Introduced by Acorn Trails in 2019, the South By Five races were well received by locals runners. Based on the iconic Glasgow race, The Southside Six, South By Five visits each of the six parks over a 10 week period. A 5km event is held in each park, with runners able to enter single events or the whole series (the whole series requires early booking so give Acorn Trails a follow across Facebook, Twitter, Strava, Instagram or join their Run Club to keep up to date. Whole series package is closed for 2021).

The six parks are:

• Kings Park – Sunday 7th November
• Linn Park – Sunday 21st November
• Rouken Glen – Sunday 5th December
• Pollok Park – Sunday 19th December
• Bellahouston Park – Sunday 2nd January
• Queens Park – Sunday 16th January

All races start at 10.30am

Enter the Queen’s Park race via Entry Central.

It’s the last in the series and it’s a belter. The Queen’s Park 5k race (maybe a wee bit over) starts and ends at the flagpole. For anyone that knows Queen’s Park or has an idea of where flagpoles can generally be found in parks then you’ll have inkling that there might be a few hills involved.

Starting at the top means you have a wee downhill to kick you off before you then loop up and around the glasshouse and allotments. The downhill section keeps going past Camphill House, past the Nature Pond and keeps to the right as it runs towards the Victoria Road entrance. The route then follows the perimeter of the park as you gradullay climb your way back up past the glasshouse to the top of the park and begin the 2nd lap of the race.

As a nice finale, the Acorn Trails bunch add in the lovely steps at the Victoria Road entrance and a race uphill back to the flagpole. Bit of a lungbuster that!