Phoenix Park

spaceylou

Apologies if this was asked (and answered) before but I did a search and couldn't find what I was looking for.

I've heard a lot of dublin based boardsies say they run in the park but I've never tried it cause I don't live very near it but I am trying to find new places to run to avoid boredom. I don't know the park at all! So if anyone can help me with a couple of questions I would much appreciate it.

1. Are there dedicated running paths? The website had a map of cycle tracks but no mention of running/jogging.

2. Where is the best place to park and is it relatively safe? In fact in general is it safe, I am conscious that in the next month or so evenings are going to start getting shorter.

3. Where do people normally run, what are some good routes and roughly what distances can you do without repeating too much of the same loop?

Thanks in advance

RayCun

I don't know what it's like in winter, but these days the park is full of runners and cyclists so I'd say it's very safe. You could park at the papal cross car park. There aren't any dedicated running paths, just the normal paths, and between all the different loops you could do it will take a while to get bored. A bunch of routes have been mapped here.

spaceylou

Thanks for that link RayCun.

When I say I don't know the park, I mean I really don't know the park! Is the papal cross carpark easy to find? And does it matter what entrance you use to get to it?

RayCun

There's a roundabout right in the middle of the park, on the main road. The car park is off one exit from the roundabout. It's right where it says 'Phoenix Park' on this map.
Which direction are you coming from? I'm not sure what the story is with blocked and one-way roads...

RacoonQueen

It would probably be easier to park along chesterfield avenue - the main road through the park and run from there. I've never run there on a winters evening but A few on here run along the main road in the dark so it seems fairly safe.

Woddle

5,10 and half mile routes here
http://dublinmarathon.ie/race_series.php

I plan to run there every Sunday morning except this weekend, shels and figs are probably on board aswell, we did it Sunday gone and next one will be the 29th, more than welcome to run with.
Also when you look at the maps you can park anywhere along the main road of chesterfield ave.

RayCun

mrslow is planning regular runs there too - perhaps an easier pace than woddle, shels and figs

jcsmum

Running up and down Chesterfield avenue would be very safe. I think that the road/loop heading over from Chesterfield Ave over to the Ashtown Gate entrance and around the back of the zoo is safer than the other side. I ran up military road recently and I was the only person around.
There are maps of the park on the adidas race series website, just to give you and idea of where we are talking about.

tunney

RayCun wrote: »

I don't know what it's like in winter, but these days the park is full of runners and cyclists so I'd say it's very safe. You could park at the papal cross car park. There aren't any dedicated running paths, just the normal paths, and between all the different loops you could do it will take a while to get bored. A bunch of routes have been mapped here.

If you run in the park in winter when its dark be prepared for two things:
1)deer all over the place on the roads (albeit this is after 10pm and before 6am)
2)men coming out of bushes when they hear footsteps - lords knows what they were doing

Oh and you probably need a head lamp.

nomadic

tunney wrote: »

2)men coming out of bushes when they hear footsteps - lords knows what they were doing

Bloody rent boys. The furry glen is crawling with the feckers.

tunney

nomadic wrote: »

Bloody rent boys. The furry glen is crawling with the feckers.

I didn't know that until this year. Got the bloody fright of my life.

onimpulse

The Park is very safe during daylight... I run there all the time - Weekend mornings lately are particularly busy everywhere in the park - not just on the main roads. I like to divert off along the trails by the outside walls and I'm rarely alone... there's always other runners around somewhere. I actually find the paths very busy with walkers, dogs, kids etc & a bit annoying - I prefer the quieter trails.

Evenings are busy enough too - esp if the weather is fine which it has been a lot lately. It's literally full of people until dusk.

Personally I don't run there on my own after dark... I have run with a group after dark without any problems - this was when I learnt about the Fury glen too... :-)I know some guys that run on their own after dark along the main road but I wouldn't recommend it for girls.

figs

^ Would agree with onimpulse. Park generally a very safe place to run during daylight hours. Wouldn't be bothered after dark. Probably a slim risk of anything occuring, but some areas can be very quiet, and possibly risky with some strange characters hanging around...

There's a good 6 mile route around the perimeter. Park anywhere on Chesterfield Ave, and run on the left side of the main road towards the Castleknock end... there's both a path and a running train on that side. As you reach the gate at the Castleknock end, follow the perimeter wall (veering left). Following the perimeter will basically bring you back towards Chesterfield (at the Zoo). I find this route very enjoyable, quiet, and on grass for the most part.

spaceylou

Thanks for all the replies, links and tips guys. I will definately include park as a venue for some of my runs over the next week or two.

Woodle, thanks for invite to join you and others but have read your training log and you'd probably be a dot on the horizon to me after a few minutes - fast I most definately am not!!

chez-moi

There are plenty of running clubs dotted around the park. Most if not all have fit4life type groups and so on. You should think about joining one of them. Interval sessions etc are always easier with a crowd

ultraman1

nomadic wrote: »

Bloody rent boys. The furry glen is crawling with the feckers.

how much...

Mr Slow

spaceylou wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies, links and tips guys. I will definately include park as a venue for some of my runs over the next week or two.

Woodle, thanks for invite to join you and others but have read your training log and you'd probably be a dot on the horizon to me after a few minutes - fast I most definately am not!!

I'm doing midweek sorta long runs and my LSR's in the park - pace for LSR's is 10 min mile,

Saturday week we have a few bodies lined up for a 15 mile LSR and this week I'm running solo on Sunday morning start time is 9am for both as per DCM

You're more than welcome, just drop me a line and I'll pass on my number.

With regard to safety in the park I'd agree with the others, the park is a wonderful place by day with a great vibe (people saluting each other etc) but by dark I'd give it a miss.

LeoB

love to use the park myself .as a female jogger have never felt unsafe, threatened, or worried.

Of late find myself using malahide castle grounds a lot also. one full lap 3 miles to the yard almost !!!
When I get a wee bit bored I go in the opposite direction, or even starting at a diferent point can never cease to amaze me how different a run feels.Always company around.
two weeks ago I completed my 4 laps of grounds yippeeeeeeeee, roll on sat!!

foleyalan

Malahide castle is great alright. I run there 4/5 times a week. Never get bored of it.

tHE vAGGABOND

a brilliant, I was thinking about just this last night as I live near the park and was going to go running there this weekend, but the sheer size of it I did not know where people went [god that sounds so seedy now I read it back ]

Bill2673

There is an easy and pleasant grass trail to the left of the main Chesterfield Avenue the whole way up and back (if you look at the map, you'll see what I mean). Its on grass to the left of the path, starting at the first roundabout.

A good way to learn more complicated trails:

On Sunday mornings, a lot of running clubs leave the car park of the first cricket club on the left (if you came in from Parkgate st) on Chesterfield avenue. Its about a KM into the park. These guys frequently do 8 10 mile runs on grass trails. You could join them, or track them.