HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY… Volunteers with their party hats at the first anniversary of the Northparkes Oval Parkrun on Saturday. They are (L-R) Dan Greef, Louise Moore, Jenny Short, Vicki Warwick, Sonia Bland, Craig Bland, John Short and Brenton Hartin.
Despite having to miss out on 17 events due to COVID lockdowns, more than 1,500 people took part in the first year of Parkrun in Parkes.
It was a beautiful, sunny day for the first anniversary of the Northparkes Oval Parkrun on Saturday, unlike the launch a year ago in torrential rain.
Saturday’s event was number 33, meaning the weekly 5km event had been completed 1,578 in a year’s time covering a total distance of 7,890km. Dan Greef, one of the volunteers who was instrumental in getting the event to Parkes, said this equalled to an average of 50 participants per event.
The free, weekly, community event with no time limit for all ages and levels of fitness for running, jogging and walking is also timed. All participants who have registered with parkrun receive an email after the event with their time. A total of 398 new personal best times were recorded in the first year.
“Most weeks we have visitors from all over the state and even inter-state. Some of them come here just for parkrun, and they end up spending money in town too,” said Dan. Jenny Short, who volunteered on Saturday, said the Parkes Visitors Information Centre regularly received calls from people asking if our town had a parkrun event.
The event is organised by volunteers every Saturday with a total of 62 individuals volunteering 324 times in the first year. “It would be great to see more people come out to help, so the regular volunteers can also participate,” said Dan.
He encouraged sport clubs, businesses and other groups to volunteer and use it as a team building exercise. “All the jobs are really easy and we will show you what to do.”
Parkrun is not only a great way to keep fit, but is also known for its great community spirit and social interaction. For those needing extra encouragement, there is always the coffee van waiting at the end of the course!