South Park Virtual Running Route

Follow this link for an introduction to Virtual Running Routes.

Location

The Start is in South Park, Darlington, at the tall metal mast about 80m east of the gate near the roundabout at the junction between Parkside and Lakeside.

Click on the link to see a map.  You can zoom in (and, optionally, switch to Satellite mode) to see the details of the final approach to the event.  You can also get directions if you put in your starting location.

You should be able to park on either Parkside or Lakeside.

The Route

In the MapRunF app, Select Event and navigate to UK / County Durham / Darlington / South Park VTC Medium.

You can also view a printable image of the route map.

Terrain

South Park consists of varied suburban parkland divided by a small river.  There are several buildings and a large lake in the main part of the park.  An underpass connects to a more open area south of Parkside.

The route takes you around South Park and out into the quiet residential areas to the south-east.

Please note that while the map of the main part of South Park is a conventional map, a satellite image from Google Earth has been used to extend the map into the southern section of the park (accessed via the underpass) and the residential areas.  Please have a look at this map image before taking the challenge.  It is also worth noting that there are some "off the edge of the map" route options at the eastern edge of the map.

Also, please make sure that you do not go close to the Finish until you have visited all the checkpoints.  If the MapRunF app thinks you've been to the Finish it assumes that you've completed your run and it won't register any more visits to checkpoints.

Measured along straight lines between the checkpoints, the route is 5.2 km.  However, unless you can leap over tall buildings (and a lake) in a single bound, you'll actually run about 20% - 40% further than that.

Results

You can access the results via the MapRun Console.  Open the menu (three horizontal lines at the top left hand corner of the window), select Leader Board and then filter by Darlington.

Facilities

The public toilets near the South Park cafe may be open, but it would probably be safer to make other arrangements on your way to the park.  There are customer toilets in Sainsbury's, which is about 1.5 km north of the Start.

Safety

Please:-

• Use a "buddy system" so that someone knows where you've gone and when you should return.
• Wear high visibility / reflective clothing (e.g. a high-viz vest, reflective armbands or something similar) if you're running after dark or in gloomy conditions.
• Be courteous to other people in the area.
• Comply with Government guidance on social distancing.
• Take care crossing roads.

Anyone under 16 years old should only do this Virtual Running Route if accompanied by an adult.

Any questions?

Contact Caroline Mackenzie via 07973-870529.

Go to the CLOK home page