Oh my . . now that's what I call a parkrun!

Fountains Abbey in North Yorkshire . . one of those places you just have to visit. At least, I'm sure that's what my parents told me when they dragged me round the grounds of this enormous ruin, sometime in the 60s (here's a photo of us at nearby Rievaulx Abbey in 1963).

It's probably also what I told my 11 year old daughter in the summer of 2000, when I dragged her round with me. Ness had found the caves at Stump Cross much more interesting, but I had some fun. By the time I visited Fountains Abbey in 2000, I'd been running for several years, but I didn't have the vision to see the potential for a run with my friends that was right there before me.

Fast forward to 2013 and the National Trust, which was already hosting several parkruns in England and Wales, got together with the local parkrun community in North Yorkshire to plan a parkrun in the Abbey grounds. And on Saturday 1st March 2014, after a lot of hard work by everyone involved I'm sure, 375 runners turned up from all points of the compass, to take part in the first ever Fountains Abbey parkrun.

thanks to Megan for this and the two photos below

In the final few days preceding the big day there had been worries that there might be fog, or ice, which might prolong our journeys or even postpone the event. But of course the parkrun weather window was in position in plenty of time, and there was neither fog nor ice. Nor was there rain or wind, and for much of the morning the sun shone down on the valley of the River Skell.

Because there were so many of us all arriving at approximately the same time it took a while for the final few to park, and with the start being a 10 minute walk away, it was decided to delay the parkrun by 15 minutes. So if you're planning to visit Fountains Abbey parkrun, please bear in mind that it's no good rocking up at 5 to 9!

The 15 minute delay was great though, because it allowed us to spend more time gazing around in awe at our surroundings, to warm up for a little longer, to find familiar faces amongst the many parkrunners, and take more photographs, as many of us were.

thanks to Megan for this and the two photos above

Fountains Abbey parkrun consists of two laps, one shorter one around the Abbey complex, and a longer one that takes us around the Georgian Water Garden, at the furthest end of which we cross a narrow bridge, upon which we had been urged before the run, not to stop, and we didn't! The footpath is a good smooth surface, and although there are no hills, there are one or two lumps to overcome. The volunteers were great, really encouraging and friendly (although my friends at Ashton Court will be disappointed that I didn't stop to hug any of them).

thanks to Sarah for this photo - one of the many great photos she took of this parkrun

All parkruns are special. I've taken part in several, at a few different locations, and I know that they all have their own unique characteristics. But once Fountains Abbey parkrun was underway, it was immediately obvious that it is more than special, and always will be.

It's easy for me, running closer to the back of the pack than the front, to say so, but this is a run to savour, to hold your head up and look around and take it all in. I've no doubt that the first person to run 100 parkruns at Fountains Abbey will have noticed something new every time. There is simply so much to see. Not just the Abbey itself, which must have been a huge building 500 years ago, when it was still in use. How did our ancestors build these huge buildings? How did they get the stone down into the valley, and who had the imagination, the vision and the courage to design and build such a building? Takes your breath away just thinking about it.

thanks to Sarah for this photo - another of the many great photos she took of this parkrun

And beyond the Abbey itself, the swans sailing unhurriedly across the lake. The line of runners snaking along the footpath up ahead, their many coloured clothing reflected below them in the Lake. The beautiful trees, the spring flowers. And the people from the National Trust joining in with the other supporters and cheering us on. And after this magnificent parkrun, what a great coffee shop to round it all off.

I can't wait to get back there at Easter!

Thanks to all the volunteers and everyone else who make Fountains Abbey parkrun happen. In case you hadn't heard, Fountains Abbey was founded in 1132 and was in use by the Cistercians until 1539 when Henry VIII suppressed the monasteries. It's a Grade 1 listed building, which is owned by the National Trust and together with Studley Royal Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's the only one of those with a parkrun. I've put some links over there on the right, if you'd like to learn more . .