Going ahead this Sunday
No cancellation listed for Sunday 1 November.
Junior parkrun
Watton Sports Centre junior parkrun
A free, fun, and friendly weekly 2k event for juniors (4 to 14 year olds). Nearby Saturday parkrun events can be found here.
-
United Kingdom
-
England
- 2 kilometres
- Watton Sports Centre juniors
Meeting point: 52.57628, 0.82587. The interactive map loads with JavaScript. Open the same point in OpenStreetMap.
Coordinates 52.57628, 0.82587.
The course
Course description
Two anticlockwise laps on grass. The start and finish are in the same place, on the grass next to the Astroturf pitch. The start and finish are close to the main car park.
On the course
The course is at Watton Sports Centre, Watton, Thetford. The course is 2000m (2K) long. This has been accurately measured by us with a professional measuring wheel. The course is run entirely on grass. Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain. Marshals will be located along the course.
The course will be marshalled so that juniors will be in sight of a marshal at all times.
Please remember that the parkrun uses shared paths. Please give way to other park users. This won't slow you down and will help ensure the overall success of the event.
Please, wherever possible walk, jog, cycle or use public transport when attending the event. If you do have to drive, please consider car-sharing to reduce our impact on both the environment and other park users. Please also watch out for other park users when arriving and leaving. Parking may be limited so try to arrive early.
Facilities
Toilets are available in the sports centre. There is also a children’s play park (with two swings, two baby swings, a big see-saw, a climbing frame and slide).
More details
Public transport
Bus: There is limited public transport, but the ‘Konect’ bus number 3 comes from Norwich and Thetford, and the number 6 comes only from Norwich. The number 11 bus comes from Dereham. All buses stop in the High Street, which is about a 10-minute walk to the parkrun. Check the current timetables at the Konect Bus website.
Train: The nearest train station is Thetford.
On foot
Watton town centre is approximately 10 minutes walk from the parkrun. There are a number of routes that lead onto the main A1075 Dereham Road.
By road
If using a SAT NAV the postcode is IP25 6EZ.
If you’re coming to Watton on the B1108 (Norwich Road), turn right at the traffic lights junction onto Dereham Road. The entrance to the sports centre is 400m on the left.
If you’re coming from Thetford on the A1075, at the traffic lights junction with Norwich Road carry straight onto Dereham Road. The entrance to the sports centre is 400m on the left.
From Swaffham on the B1108, at the traffic lights junction, turn left onto Dereham Road. The entrance to the sports centre is 400m on the left.
From Dereham, on the A1075, continue towards Watton, pass the Watton sign and the entrance to the sports centre is 400m on the right.
There is plenty of free parking at the venue. Please be mindful of other sports centre users.
Coffee
Every week we grab a post-parkrun coffee: The Social Club. Please come and join us!
We're friendly
Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at The Social Club - please come and join us!
junior parkrun rules and guidelines
Watton Sports Centre junior parkrun is a fun, free event organised by volunteers for the benefit of everyone. To make the event as safe as possible, participants, spectators and volunteers are asked to take note of the following rules and guidelines:
- Whilst parkrun fully accepts its duty of care and will do everything it can to minimise risk of injury and harm to all participants whilst at parkrun events, it is parent/guardians who ultimately have responsibility for the welfare of their children.
- It is not mandatory for a parent/guardian to participate in junior parkruns, but children under the age of 11 must be accompanied to/from the event by a responsible adult, and the responsible adult must remain in attendance for the duration of the event.
- junior events are open and inclusive. Disabled people may participate wherever it is safe for them to do so. The event team can provide disabled participants with course information in order that the participant (or their parent/guardian) can make an informed decision about their safe participation.
- Whilst more competitive children can use junior parkruns to test themselves against their own time, and against others, participation should ultimately be for fun, and we urge all parents/guardians/volunteers not to put children under undue pressure to perform.
- junior parkruns are running, jogging and walking events, and the use of children’s scooters, balance bikes, trikes or cycles is prohibited.
- Slower runners are encouraged to seed themselves, by starting towards the back of the group especially if an adult is accompanying them.
- junior parkruns are timed events. Only those aged between 4 to 14 years old completing the course themselves will be given a result.
- Exceptions to this rule are subject to the discretion of parkrun head office. Examples include those over 14 with special educational needs (SEN) or those with a registered disability, for whom social interaction and physical activity may be difficult but important.
- A strict ‘no barcode no result’ policy will be enforced.
- Buggies are allowed, subject to course conditions, but only if the adult pushing the buggy is accompanying a junior parkrunner. Adults with buggies are urged to position themselves appropriately for the safety and enjoyment of all.
- With the exception of assistance dogs, dogs are not allowed to accompany walkers, joggers, runners or volunteers at junior parkrun events.
- Take care on uneven surfaces – whether on grass or on tarmac. Watch out for cyclists, other participants, pedestrians, children, dogs, wildlife, park animals, vehicles, park maintenance work, falling branches, bollards, posts and other obstacles around the course.
- Spectators should keep clear of participants on the course and keep control of any children and dogs.
- Participants should take care near roads and car parks, congregate away from the cars and be careful if driving to/from the event.
- Photography or filming is likely to take place at junior parkrun events. Please see our photos page for more details.
- Lyme Disease is a bacterial infection spread to humans by infected ticks. Consider protecting yourself by wearing repellent when at parkrun events in grassy or wooded areas. See lymediseaseuk.com for further details.
Please consider helping the event by volunteering - this event survives only because of your generosity. Please visit the volunteer page for more information.
Volunteering
All parkrun events are organised by volunteers - email wattonsportscentrejuniors@parkrun.com to help.
Safeguarding
parkrun is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For our full safeguarding processes and policies please see our Safeguarding Hub.
To report a safeguarding concern please email safeguarding@parkrun.com.
Event stats
- 98
- Events
- 376
- Finishers
- 2,008
- Finishes
- 129
- Volunteers
- 378
- Personal bests
- 13
- Groups
- 00:15:11
- Average finish time
Nearby parkruns
- Loch Neaton parkrun, Watton Loch Neaton · 0.2 km
- Swaffham parkrun The Nicolas Hamond Academy Sports Fields · 12 km
- Dereham parkrun Dereham · 15 km
- Breckland Leisure Centre junior parkrun Breckland Leisure Centre Leisure · 18 km
- Thetford parkrun Abbey Meadows · 19 km
- Wymondham High Academy junior parkrun Wymondham High Academy juniors · 20 km
- Brandon Country Park parkrun Brandon Country Park · 21 km
- Norfolk Showground Trail parkrun Norfolk Showground Trail · 25 km
Challenges this parkrun helps with
- Alphabeteer Challenge Starts with W
- Periodic Table Matches symbols: W
Park5K is not affiliated with parkrun. - last updated 26 October 2026
Bushy parkrun