Pints & Parkruns: Darlington South Park

A 5k run might not be an obvious hen party activity. But that didn’t deter a hardy troupe from trotting around Darlington South as a sunny summer morning heated up.

It was one of those “seemed like a good idea” things: a keen runner in the group planned to go on her own, the others thought “why not?” and suddenly the bride to be, complete with veil, was tackling three laps of South Park. And coping admirably.

Maybe it’s part of parkrun as metaphor for (married) life. There’s a fair amount of common ground: at its best, you have support, companionship and someone helping you to be a better version of yourself. Whether we’re talking fitness or family, all of that sounds good. On the flip side, though, there are uphill sections: the climb you dashed up at the start, full of enthusiasm, can feel like a real drain on a second or third iteration. Pushing through the laps brings both reassuring familiarity and an occasional sense of wanting something else. So, yes, not entirely removed from the ups and downs of family life.

Darlington South Park offers plenty of scope to ponder this. It’s three laps around the northeast’s oldest public park, starting amid the flower beds beside the clocktower, taking in a chunk of local history and circling the lake before plunging into the shady river embankment and braving the short, sharp shock of squirrel hill.

Along the way, you go past a stretch of track salvaged from the original Stockton & Darlington Railway (another stretch of that 200-year-old historic line is now part of nearby Hackworth parkrun in Shildon). Just after the start, it’s easy to power past like an express; on the third circuit there’s rather more puffing and spluttering going on. There might be a squawk of a parrot from the aviaries and a round of encouraging applause from the fitness boot camp on the nearby lawn. Beside the bandstand, another fitness trainer stretches his victims to the strains of “Thunderstruck” while a marshal counts down the passing seconds to keep you on pace for this week’s target.

But the hard yards are coming. The leafy river Skerne embankment is a shaded spot in summer, but can be muddy in rainier times. And, at the end, comes the course’s test. Squirrel Hill (named for the carved creature on the bank) isn’t long, but it’s steep. And, coming towards the end of each lap, it feels disproportionately draining. You’ll likely hear cries of “right, right!” to warn of speedsters approaching from behind. Although it’s only about a 5-metre climb, it feels harder than most.

Fear not. It’s a brief interlude. The closing straight is fast and flat. Buoyed by the end, a final sprint is entirely achievable. Through challenges to the finish: how’s that for a hen party metaphor for parkrun and life.

Practicalities: This is on paved paths, so will be fine for road shoes. Toilets and a cafe are available near the start and there is on-street parking outside. However, since this is a popular parkrun, it can be busy getting in and out, especially if you arrive close to start time.

The pint

Darlington has strong Quaker traditions, although the teetotalism that might imply is not particularly noticeable most weekends. The town centre has a lively circle of bars for all tastes but, at present, no brewery of its own. The nearest is just up the road in Newton Aycliffe, where Steam Machine has been in operation since 2015. Born of an obsession, it’s still a family business at heart – but one that’s has grown into a decent sized brewshop with a popular tap room and space for street food and live music. With a core range that ticks most boxes, plus an ever-changing and intriguing range of specials, it’s a solid option for a Friday-night pre-parkrun visit, or a Saturday afternoon visit to toast a job well done. I’ll confess an affection for Tipsy in Tennessee, a hefty 11% impy stout aged in bourbon wine barrels, but would add that it’s not exactly a refreshing summer tipple!

First visit: Aug. 2024. PB 25:49

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