10/08/2026
I've got confession everyone, I've not been posting the run report on social media and only on the website. Apparently a parkrun social media manager is supposed to do that! We have had some great reports too, apologies to those who didn't get the publicity they deserved.
Here is the report from Saturday the 10th.
"My family and I have been staying in Dungeness this weekend, which is a hamlet in Kent. Of course I wouldn't want to miss a parkrun, even when on holiday, so I decided on Folkestone which was the nearest option to where we were staying (roughly a 40 minute drive away).
As stated on the parkrun app description of this course, there is plenty of parking nearby. This is mostly metered parking or car parks - there is no free parking. We parked very close to the start line though, which was handy. There is also a toilet block nearby, a cafè and a kiosk. (The cafè and kiosk both open from 9am).
The sea was a glorious deep blue this morning, it was really sparkling in the early morning sunshine. I love a seafront parkrun and this one didn't disappoint. The Leas is a magnificent clifftop promenade, designed in the mid 1800s by Decimus Burton, who also worked on designing London Zoo and Kew Gardens. It's a fine example of Victorian design, including a bandstand and lots of greenery (giving welcome shade in today's heat). There is also a sensory and scented garden, which opened much later on, in 1991.
Julie gave the first timers' briefing today and asked where the tourists were from. There were visitors from Dean, Barton Upon Humber, Malton, Warwick, Southampton, Swansea, Nottingham, Worcester, Bath, Ashford and Burnley. Not forgetting Beverley of course (my hometown!) One woman was there to get the 'F' for her parkrun alphabet. I spoke to a man from Barton Upon Humber who was there to visit his granddaughter, and has only been running for three months but already has the parkrun bug!
Nick Hilditch ran his 300th parkrun at Folkestone today and his 400th in total. Well done, Nick! There were a fair few first timers today, too.
The run/walk started promptly at 9am after announcements were given by the run director, John. It was already in the early 20°cs at this point, so I don't think I was the only one to take it steadier than usual today. It's a picturesque course, covering two laps along the promenade. There were marshals at the turning points so people wouldn't get lost.
There were 513 finishers today, 79 of whom were first timers to Folkestone and 18 were completely their first ever parkrun. Incredibly 40 gained a new PB today - even in that scorching heat! 28 volunteered to make today possible - thank you.
Overall it was a very enjoyable course and I would definitely return. Thanks, Folkestone!
Sara - Beverley Westwood parkrun
thank you Sara for writing this great report!"
