Free, weekly and made for children aged four to 14, Elder Park junior parkrun is a cheerful way to get the family moving on a Sunday morning in Govan.
A heads-up first: the run this Sunday, 4 October, has been cancelled because of a shortage of volunteers, according to the event's official parkrun page. The next scheduled run is Sunday 11 October, and it's worth checking the page before you set off.
The basics
The junior parkrun is a 2km timed event that starts at 9.30am every Sunday at Elder Park, Langlands Road, G51 3TZ. It costs nothing. parkrun stresses that the aim is to have fun, whatever your pace.
Where to go
The start and finish are near the pond at the Govan Road end of the park. The route is two clockwise laps on flat tarmac paths, with marshals placed so that children are always in sight of one. There are no public toilets at the event.
Who can take part
Juniors aged four to 14 can run, jog or walk. Children under 11 must be accompanied to and from the event by a responsible adult, who must stay for the whole run. Adults don't have to take part, but they are welcome to run alongside their children.
Scooters, balance bikes, trikes and cycles aren't allowed. Buggies are permitted, conditions allowing, if the adult pushing is accompanying a junior runner. Dogs are not allowed, apart from assistance dogs. The event is open to disabled participants wherever it is safe for them to take part.
How to register
Registering is free and you only need to do it once, with parkrun, before your first run. You'll get a personal barcode: bring a scannable copy with you. parkrun operates a strict "no barcode, no result" policy, so if you forget it you won't get a time. If you lose it, you can request a reminder from the parkrun website.
Getting there
Buses 3, X19 and 34 run to Govan bus station, and the park is a short walk west along Govan Road from the Govan Underground and bus stations. Parking may be limited, with on-street spaces along Govan Road, Drive Road and Langlands Road, so arrive early or car-share.
The post-run coffee
Regulars head for a coffee after the run. According to parkrun's page, the meeting spot is Riverside Hall, 29-31 Clydebrae Street, G51 2AJ, and newcomers are invited to join in.
A good October Week warm-up
Glasgow schools break for October Week from Monday 12 to Friday 16 October, according to Glasgow City Council. Sundays 11 and 18 October bracket the holiday, which makes them handy dates for a first go.
Want to help?
Like every parkrun, this one is organised entirely by volunteers, and a shortage of them is behind this week's cancellation. If you'd like to lend a hand, email elderparkjuniors@parkrun.com.
