Pollok Park Trail Races – race brief

Pollok Park Trail Race – runners brief

Race registration

The race registration and start are just by Pollok House. Please bear this in mind when getting to registration and the start.

Google map

What Three Words – ///scan.fails.falls

Car parking is available within the park at Burrell Collection and the Riverside Car park adjacent to Pollok House. Free parking for NTS members is currently suspended at Pollok House whilst refurbishment is undertaken. Both car parks are Pay & Display using the RingGo app.

The nearest train stations to the start line are Corkerhill or Pollokshaws West . The park is served by multiple bus routes. Check Traveline or Google for details.

Event registration starts at 9.00am and closes at 9.45am. Please don’t be late, registrations marshals will be redeployed to other duties.

The race is chip timed. Timing bands will be issued at registration and must be returned on completion of your event.

Race start

The races will start at 10.00. Both races will start at the same time.

Route

The route, it has to be said, is fantastic. You may have raced in Pollok Park before. There’s plenty others – Brian Goodwin, Bella Belter, Bellahouston 10k, and Pollok parkrun just for starters. However, you will never have raced a route like this. The closest you will get is our own South By Five!

Starting near the Pollok House, the route starts on tarmac(!) and heads downhill(!), clearly something wrong with Alex. Then once the field has spread out a bit, it gets interesting. Up the hill onto the rhododendron trail. We promise some mud here! And the flowers are all starting to bloom! Should be beautiful.

A wee tarmac stretch before crossing the meadow and the wee wooden bridge. Traverse the woodland picking your own route through the trees, before turning right onto the long straight lime tree avenue, Another tarmac stretch as we head towards the Burrell Collection and a road crossing. Be careful and heed the marshal (time penalties may be applied for ignoring instructions!). Another wee hill, and left across the path that winds through the new memorial woodland.

We’ll then wind through the North Wood and down to the glade. 5k runners will head back over the hill to Pollok House for a great down hill finish. 10k runners will commence a second lap.

It’s great. Multiple types of terrain, multiple types of fun!

Save your swear words for the race director at the finish line. We’re sure there will be some curses on the way round! In the interim, smile, say “thanks” and give the volunteer team your best gratitude on the way round. Without them, there would be no race.

Race Finish

Once you have crossed the line, marshals will be on hand to help remove your timing tag, and point you towards the refreshments and merch collection point.

Race results

Results will be chip timed, and available to view after the race. Likely to be on the website same day, but we do have a course to deconstruct first. All the marking that will help you not get lost will be required to be uplifted again.

Race signage

Leading nicely on…. The course will be marked in multiple ways.

First and foremost, you will have our amazing hi-viz heroes to guide you along at the main intersections. Don’t forget these folks have given up their morning to facilitate your run.

Interspersed between the marshals will be mix of hi-viz signage both large arrows, and small ones at ground height.  Will be great if we all look after each other. A wee shout, if necessary to put someone back on track is the sort of runner we should all aspire to be.

Hi-viz heroes

These amazing folks have given up their Sunday morning so you can race. Show them how grateful you are. A smile, a wave, a thumbs up, a wee gasped thanks – all these things are appreciated by these people. Without them there is no event.

Abuse of any marshal will not be tolerated. The hi-viz heroes have the full backing and authority of the race director.

First Aid

First Aid will be available from trained staff. Minor bumps and grazes can be fixed by some marshals on the route. A fully qualified medic will be available.

Water

There will be water available on the route. Water will be available at the finish. The forecast is Scottish. Please bear this in mind and consider bringing your own as well.

Bag drop

A bag drop will be available at the finish/start. It’s not a huge thing. Don’t bring a massive bag. All gear is left at owners’ risk.

Thanks

Lastly, and once again thank you for entering an Acorn Trails event. We hope you have a pleasant journey and enjoy your stay in Pollok Park. We look forward to welcoming you back for a future Acorn Trails event.