Facilities

This parkrun is located in the middle of the small town of Ballyclare in County Antrim. It is not accessible by public transport leaving car, bike or on foot as the remaining options for getting to this parkrun. There didn’t seem to be an abundance of parking available at this parkrun, so I would recommend cycling to this event, or for those that live close to the town centre, walking. There are no toilet or changing facilities at this parkrun.

Course

The course is entirely paved and is very flat. There are a few twists and turns on the four loop course, but nothing that would slow you down significantly, so this may be a good spot for a PB attempt. However, as it is a four loop course, you will likely encounter traffic as you run around, which may hinder your progress. The course is made up of one big loop, followed by three smaller loops. Be sure to pay attention to which lap you are on as it can get confusing when there are a lot of people on different laps. The park itself is very nice, with open lawns, mature trees, and a picturesque little river running through it.

Coffee

The official location for post run coffee is the nearby leisure centre, but unfortunately it was closed when I visited.

X Factor

Once again I was impressed by the quality and volume of runners attending this event. Given the numbers and density of events in Northern Ireland it shows the enduring appeal and popularity of parkrun.