Conkers parkrun

10/10/2026

🌳 From coal mines to Conkers… and the Legend of Buck! 🏃‍♂️

What do coal mines, medicinal pit water, a failed furnace and a runner who took a wrong turn have to do with Conkers parkrun? 🤔 Quite a lot, as it turns out!

This week's fantastic run report comes from our lovely first timer parkrun tourist, Simon, who together with his sister and friend, was visiting Conkers for the first time. They picked our event simply because they liked the name 🤭.

From our fascinating industrial past to the beautiful woodland we enjoy today, Cheeky Hill, Buck's Turn and, of course, our brilliant volunteers, Simon takes us on a journey through the history, humour and wonderful community spirit that make Conkers so special.

It's a wonderfully written, funny and moving report that might just make you see our familiar Saturday morning route in a completely different light.

Definitely worth putting the kettle on and taking five minutes to read. ☕👇

Read the full report here: 👇 https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conkers/news/2026/10/10/from-black-to-green-coal-conkers-and-the-curious-consequences-of-following-buck/

Thank you so much Simon for visiting Conkers and writing such a fantastic run report! It was an absolute pleasure to meet you. You've captured the history, beauty, humour and community spirit of Conkers so wonderfully, and you've even taught us a thing or two about our own course!

We're so glad you chose Conkers, even if it was originally just because of the name! 😂 Thank you for reminding us just how special our little corner of the National Forest really is.
We hope to welcome you back again soon! 💜

10/10/2026

🍂And that’s a wrap on another wonderful morning at Conkers parkrun! 🍂

A huge well done to the 353 runners and walkers who completed our beautiful autumnal course this morning, and an extra-special thank you to our 40 absolutely amazing volunteers who made it all possible! 💜

We were delighted to welcome 8 brand-new parkrunners taking part in their very first parkrun, along with 41 tourists visiting Conkers for the first time. We hope you loved it as much as we loved having you, and that we’ll see you again very soon!

A big congratulations to all our fabulous milestoners celebrating their achievements and joining new milestone clubs today. Wear those milestones with pride! 🤩

And a special shout-out to the brilliant Swad Joggers Couch to 5K graduates! What a fantastic achievement! You should all be incredibly proud of yourselves! 👏

If you finished in position 150 today, there was a problem with your barcode, so please get in touch and we can make sure you get your well deserved time logged.

Finally, the biggest thank you of all goes to our incredible volunteers 💜 We really cannot express how grateful we are to every single person who gave their time this morning to help make our parkrun happen. From our early birds setting everything up, to those cheering, encouraging, supporting and keeping everyone safe throughout the event, and the wonderful people who stayed to pack everything away afterwards, you were all absolute stars! 🌟

It takes a whole team of lovely people to make the magic of parkrun happen, and I feel incredibly lucky to have had such a fantastic bunch supporting me this morning. Your kindness, enthusiasm, teamwork and willingness to help never go unnoticed, and we appreciate every single one of you more than you know 💜

Thank you, everyone, for making it such a lovely morning. Conkers really is a special place, and it’s you guys who make it that way. 🍂💜
Hope to see you all again next Saturday! - Donna x 🌳🏃‍♀️🚶‍♂️

10/10/2026

Good morning! ☀️ Not long to go until Conkers parkrun #757 🎉

The weather is cool and fresh, perfect for an autumnal 5km walk, jog or run on our beautiful trails.
🌳🏃🏾‍♂️🚶🏾‍♀️🌳

Anthony has been out for an early morning course check and we're good to go!

Our amazing setup team are on site getting everything ready for today's event. . Chris is busy decorating our famous photo backdrop, making it picture-perfect 📸. Don't forget to grab a photo using our selfie frame too – Chris will be happy to help take your picture!

Andrew, Trevor and Pauline will be in the Waterside car park directing runners to spaces. The Curly Magpie Artisan Market is taking place in the Waterside car park today. There will be lots of lovely local traders selling handmade products, delicious food and unique gifts. Do have a wander around the stalls if you get the chance – you might even find some inspiration for Christmas presents! 🎁
This does mean there will be fewer parking spaces available, so please allow a little extra time to arrive.

🚗 Alternative parking is available at the Discovery Centre car park:
📍 Rawdon Road, Moira, Swadlincote, DE12 6GA

It's just a short walk through the tunnel from the Discovery Centre car park to join us for the briefing in the Waterside car park.

Effie is ready to welcome all our first timers and tourists. Everyone aged 4 and over is welcome to walk, jog, run or volunteer at parkrun. If you're joining us for the first time, register for your free barcode here: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/ and remember to bring it with you. It's your passport to any parkrun, anywhere in the world! 🌍

🥳 Celebrating a milestone, birthday, anniversary or anything else special? Let us know when you arrive so we can give you a well-deserved shout-out!

Our lovely Pebble Painter has left us another surprise artistic creation- thank you! 💜

Finally, if you'd like to experience the hi-vis fun next week or in future weeks, come and have a chat with any of us today. You can add your name to the whiteboard behind the scanners, comment below, or email [email protected]. We'd love to welcome you to the volunteer team! 💜
See you all very soon, have a fantastic parkrun! Donna x

09/10/2026

Tomorrow is the last of the fabulous monthly Curly Magpie artisan markets that we share the Waterside car park with. I am told that they will be back next year. When you have finished your run, walk or volunteer, do give them a visit. There are usually cakes and many other products. If you like a curry that packs a punch hopefully that stall will be there as well. I have learned to drop a generous spoon of yoghurt in the middle of it. 😊
The weather at 9ish when Donna sets you on your way is forecast to be around 10C still hanging on to the double figures with scattered clouds. There may be a bit of cooler air popping down to visit from the north, so maybe long sleeves or a layer.

Our run director tomorrow is Donna who has a nice full volunteer team to support her. We are always happy to give a shout out for milestones, birthdays, marriages or community info. Just let Donna know in advance please. Asking her two minutes before she gives her brief doesn’t count as in advance. The first timers welcome is by Effie; this will start at 8.50am on the grass area.

This Saturday sees another visit by the Leicestershire Fostering Service. They are turning up in their bus with heaps of useful information. Do pop in to see them for info if this is something you or your family have considered. This of course is open for anyone in the community, you don’t have to be part of our parkrun event.

Next week we have a volunteer takeover by our super friends at Swad Joggers. I understand that they are going to provide a selection of pacers. The following week is our over 60’s volunteer takeover. I doubt that there will be any pacers although we do have some fairly nifty senior parkrunners in our midst.

I can be seen in a few places tomorrow, at the first timers picking up tips from Effie, at the start area, lumbering round chatting to anyone that will listen, or at least pretend to listen, ogling a cake store and in the café.
Have a super weekend,
Roger x

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

Rob Mackey, came down from the Welsh hills to Leicestershire and thought he would give Conkers a bash, particularly as we are such a friendly well organised event, an adjacent campsite and we positively encourage walking if that is what you fancy. Thanks for the report Rob, I enjoyed the read and I am certain many others will do to.
Roger

03/10/2026

Ready steady go.....Can you spot yourself today?

03/10/2026

What a lovely 🌞 autumnal 🍂 day!
379 of you walked, talked and ran the course today at event 756.
37 of you did it for the first time 👏 👏
37 achieved the elusive PB 👏👏👏
And it was all made possible by our marvellous 42 🙋‍♀️ 🙋‍♂️ volunteers 👏

Results are here 👇
https://www.parkrun.org.uk/conkers/results/2026-10-03/

See you next Saturday
Ceri and Conkers parkrun Team x
See you next week

02/10/2026

EDIT: Volunteer Found. Back to a full team.
See you tomorrow!

Help! We are now one Finish Token giver outer down for tomorrow.
Can anyone step into the team? Full support provided if you've not done the role before.
Thanks
Ceri