Chester parkrun

Chester parkrun is on every Saturday morning at Countess of Chester Country Park, a free 5k that's open to everyone. It's part of the global parkrun network, which means it's community-run and put on every week by volunteers. You can walk, jog, run, volunteer or just come along to spectate, and it doesn't matter what your pace is.

The course itself takes you on a small clockwise circuit of the lower part of the park, followed by two anticlockwise laps of the top. It's a mix of tarmac and trail paths, so be aware they can get muddy, leafy and puddled after rain. Along the way you'll pass the Rangers hut, which houses an AED, and the monkey bars. If you're keeping track of your times, Age Grading lets you compare your result with others in your age group and follow your own progress over time. Dogs are welcome one at a time on a short handheld lead, and pushchairs are permitted too.

Registration is free but you need to do it before your first time, and you'll need to bring a scannable barcode to get a result. After the run, the crew gather for a post-parkrun coffee at the Little Owl Pub on Cousens Way, which opens specifically for them at 9:30am. The run starts at 9:00am every Saturday at Countess of Chester Country Park, Valley Drive, Chester, CH2 1UL, and it's free to enter.