PARKRUN IS BACK, FINALLY
SHEPPARTON PARKRUN RETURNS TO VICTORIA PARK LAKE AFTER A LONG LAYOFF FORCED BY COVID-19
Victoria Park Lake will be buzzing this Saturday as parkrun returns for the first time in 10 months.
After the long layoff, excitement levels are through the roof for the popular weekend activity that will see a large crowd take to the lake’s walking track for the traditional 5 km challenge.
Shepparton parkrun director Chelsea Nicholson said the return of the event was great for the town.
‘‘It’s exciting to bring it back and get everyone back together, it’s such a valuable tool to get people together,’’ she said.
‘‘A lot of people have really missed it and I’m regularly asked when it’s coming back, so it’s nice to finally have an exact date to give them.’’
While there are minimal structural changes to the event — entrants are simply asked to sign in via a QR code along with their regular barcode — Ms Nicholson stressed the importance of behaving in a COVID-safe manner.
‘‘It’s the same way to enter as always, but we’re just making sure we’re following the COVID-safe framework with a few little changes,’’ she said.
‘‘There’s a QR code we’re encouraging everyone to sign in with as well as the barcodes, and we’ve got to ask anyone that is not feeling well to not come. Parkrun is on every week, so you might miss one but there’s always next week.’’
First-timers, who are encouraged to register before the event so they receive their entry barcode, are to be briefed at 7.45 am before an overall briefing at 7.55 am, with the event to begin at 8 am.
Ms Nicholson said participation, exercise and mingling with the community was what parkrun was all about.
‘‘It’s not about a race, it’s just about being active and people can keep track of how they’re going themselves,’’ she said.
‘‘Parkrun isn’t about just busting your gut — although there’s definitely some people that do that — and even if people want to come down and walk they can do that.’’