Parkrun gives Karen double boost as she moves into planning

An Angus parkrun volunteer has spoken of how her health has improved as the result of a popular walking and running event.

Karen Fyffe, from Friockheim, started attending the Montrose parkrun back in 2019 in an attempt to improve her fitness.

She soon developed the confidence to also volunteer at the event, which she found benefited her mental as well as physical health.

However, a double setback occurred in 2020, when local parkruns were forced to close due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Karen also sustained a knee injury which made exercise a painful task.

But planning began for a new parkrun event in Arbroath and as a result of her contribution at Montrose, Karen was invited to join the team planning the activity at West Links Park.

After it was launched in January this year, both

Karen and her daughter Sophia quickly became essential members of the team and have both recently completed training as run directors.

They took on their first paired duty in overall charge of the event earlier this month.

Karen said: “The routine of getting to the start line on a Saturday with my daughter is something I look forward to. The other volunteers are friendly and everyone mucks in. Being part of something that benefits the community is very uplifting.”

On Saturday, Karen achieved two milestones when she completed her 25th parkrun by walking the course, then logged her 50th volunteering day by helping close down after the event.

In doing so, she also became one of the first to model the event’s new ‘superhero capes’, which some parkrunners choose to wear at their milestone events.

Karen has seen her health and enjoyment improved.