If you like to run beside water then The Entrance is an event that should go on your list of parkruns to visit.
It’s located on New South Wales’ Central Coast and was the area’s second parkrun to open.
Mt Penang parkrun pre-dates it by almost two years.
The Entrance launched on May 14, 2016 with 194 finishers and 11 volunteers. It averages 121.8 finishers.
The course
Event director Meg Pye says The Entrance is a small coastal town but with a big heart.
“We have a great parkrun community,” she says.
“Our parkrun is a beautiful and gentle course that runs right alongside the lake providing great scenery, the most beautiful and wonderful volunteers and such supportive runners who’ll encourage everyone.
“It’s a near-flat parkrun starting at the beautiful The Entrance and running out to the Long Jetty boat shed.
“There you will get to pass two of the iconic extra long jetties that gave the area its name.
“The course is set on a concrete footpath the whole way following the lake with an almost rainforest-like small section around the 800m mark. It’s an easy out and back course.”
Meg says a lot of first-timers and visitors comment on how beautiful the course is.
“As well as how nice and encouraging everyone is and how good and clear our briefings always are.”
Meg’s story
Meg was encouraged to come along to parkrun when she happened to walk straight into the event three years ago.
“One of the parkrunners took the time to stop and ask me to come and join.
“The friendliness of that parkrunner really stuck with me.
“I went home looked up parkrun, registered and went along the following week to find everyone was super friendly.
“After a few weeks I decided to help out and give volunteering a try and have been hooked ever since.
“I went from doing every volunteer position to becoming an RD and now an ED.
“I’ve had the pleasure to see parkrun grow in our community with an additional three events in the area, as well as an increase of participants at The Entrance, especially over summer with all the visitors that come.
“The friends I’ve made from parkrun have to be the best by-product of parkrun.
“I love that parkrun gathers people together from all over the world and makes you feel like you’ve got a second family.”
Coffee afterwards is hosted at The Entrance Lakehouse, just around the corner from the start line.
“I like the Smashed Avocado, scrambled eggs, or the favourite for most seems to be the double bacon and egg roll. Drink favourites are coffee or cold-pressed orange juice.”
While at The Entrance parkrun
The surrounding area is all beautiful, there’s plenty to explore at The Entrance, including the baths.
There is a beautiful bay just south called Toowoon Bay and another five minutes south will land you at Bateau Bay.
Here you can take the coast to coast track through Wyrrabalong National Park up to Crackneck Point Lookout where you can see from Terrigal to Norah Head Lighthouse.
If you head north from the Entrance there are bush walks all the way from The Entrance north all the way to Norah Head where you’ll find a working lighthouse.
Head west and you can take a visit to the Central Coast wetlands and while you’re nearby, a visit to the Wyong milk factory would be a must.
– Meg Pye
What’s in a name?
The Entrance parkrun is named after the town where it starts.
The name of the town was originally Karagi, meaning The Entrance, for the point on the south bank of the channel at the Pacific Ocean.
The name Karagi was changed on November 15, 1911 and The Entrance was adopted.
This was originally published in Issue 3 of the Runs With A Barcode magazine.