Downs Links parkrun, Shoreham

Last parkrunday I visited Downs Link parkrun in Shoreham by Sea, West Sussex for the first time. It was my third seaside parkrun in a row, after Highcliffe Beach parkrun and Bay East Garden parkrun on the two previous weeks. Quite a trend, I think I am unconsciously trying to hold on to the last vestiges of summer. And consciously, I am trying to catch some of these venues before the weather turn too miserable. This week, the last attempt was not fully successful. It was not cold, but it was very windy and quite cloudy and gloomy.

While all (more or less) on the coast, these 3 events could not be more different. Singapore is obviously a tropical location, with views on the scenic Marina Bay buildings. Highcliffe Beach is a wonderful run down the cliffs and along the sea. While Downs Link gets you to park near the sea and then run away from it.

I visited Downs Link for its 51st event. Quite late, considering how I usually try to catch new events in the South East to complete my Golden Wilson Index and I am currently going through the low 20s. I had been considering this event many times, especially when it was in its teens, but never came. What kept me away from it? Probably its slightly awkward parking arrangements. The event site recommends a car park 20 minutes walk away from the meeting place and that means getting there well in advance. It breaks my pre-parkrun routine a bit and that’s probably why I kept procrastinating.

But here we are, 51 got me the missing number on a short Wilson Index streak in the low 50s and I’ve been selecting coastal venues while the weather is still decent, so why not just go for it and see how far the car park really was! This also ticks one further location in West Sussex for my parkrun regionnaire work in progress, bringing my West Sussex tally to 50% or 60 out 12 events.

Anyway, enough with my rumblings. It’s time to dive into some more info about Downs Link parkrun, Shoreham by Sea.

Trip to Downs Link parkrun and parking

The event starts on the outskirts of Shoreham by Sea, a costal town on the West Sussex coast, in the South East. Not far from Brighton, if you are not familiar with the area. The harbour town borders with the river Adur’s estuary to its West and this will be the area where Downs Link parkrun take place. Meeting point and event will both be on the Downs Link path, a 36.7m traffic free trail that connects the North Downs Way in Surrey with the South Downs Way on the coast.

The meeting point and start line are under the A27-Shoreham motorway bypass. Nice parallel with Bay East Garden parkrun from 2 weeks ago, which also started under a bridge. Very different weather though! The bypass is about 1 mile down the Downs Link path, starting from the edges of Shoreham’s town centre.

According to the official event site, the closest station is Shoreham-by-Sea. The station is managed by Southern, with connections to Brighton, Southampton Portsmouth and London Victoria. Once you reach the station, you will be 1.2 miles or 25 minutes walk away from Downs Link parkrun meeting point. I have tested public transport from my base in Wimbledon to the event using Citymapper and reaching it by 8am on a parkrunday would mean leaving home at 5:40. This would allow a 2h public transport trip to reach London Victoria, get a train to Brighton and then connect to another coastal train going to Shoreham. Then 25 minutes walk to the meeting point.

Unsurprisingly, I opted for a drive down. It is a fairly smooth drive, mostly on motorways until the bypass under which the event starts. Leaving it behind to reach the recommended car park was quite sad, because the drive was kind of long. I noticed a decent amount of roadside free parking spots while heading to the car park, so if I ever come back, I will probably go for one of those.

The event team recommends to park at the Adur Recreation Ground car park. It is free and on the other side of the river opposite to the bank where the path and meeting points are. This is where the postcode above will lead you. Once you get there, you need to cross the windy bridge and turn left along the banks of the Adur. After 20 minutes walk, you will reach Downs Link parkrun meeting point.

Downs Link parkrun: start and briefings

Whether you went to recommended car park, park alongside the road or arrived at the train station, you will approach the meeting point walking along the Downs Link trail facing North. As you reach the flyover, the path narrows and slightly moves away from the river and you will then immediately see the meeting point.

The meeting point is in a large clearing under the flyover. It is wide and long enough to accommodate large numbers, with a slope to the river bank and nice views on the Lancing College Chapel on the other side of the river. As the RD said, the clearing under the flyover acts as a wind tunnel, it was a windy day, but significantly worse under the bridge. When announcement were made, unless you were downwind, understanding what was being said was very difficult.

When time came, the First TIme Briefing was called on a raised area closer to the river bank and delivered to a small group of tourists without audio aids. The route is not difficult to explain, so it was mostly about collecting milestones and tourist locations.

Slightly later than 9am, everyone walked onto the wide path area of the clearing and faced North. While ready on the start line, the Main Briefing was delivered. To be honest, I could hear very little. But I heard the RD starting the countdown.

Here it was. 3, 2, 1.

Time to go!

Downs Link parkrun course review – star ratings

Downs Link parkrun course review – route highlights

There were 261 parkrunners on the day of my visit to Downs Link parkrun. This is a on the higher end of the field sizes this event has been seeing over its first year. In general attendance seems to hover around 200, with a few weeks 10/20 below that and many weeks in the 220-250 range. The recent peak was 347 at the beginning of August, probably benefiting from nearby holidaymakers. Wherever the daily showing sits within the range, this event can deal with it. The start area is sizeable and the path can consistently accomodate 5 people next to each other.

There are no real bottlenecks along the route. As a traditional out and back, you will need to turn around 180-degrees around a cone at the end. The turnaround point is also at the bottom of a small downhill, making it just slightly harder than a traditional one. Also, the path is wide, but eventually you will experience two-way flow. This might make overtaking a bit harder if two large groups cross paths at the same time, but it won’t happen often.

Surface is consistently hard paths. On the day of my visit it was clear and dry and I had no issues running the event wearing road shoes. There is also greenery on both sides of the path, shielding you from the wind that was so prevalent at the meeting point or on the walk towards it. The run is fairly easy and comfortable. However, I do think in winter this surface could become a bit muddy, but not horrendously so.

Elevation-wise, at 14m elevation gain over one out and back route, we are looking at a flat event. There is a small bump at the turnaround point and than some barely noticeable changes of elevation along the route. The chart below shows a big drop at the end, but look at the scale: it is fairly meaningless. This is a flat course.

In terms of scenic value, there are some nice views on the estuary when walking to the meeting point and a nice view across the river from the meeting point. However, the run is fairly sheltered on a long, straight. Not much to see around here besides the trees on both sides of the path. Views open up onto the river again at the turnaround point, but you’ll barely catch a glimpse of it!

The course is very simple, it is a flat, mostly straight, single lap out and back.

A quick Relive route plot is on my YouTube Channel, with longer video highlights embedded below.

As you start, you quickly leave the bridge behind you and start being on the surroundings that will keep you company for the whole event. Vegetation on both sides, with the path moving away from the river. The path is fairly wide, but at the least at the start, it will feel quite lively.

The first kilometre is nearly perfectly straight. Then, after passing by a volunteer, you start encountering a few wide, gentle turns to following a slightly more winding path. You will pass a couple of picnic areas and minor mounds to climb and get down from.

After 2.5k, you will reach the turnaround point. This comes after a few under metres under mature trees and at the bottom of a slight incline. Get down and take the tight 180-degrees turn. On your left, you will see the river for the first time since the start. Quite a nice view, but it will quickly be behind you. Climb back up and you are again on the flat path.

Now you run the same route in the opposite direction, keeping left to allow people still going towards the turnaround point to have half of the path. As you get closer to the flyover, you know the finish funnel is not far and then you start seeing it. The straight leading to it is long, so pace yourself knowing where you can start sprinting. Eventually you reach it: lean left under the bridge and the finish funnel will be there waiting for you.

Congratulations on completing Downs Link parkrun!

Facilities at Downs Link parkrun

There are no facilities in the immediate area where Downs Link parkrun has its tart and finish lines.

At Downs Link parkrun I ordered a San Pellegrino lemonade, a slice of lemon and raspberry cake and a single espresso. It was good and cost only £6.5. Decent option, but you will make your walk back longer and there is no covered area in case it’s raining or very windy.

Downs Link parkrun, Shoreham by Sea: Video Highlights

As usual, I’ve taken a few video snippets during the run to give an idea of the course. If you like it, please subscribe, it’s a fun past time for me 🙂

The other parkrun videos on my YouTube channel are all linked on the course review and video highlights summary page.

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Achievements and performance

Conclusions

Downs Link parkrun runs away from the coast. It is a nice rural path, not a seaside event. The run is quite pleasant and the sweeping views on the estuary are nice. Good for a gloomy, brooding romantic mood with the weather I had, probably bright and clear in summer.

The run is easy and pleasant, with little distractions along the route except the odd cyclist using the path. It’s a nice local event and definitely worth coming to if you are in the area. Not a destination event for a tourist though, unless you are a psycho completionist like me.

Finally, obviously, thank you, Downs Link parkrun team for your hospitality!