New Welsh parkrun in Swansea Valley

*The above photo including the bench is of the Tri Hard Harriers runners at the opening event, and is courtesy of Mike Roderick. The article author David Gibson is shown in a black top in the centre at the rear.

New Welsh parkrun in Swansea Valley

Report by David Gibson.

https://donhaleblog.blogspot.com

www.welshmastersathletics.co.uk

The popularity of parkruns seems unbounded. With the flat and scenic Swansea Bay parkrun now often getting 500 participants, and sometimes going over 600, a new Welsh parkrun in the Swansea Valley is very welcome.  

For parkrun tourists, the recent YouTube video about the Swansea Bay Parkrun and local sights by Harry Morgan of Jogon is well worth a watch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MczE96cE9iQ

 

On 28th April, the Cycle Route 43, Ystalyfera parkrun ran its first event attracting 210 runners and walkers, including at least four who had run the London Marathon on the previous Sunday. 43 different clubs were represented and there were 26 volunteers. 

 

Experienced parkrun organisers and volunteers from nearby Swansea Bay and Sandy Water were on hand to assist in ensuring the first event went off smoothly.

 

The new route is a simple out and back along the cycle track and is tarmac throughout. The grade is slightly downhill going out and therefore slightly uphill on the return. The Route 43, Ystalyfera The parkrun website is at https://www.parkrun.org.uk/cycleroute43ystalyfera/

*The above photo is taken from the Kay Rogers (Run leader with BRF (beyond running fitness) Running Club, and run leader of the year 2023, as voted for by Welsh Athletics) article on the first event - https://www.parkrun.org.uk/cycleroute43ystalyfera/news/2024/04/28/45/

Ystalyfera is a former industrial village and community in the upper Swansea Valley on the river Tawe. It is approximately 13 miles northeast of Swansea and has Brynaman, as the next nearest parkrun. 

 

The core team wanted to have the parkrun named after Ystalyfera, but more is the pity, the UK parkrun organisation insisted upon Cycle Route 43, Ystalyfera as the new parkrun name as they did not want alphabet chasers for the letter Y in the parkrun alphabet inundating this area!

 

*It is understood that there are another three new parkruns planned for Wales at some point.