Southwark Slam pt1+ The Big Half weekend! - Southwark parkrun #539 - 06/09/25

This week's Run Director was Maddie. Photo credit Charles Martin.

The Big Half organised by London Marathon Events, is a half-marathon starting at Tower Bridge and largely following the iconic London Marathon route in reverse. It finishes in Greenwich by the Cutty Sark. Since its inception in 2018, its popularity has continued to rise, making it a beacon in the running calendar that attracts professional and regular runners from far and wide. In 2019 I remember running with Sir Mo Farah in the field; I didn’t beat him 🙂

Southwark parkrun takes place in Southwark Park, which the Big Half goes past. Today it attracted lots of visitors using it to do a shakeout run before the main event on Sunday or perhaps they were all there for the Southwark Slam 2025 🙂This year in attendance was Russ Cook aka ’'the hardest Geezer', and a host of other people from as far away as Tasmania! This included Alison from Scotland with 12 parkrun country flags to her name, to do her shake-out run.

In the middle Alison who had travelled down from Scotland to complete the Big half on Sunday. Photo credit Charles Martin.

I love doing the Southwark Slam as it’s an opportunity to connect with other people from the South East London running community. The volunteer team at Southwark parkrun is a particularly friendly and welcoming bunch. It includes Tony Wilson. Tony is a seasoned parkrunner with 271 volunteer credits over 21 different roles. Arguably, he’s best known for his photography. Tony’s photography skills are now legendary at Southwark parkrun and other London running events. 

Tony Wilson, with 271 volunteer credits and 15 parkrun flags, 's a true parkrun tourist photographing hero. Photo credit, Tony Wilson.

This week’s run director was Maddie, who gave a passionate and rousing address emphasising the need and importance of people to volunteer. This was met with a round of applause. She handed over to the timekeepers, counted us down, and then we were off. 

The Southwark parkrun course starts on grass and then there are three anti-clockwise laps on wide paths which take you past the lake, cafe and running track before finishing on the grass close to where it all started.

Following a few weeks of attending parkrun but not being able to run, I had a bit of intrepidation; however, as we set off, I was absorbed into the field of 582 fellow participants and the volunteer team cheering us on. Boy, did it feel good to be back running again. 

At the end, I got talking to Paul Groves, proudly in his 500 club shirt.  Paul was here doing a spot of tourism (606 parkrun today) and writing his 98th consecutive parkrun run report! You can read Paul’s run report by clicking here. It contains a great piece on Joshua Cheptegei, the Ugandan running sensation and current 5k world record holder.

Paul was completing his 606th parkrun. Photo credit Paul Groves.

With the run done and all Southwark Slammers accounted for, it was time to hit the cafe with adrenaline and endorphins flowing through me. The first part of the 2025 Southwark Slam had been completed; just 5 more events to go.

Next weekend I’m to revisit Peckham Rye parkrun on Saturday and a first attendance at Peckham Rye junior parkrun on Sunday.  

Stay safe, happy running or walking, rain or shine.

www.nuhorizons.uk

The order of events for the Southwark Slam 2025 is;

Southwark parkrun - Saturday 06/09/25 (their anniversary event)

Peckham Rye parkrun - Saturday - 13/09/25 

Peckham Rye junior parkrun - Sunday - 14/09/25

Dulwich parkrun - Saturday - 20/09/25

Burgess parkrun - Saturday - 27/09/25 (this will be their anniversary event

Burgess junior parkrun - Sunday - 28/09/25

You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book ‘One Small Step’ The Definitive Account of how a run become a Global Movement by clicking here

Me running the Big Half in 2024. Photo credit Tony Wilson.