/2026

Aachener Weiher Park Run #324, Part 1

14/09/2026

Aachener Weiher Park Run #323