Burgess to Battersea (B2B) - Battersea Junior parkrun #51 - 22/06/25
- aqasanu
- Jun 27
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 27
On Saturday at my home parkrun, I spoke to Claire, who was volunteering. She mentioned that she is also one of the Run Directors for Battersea Junior parkrun. She invited me to come along and experience the magic they’ve created. One of my goals this year is to visit 12 different parkruns, and Junior events are very much included in this. Claire took my details and put me on the roster #parkruntourism here we come!
Junior parkrun takes place on Sunday mornings at 0900. These events are 2k in distance and participants have to be aged 4 to 14 years old. However, anyone can volunteer, which counts towards your total volunteer credits/milestones.
When I arrived, I wasn’t the only one from Burgess parkrun Stefan and Kate Ledan were also there too making up the 28-strong volunteer team.
Battersea Park, nestled along the River Thames, has been a wonderful green oasis in London since its opening in 1858. Originally designed as a pleasure garden with over 200 acres of landscaped gardens, sports facilities and scenic views. With a boating lake, tennis courts, and a Go Ape it is also a mecca for runners, boasting a running track, many paid running events, a parkrun on Saturday, and since May 2024 a Junior parkrun.
It is a flat two-lap clockwise course starting in front of the Hut near the corner of the All Weather Sports Ground. Today was event 51, and despite the warm weather, 91 young people were on the start line, 16 of whom were first timers.
Junior parkrun is a run, not a race, and I was heartened by the fun all the participants appeared to be having. Some running at breakneck speed, and others stopping to pick flowers or gaze at the shadows caused by tree branches.
Jack, a member of the Junior half marathon club, led everyone around in an eye-watering 6min 56sec effort. With Barnaby closing out the event in 19mins 11secs, with everybody in between a winner too. It was wonderful to see the joy on the faces of all the finishers, with them laughing and cartwheeling, bristling with the energy to do it all again, which they’ll be able to do next week at Battersea or other Junior parkrun events.
Claire had said they’d made some magic, and I experienced it. With the event close down completed and goodbyes said, I set off to conclude my Sunday long run with a smile on my face, a spring in my step. A weekend parkrun double to remember.
Happy parkrun
Great account of getting lids into running!