About Course Elevations

Meet the Creator

Hi, I'm Ian. I've been running for around 10 years and have completed over 200 different parkrun events across the UK. In the parkrun community, that makes me what's known as an "uber tourist" - someone who visits a new event almost every week rather than sticking to a home course.

I've run at virtually every parkrun in the East of England and East Midlands regions, and I'm currently working my way through events in the South East. I'm a proud member of the 50 and 100 clubs, an occasional volunteer (60+ occasions), and an active member of my local running club.

Why I Built This

When you visit a new event every week, you quickly learn that course descriptions can be vague. "Gently undulating" might mean anything from pancake-flat to surprisingly hilly. I wanted to know what I was getting myself into before arriving at a new venue.

Beyond tourism, I also use parkrun as part of my wider training - including half marathon preparation. Knowing the elevation profile of an event means I can pick courses to suit my training plan. There's nothing worse than pushing too hard on what was supposed to be an easy run because you didn't expect those hills!

Course Elevations was built to solve these problems - for myself and for other runners who want to make informed decisions about where to run.

Lessons from 200+ Parkruns

Running across the East of England and East Midlands has taught me that regional reputations can be misleading. The East Midlands has more than its fair share of former collieries, which are surprisingly hilly. Yet it also includes some of the flattest courses in the country, particularly in the Fens.

The East of England, often dismissed as uniformly flat, has genuine hills at events like Hadleigh (where the Olympic mountain bike races were held), Westmill, Panshanger, and High Woods to name a few. Understanding these nuances is exactly why elevation data matters.

Memorable Moments

Some of my most memorable parkrun tourism experiences have shaped how I think about course selection:

  • Great Yarmouth North Beach - The toughest course I've run, made even harder by visiting on one of the hottest days of the year. The heat turned the sand incredibly fluffy, making every step a challenge.
  • Holkham - Perhaps the most scenic parkrun I've visited. A beautiful country estate alongside the beach and pine woodland. During another heatwave visit, deer were out in force across the grounds. Like most tourism trips, I made a full day of it - and it was worth every minute.
  • Brandon Country Park - A real hidden gem. Trees seemingly stretch as far as you can run, with deer spotted along the way. I followed the parkrun up with a 10km trail run and found it so peaceful that I started stopping by on my way home from other events.
  • Flegg High - A friendly team at a pleasant event, close enough to the coast that I visited Horsey Beach afterwards and saw wild seals for the first time. The run along the beach path is lovely and well worth the trip.

Our Data

We source elevation data from official event routes and high-resolution terrain maps. Our analysis includes:

  • Total ascent and descent
  • Elevation gain per kilometer/mile
  • Visual elevation profiles
  • Terrain characteristics

While we strive for accuracy, event routes can change. We encourage runners to verify details with event organizers before race day.

Get in Touch

We're always looking to improve and expand our coverage. If you have feedback, suggestions, or would like to see a specific event added, please get in touch.