JOBURG’S COOL PARKRUNS IN PICTURES
Each week about 35 000 people throughout South Africa wake up on a Saturday morning and head to the line for the 8am start of their local 5km Parkrun. There are 106 Parkruns around the country, and Joburgers have a fair number to choose from. We explore a
1. COUNTRY ROADS
Alberts Farm Parkrun in Greymont produced 491 finishers last week. The course is quite challenging with gradual uphills. You also pass a lake, as well as stunning views of the Joburg skyline from the highest point of the run. Parkrun SA organises free, weekly 5km-timed runs. They are open to everyone. And it is safe and easy to take part.
2. RAINBOW HEALTH
Mofolo Parkrun in Soweto had 31 finishers last week. This is a fairly flat run of 5km long. Runners pass the Mofolo Cultural Bowl stage – with its rainbow-coloured arched roof – and take in some wonderful graffiti-decorated homes. On May 18 Parkrun South Africa was awarded the Participation Event of the Year Award at the 2017 Discovery Sport Industry Awards.
3. IT ALL BEGINS
The Delta Parkrun in Delta Park, Victory Park, saw 1 028 runners cross the finishing line. The run features a long hill climb of two kilometres long. Runners refer to it as the Polly Shorts of Delta Park. The first Parkrun in South Africa took place here on November 12, 2011, and 26 runners took part.
4. BRIDGING GAPS
Gilloolys Parkrun, at Gillooly’s Farm in Bedfordview, saw 940 runners make it to the last one. The course is a flat run, alongside the nearby ridge and takes a turn around the dam. Parkrun was introduced to South Africa by ninetime Comrades Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce.
5. PLACID MOMENT
Golden Harvest Parkrun in Northgate had 716 lucky finishers last week. Fordyce rates this as the hardest Parkrun in Johannesburg, and possibly the hardest in South Africa, alongside Thousand Hills Parkrun in KwaZulu-Natal.
6. COMING THROUGH
In the Modderfontein Reserve Parkrun in Modderfontein last week, 753 fitness fanatics crossed the finishing line. In the founding years of Johannesburg a dynamite factory was built at Modderfontein. Runners are taken through a number of old dynamite bunkers.
7. GRID POSITION
Rietvlei Parkrun in Alberton had 1 133 finishers last week. Since its inception in Britain in 2004, Parkrun has grown to stage hundreds of events in countries such as the US, Australia, New Zealand and even the Camp Bastion British military base in Afghanistan.
8. BRANCHING OUT
Roodepoort Parkrun, at Len Rutter Park in Roodepoort saw a tally of 688 runners. The Parkrun team has contributed significantly to reviving this park as a safe space. It also takes runners past the Rand Society of Model Engineers mini-train station and an old steam-locomotive.
9. EQUILIBRIUM
Victoria Lake Parkrun, at Germiston Lake, Germiston South. Finishers last week were 482. This run is an entirely paved and tarred run, which is pram and child friendly. There are beautiful views of the lake as most of the run keeps you close to the water’s edge.
10. GETTING DOWN
Woodlands Parkrun, at the Woodlands Office Park in Woodmead, saw 701 finishers last week. The parkruns are open to everyone irrespective of running ability. The South African record for the fastest run is held by Adam Lipschitz in a time of 14:17. But most routes finish in just over an hour.