Bushy Dublin parkrun
Dublin Parkrun Adventure – Saturday 26th July
Bushy Dublin Parkrun – Event #351
Report by Sarah Jane Whalen
Both myself and Gerry Gallacher took on the Bushy Dublin Parkrun, event number 351. The park was about 6 miles from our hotel, making for a pleasant journey to start our running adventure!
The Course
The course consists of two loops of Bushy Park Terenure. Starting from a busy, narrow path, after running approximately 1 kilometre you enter two laps of the park that are run anti-clockwise, making up 3 kilometres of the total course.
The route follows the park pond, where there’s plenty of wildlife to enjoy – swans, ducks and other birds. This was Gerry’s last parkrun in the VM45-49 age category before moving to VM50, so it held special significance. Gerry’s finish time was 23:39, though it could have been possibly faster if we had lined up further forward at the start.
Race Day Experience
The conditions were perfect for running – dry with slightly overcast skies and a comfortable temperature of 14 degrees. The start was tight and congested, and it probably took about a kilometre to break free from other runners. The course featured a small off-road section, but overall it was a great event with a very friendly atmosphere.
There were 217 participants at the event. The first runner over the line was Cian Buckley in 18:35, with the first female being Rachel Calvey in 20:46.
Course Characteristics
The course is quite twisty with some sharp turns and features a challenging elevation profile with a 10-meter climb from the lowest point at 44m to the highest at 54m. While probably not ideal for achieving a personal best due to the hills and turns, it’s definitely a great, friendly event with enthusiastic team and participants.
Results
**Our finish times:**
– Gerry: 23:39 (VM 45-49 age category, 61-87% age grade) – Parkrun #103
– Sarah Jane: 27:28 (VW 50-54 age category, 61-77% age grade) – Parkrun #199
Both runners proudly represented GGH in their club colors throughout the scenic Dublin course.
Post-Race Celebrations
The rest of the day was spent exploring the Temple Bar area in Dublin, where Gerry celebrated his 50th birthday – a perfect way to mark the milestone!
Travel Tip
Note: Parkrun Ireland events all start at 9:30 AM, the same as Scotland.*
A fantastic weekend combining running, sightseeing, and celebration – exactly what parkrun tourism is all about!*
