🏃‍♂️ The Hunt for the Z

by James Lloyd-Knibbs

 

A crew from Leighton Buzzard Athletic Club (LBAC) set out on a mission: to finally tick off that elusive “Z” parkrun. Since there are no “Z” parkruns in the UK, this meant an international trip — and after much discussion about where to go and at what cost, a destination was chosen.

✈️ Friday 26th September 2025 — The Journey Begins

A group of seven intrepid runners departed from Luton Airport on Friday morning, bound for Gdańsk, Poland. A minor two-hour delay didn’t dampen spirits, and upon arrival, we headed straight to our accommodation — a hotel conveniently located above a bustling food hall offering over 15 different eateries. Perfect for refuelling!

The afternoon was spent exploring Gdańsk’s charming old town and waterfront before dinner, naturally, in another food hall by the river.

🏰 Saturday 27th September 2025 — parkrun Day

The big day! Our chosen event: Zamek w Malborku parkrun, held beside the spectacular Malbork Castle — the world’s largest brick castle and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

We opted for the train from Gdańsk to Malbork — the eco-friendly and budget-friendly choice — leaving the hotel at 7:20 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. start, but not without a last minute rush and panic and somebody almost missing the train!

This week’s event happened to be Malbork’s 250th parkrun, so there was a festive atmosphere and a strong turnout, including several other visiting running clubs. The course is a single out-and-back loop along the River Nogat, passing the castle’s towering walls — flat, fast, and very scenic.

Did LBAC light up the world with glory? Not quite — with the Gdańsk Half Marathon looming the next day, most of us were taking it easy. Still, Thomas North earned a spot on the podium, even after a course mix-up caused the leaders to run an extra few hundred metres!

A surprise awaited at the finish: the men received medals and chocolates (no one’s sure why only the men!), followed by celebratory cakes marking the 250th event. After photos and coffee, it was time to head back to Gdańsk.

🏅 Sunday 28th September 2025 — Race Day in Gdańsk

There was no rest for the runners! Sunday was all about the Gdańsk Half Marathon and Half Marathon Relay.

• Half Marathon runners: Jo Dear, Pete Mackrell, and Hannah Lloyd-Knibbs.
• Relay team: Thomas North (Northy), James Lloyd-Knibbs, Sam Dear, and Timothy Inchley.

Navigating buses across Gdańsk to reach the various relay changeovers was an adventure in itself — with plenty of language barriers and a sea of runners.

Northy kicked things off brilliantly, sitting third overall among all runners (including half marathon competitors). James took over, then Sam — whose enthusiastic start turned heads — and finally Tim on the glory leg, bringing home victory in the Half Marathon Relay!

There wasn’t time to stay for the full ceremony, but the team collected their trophies and celebrated their success, complete with a local media interview from Tim. Special thanks to Ed Toosey for saving the day with a spare LBAC vest for James!

🍻 Wrapping Up

After cleaning up and grabbing one last meal, it was off to the airport — tired but happy. A weekend of great company, great food, great running, and plenty of memories.

LBAC’s international adventures aren’t over — plans are already forming for 2026. Watch this space!