In it for the long run, with ton of goodwill
Almost a year on from parkrun number 99, Tongala’s Dylan Scoble is set to raise the bat and bring up his hundred.
Aged just 16, Dylan will head to Shepparton parkrun on Saturday, January 16, and reach triple figures.
We asked what had kept him coming back so many times.
‘‘ It’s a really friendly environment, you get to run with your friends, and it’s also a chance to catch up with my family,’’ he said.
‘‘ I do it with my mum, uncle, grandpa and grandma, they all have a crack.
‘‘ I’ll probably keep doing them, I’d like to get to 250.’’
Dylan’s list of venues attended is extensive; he’s hit Shepparton parkrun 71 times and Echuca-Moama parkrun 10 times, Balyang Sanctuary and Newborough three times each, Mullum Mullum, Cobram and Hastings twice, and Euroa, Kennington Reservoir, Cairns, Torquay, Eastern Gardens and Churchill once.
His time with the popular weekend activity began back in 2015.
‘‘ I was a little bit nervous (for my first parkrun), but I just tried to beat my sister — that was my big goal at the start and really helped,’’ Dylan said.
Parkrun has been just a starting point for the keen runner, having stepped up from the 5 km gallop to more strenuous efforts.
‘‘ I’ve done some fun runs, some 10 km and halfmarathons. I’m working towards doing a marathon, I think you have to actually be 18 years old to do one, but I’ll keep training and aim for a bit further than 21 km this year.’’