CAPALABA PARKRUN REVIEW

CAPALABA PARKRUN REVIEW

GETTING THERE

In June last year, I ran Capalaba’s Parkrun. This event is just 10 minutes from home and is really easy to find. A quick (80km/h) drive along Old Cleveland Road takes you to Redland Bay Road. A short right and at Bunnings, pop a right into Pittman Road and drive into Capalaba Regional Park.

PARKING

There is a really big parking lot at the entrance to the park so parking is really not a problem. This is a popular venue for the local community and it gets pretty full over weekends so the parking lot is really necessary.

TOILETS

I took a stroll down to the Parkrun banners and walked through a really impressive Children’s playground. The toilet black was clean and fairly modern by Australian standards, even after a busy Friday night. As a side note, there is a disability playground area on site which I thought was really cool. It was locked so I am not sure how someone would actually gain access, but it was really impressive never-the-less.

THE COURSE

So I found the course a little confusing. When it was explained, I didn’t quite get it, so I stuck behind the leaders. There is a small loop which passes the start/finish before taking you on a larger loop to a turnaround point at another entrance to the park at Killarney Crescent. The journey back is along the Tingalpa Creek which is quite pretty. I then passed the far end of the oval and ran to another turnaround point having run through John Fredericks Park. This public park is really pretty with quite a few paperbark eucalypts and the creek. The return leg finished up by completing the loop.

The entire race is on concrete pathways which were well-maintained. Public access was non-existent, meaning that there were no obstructions along the way. However, because there are two out and backs, there were quite a few times where I was forced to slow down before overtaking slower runners as well as oncoming traffic of the running variety.

The course was also mostly flat which augers for fast times but only five men have managed to run under 17 minutes. The only explanation I can offer would be the backwards and forwards along the course. Alternatively, this event just hasn’t attracted the elite runners.

VOLUNTEERS

The Facebook page has a few requests for volunteers including a photographer but it seems like they are all filled by the time Saturday arrives. What I liked was the number of children who participate in this event as well as runners with dogs. This is a really family orientated event. On the day I ran, there were a couple of volunteers on the course with their children which was really lovely.

The briefing was good and even though I didn’t understand the course, it didn’t really matter. This is a really friendly event and I don’t really understand why it doesn’t attract more runners. On average, it seems like they have around 150/160 runners each week, but this probably adds to the unique nature of this event. It is definitely a niche market and loyally supported by local people.

PHOTOS

The Facebook page is well-organized and it was really easy to find my pictures from the album uploaded on the day I ran.

Click here for the Facebook page

THE ALL IMPORTANT COFFEE AFTERWARDS

The Parkrun page advertised a coffee shop called ‘Wicked Brew Coffee' shop which is nearby. I chose to drive back to Wynnum to meet up with my mates who had run there that day so I can’t comment on this.

OVERALL 

Reflecting on this event, I must say that I found the course confusing. The backwards and forwards was a bit repetitive, however, the path along Tingalpa Creek is pretty. Even though few runners have gone under 17 minutes, I found it quite fast and enjoyed the run. The community spirit is great and the niche group that gathers there each week is really refreshing to see. I really need to get back there some time. The Gary rating for this event is a cool 8/10.