The No.12 bus route - Dulwich parkrun #698 - 19/09/26

With Nisha, Josephine, Alex and Charles. Photo credit Alex.

This run report starts from Dulwich Library on Lordship Lane. The library is where the No. 12 bus route starts. It is also the starting point for Sandi Toksvig's entertaining autobiography, Between the Stops, an entertaining account of the author's life told by the No. 12 bus route. It’s packed with golden facts about Southwark.

Dulwich Library opened on 24 November 1897. It is an example of a Passmore Edwards library and is located at No. 368 Lordship Lane in East Dulwich. Photo credit; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulwich_Library

After disembarking at the library, I entered the park via the magnificent Court Lane Gate entrance, an English Heritage listed building. A path takes you directly to the start area, but I joined the main carriageway to start the course check this morning. As this event is an anti-clockwise 3-lap loop, the course check was significantly shorter than for a one-lap course. Halfway round the course, I met Alex, one of this year's Southwark Slammers and completed the course check with him.

Dulwich Park, photo credit; https://dulwichparkfriends.org.uk/the-park/map-of-the-park/

Alex was introduced to parkrun by the legendary Josephine Okaca back in June 2019. Initially, Alex volunteered as a parkrun photographer, one of many volunteer roles. He then started running and is now a member of the 100 Club and on the verge of becoming a Southwark Slammer. 

I reported to today’s Run Director, Pete, to confirm nothing more serious than a few twigs on the course. The numbers were swelling, the sun was rising; the scene was set for another great morning.

Pete gave the Run Director's briefing, reminding everyone that we don’t have the right of way and to respect other park users. Peter then shared the amazing milestones being achieved today;

Joining the 10 Club was - Lola Fayers Walker

Joining the 25 Club were - John Daniel, Stephen Tennant Humphreys, Dan Warner and Ana Mafalda Silva.  

Joining the 50 Club were - Sion Mattey, Rachel Everitt, Kaori Maeda, Susan Khan and Kylie Cameron

Joining the 100 Club were - Toby Gowan, Louise Ashwell, Vikki Hawkins, Kelly Accetta Crowe and David Cripps

Reaching the new 400 milestone was - Julian Day

Peter gave a shout-out to the Southwark Slammers and then we moved to the start area at the bottom of Queen Mary’s Gate entrance. 

At the bottom of Queen Mary's Gate entrance, the start and end of the course. Photo credit Josephine.

My daughter didn't like the newly installed safety bar on the buggy. It prevented her from assuming her usual sideways slouch position. Inconsolable after 5 mins, I had to take her out, and because she refused to walk, I had to put her on my shoulders.

Dulwich parkrun is the oldest of the parkruns in Southwark. Started in April 2012, it has grown from 161 to 707 participants today, marshalled by 29 volunteers. The oval course takes in the splendour of this Victorian park, designed by Charles Barry Jr., it includes a lake, a Clockhouse Cafe, and you pass the Three Perpetual Chords, sculptures designed by Conrad Shawcross. This is a beautiful location for a parkrun and an ideal destination if you’re looking to set a personal best (if you don’t have an almost 3-year-old on your shoulders).  

The Three Perpetual Chords designed by Conrad Shawcross. Photo credit; https://www.facebook.com/southwarkcouncil/posts/have-you-ever-spotted-these-sculptures-in-dulwich-parktitled-three-perpetual-cho/1237797311724235/

The first female finisher was - Agatha Blake

The first male finisher was - Joe Hallsworth from Dulwich Runners AC in a new personal best!

After 3k, my daughter agreed to return to her buggy, and I finished feeling more shattered than I had at any previous parkrun. 

At the end I was able to catch up with other Southwark Slammers. I thanked the volunteer team before embarking on the next mission: to reach Victoria Park, in East London, in time to catch my wife and friends running the annual Priderun 10k.

The Priderun 10k was its usual abundance of noise, celebration, and brightly clad runners. A huge congratulations to my wife and friends for a hard-earned medal and for showing our daughter that women and girls can do anything they put their minds to.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers at Dulwich parkrun, I was pleased to join your ranks. 

Next Saturday I’m back to Burgess parkrun for their 14th anniversary, and then to conclude this year’s Southwark Slam I’ll be heading to Southwark Junior parkrun on Sunday for the first time to volunteer. It will be a weekend of celebration for all things parkrun, for old and young alike, whether walking or running, rain or shine.  

Stay well and happy running, walking or volunteering. 

Happy running, walking, or volunteering.

www.nuhorizons.uk

You can learn more about how to volunteer in the park through Dulwich Park Friends by clicking here.

How parkrun began

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 became a Global Movement by clicking here.