Running in the aftermath of Storm Eunice! - Sutcliffe parkrun #24 - 19/02/22
- aqasanu
- Feb 16
- 2 min read
Monday brought a red weather warning from the Met Office, alerting us to the impending arrival of Storm Eunice. By Friday, Eunice had struck London with a vengeance, recording the fastest wind gusts in England at a staggering 122 miles per hour. The storm caused an estimated £350 million in damage and tragically claimed the lives of three individuals, including two from falling trees, along with widespread destruction in local parks. In response, many parkruns across London announced their closures on their websites and social media.
Despite the chaos, our research on Friday evening revealed that Sutcliffe parkrun in Eltham, less than 10k away, was planning to go ahead with their event. Without hesitation, we decided that Sutcliffe Park would be our destination. Early Saturday morning, we boarded a bus, ready for our parkrun adventure.
Although nowhere near Harrow in North London this area was previously known as Harrow Meadow and regularly became flooded. As part of a larger development of the area in 1937 it was opened as a 41 acres park named after one of the engineers of the project. Persistent flooding led to more comprehensive work including re-landscaping and the development of wetlands, a lake and a local nature reserve, now home to various plants, animals and birds. The park received the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2012, a testament to its beauty and maintenance.
Sutcliffe Park also houses the Sutcliffe Park Leisure Centre, complete with an athletics track and excellent indoor facilities. I eagerly stepped inside to warm up before heading out on what would be a chilly day.
A fantastic team of 25 volunteers marshalled the 204 brave participants who ventured out despite the weather. Among them was our friend Nick Sutcliffe, a regular at Burgess Parkrun. With Burgess closed due to the storm, Nick had opted for Sutcliffe as well, albeit with a different approach—he had run to the start! We couldn’t help but ask if he was related to the engineer who inspired the park’s name, but alas, he wasn’t. Nevertheless, sharing the experience with him was delightful, keeping a smile on my face throughout the run.
The course was designed as two large clockwise laps, and we were reassured that a thorough course check had been conducted. This was still a parkrun, not a park-steeple-chase, though we were advised to watch for debris left in Eunice’s wake.
The course was remarkably flat and largely free of obstacles, although scattered remnants of Eunice’s fury were visible in various parts of the park. Thanks to the vigilant marshals alerting us to potential hazards, we all completed the run safely.
After the event, Nick planned to run home, while we took the bus to New Cross for brunch at the wonderful Wakey Wakey coffee shop which I highly recommend - the sweet potato waffles with everything 🙂
Assuming no more record-breaking storms next week we look forward to our next adventure at Raphael parkrun, continuing in our LonDone challenge.
Happy running!
Visit us at www.nuhorizons.uk for more adventures!
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