As part of my Brisbane City Running series, I decided to change from my usual New Farm park run and venture further afield and take on the Stones Corner parkrun. I have run this course years ago with my son and daughter and I fondly remember it being a lot of fun but derelict and a little ‘dodgy’ in some spots. I am pleased to say that the council has done some amazing work and have almost fully revitalizing the area. Based on the number of people running the path at 6:30 on a Saturday morning people are loving this green space.
As a teacher of psychology, I tend to give inanimate objects human like personalities. Based on this I personally feel that every parkrun has its own unique identity, forged when the spirit of the community meets the soul of the landscape through which the course winds through. I will reveal what I believe the personality of this parkrun to be at the end of this article once I have had a chance to absorb and reflect upon everything this parkrun has given me. Suffice to say the initial impressions was one of ‘uniqueness’ amongst the Brisbane Parkrun community. I felt Stones Corner exuded community spirit, a full range of running ability and an almost meditative peaceful quality as runners coexisted alongside the cormorants, sulphur crested cockatoos, tall sedge and Grey Rush scattered along the creek embankment and concrete paths. Coexist is the atmospheric word that sprung to mind as I listened to the pre-race briefing.
This word soon changed to substantial as the size of the field was revealed! While the briefing had a mix of about 50 officials and runner who were listening to running directions and celebrating Parkrun milestones, there were over 400 runners waiting at the start line which were hidden around the corner from the race briefing area. Once my surprise was overcome, I made my way to my usual starting spot, halfway between the 25 and 20-minute anticipated finishing time. As I walked through the crowd, I noted how the conversation changed from free-flowing chats about the work week, weekend weddings and mowing to times and pacing and PB efforts. I felt like the conversation was the determining factor which made me decide where to start this run. In the end my selected spot was next to a runner who had to finish quick because he had to go to a family BBQ at the Gold Coast.
Reflecting on Hanlon Park it was the perfect place to hold a Parkrun. This park is famously known as a flood-prone concrete drain where all of Brisbane comes to watch any small amount of rain become a sizeable flood. Thanks to Brisbane City Council (BCC), the area has been transformed into one of Brisbane's most impressive urban parklands. The naturalised creek, expansive green spaces, shared pathways, and open sight lines create an environment that feels both modern, welcoming and most importantly, peaceful. While BCC gets rightfully criticized at times, this is one time that I have to ‘tip my hat’ at their thoughtful urban planning and their ability to create a space that fully encourages health, recreation, and community connection.
While the Parkrun course looks like a simple out and back run along a concrete pathway. It is deceptively ‘rolling’ with a few tight bridge crossing that require some fancy zig zag stepping, but this aside, overall I would rate the course as very fast. Still not at fast as the Brightwater Parkrun on the Sunshine coast. I would highly recommend this course for newcomers just based on the welcoming community alone and the course is a great bonus. For the PB hunter, I believe the course can give you one if you are in peak form but the large field and well used path can provide some obstacles for a perfect 5k time.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the run on this day was the opportunity to observe the diversity of the participants. Young families, recreational runners, seasoned marathoners, and dedicated parkrun tourists all contribute to the event's vibrant character. It serves as a reminder that while running times may differ significantly, the reasons people participate are often remarkably similar. We all seek challenge, community, wellbeing, and the satisfaction that comes from showing up on a Saturday morning.
The volunteers deserve special recognition and an apology from me as I was the one that ran outside the taped area at the start. Sorry about that! The volunteers are the lifeblood of Parkrun and without them it doesn’t operate. So, we all owe them a great debt of gratitude. Listening to the race briefing at the start Stones Corner’s race director was amazing, welcoming first-timers, celebrating amazing milestones, starting the race and finally managing the finish funnel and processing results. I was so impressed with her enthusiasm and all the volunteer’s ability to creates an environment where every participant felt valued on the day. Needless to say the success of parkrun globally can be traced directly to these volunteers who consistently place community before personal achievement.
As the morning concluded and participants migrated toward local cafés for post-run coffee and conversation. I drank my double espresso at the Stones Corner hotel and reflected on what makes this event special. Unlike New Farm, where the river and gardens dominate the experience, or South Bank, where iconic city landmarks provide the backdrop, Stones Corner is defined by its runners and Hanlon Park. The course is excellent, the park is impressive, and the facilities are outstanding, but the true attraction is the vibrant and passionate running community that has gathered around it.
If you are seeking a scenic Brisbane adventure, there is no more picturesque parkrun available in Brisbane. If you are chasing a personal best, looking to assess your fitness, or wanting to immerse yourself in one of Brisbane's strongest running communities, Stones Corner deserves a place at the top of your list.
To finish, the personality of the course? Unfazed.
This was encapsulated by this picture I took which shows a cormorant being dived bombed by a pair of angry noisy miners bird. The cormorant just sat there with its wings fanned to the morning sun, unfazed and at peace with her sun bath to care about the distraction of the angry birds around her. So be warned you may come to the Parkrun as the noisy miner but you will leave as a laid-back cormorant. Proof that even the simplest courses which meanders along the Norman Creek can transfix and create a long and lasting memorable experience.
Stones Corner is proof that a stretch of pathway, a dedicated group of volunteers, and a community of runners united by a shared goal can create something truly exceptional.
Thanks for reading and I am already looking for the next course I will review as part of my Brisbane running series.
Any suggestions? Comment below if you do know of any good runs in Brisbane or surround that I should check out.