Parkrun a decade of healthy forest fever
Parkrunners left their warm beds early on Saturday morning, 6 April, to participate in George parkrun's 427th event on its ten-year anniversary, with a 5km run or walk through the pine forest at the back of the Garden Route Botanical Garden in Caledon Street.
Despite the cool morning and severe weather warnings for the weekend,
716 people turned up. Media liaison officer Wayne Ryder and the rest of the management were very excited to celebrate a decade of hard work and persistence to get our town moving. "The weather had us a bit worried at one point, but we decided to persist. It is after all our parkrun's birthday," he said. "It was the biggest turnout for George since Covid."
Many runners were clad in blue - the symbolic colour in parkrun lingo for having completed 500 parkruns. First over the finish line in a time of 19:11 was Cuan Wildeman (16), a Grade 10 athlete of Outeniqua High, with Amber Claasen (27) at his heels in a time of 19:12. Onlookers speculated that the two sprinted the entire 5km. According to Ryder, they've been competing over the last few weeks, with Amber winning four consecutive times.
Some participants enjoyed their first ever parkrun, like Faith Lesoetsa who joined her friend, Ziyanda Maseko, while others make it their mission to 'never miss a parkrun'.
Among the serious parkrunners was 85-year-old Fransie Jansen, also known as 'Speed Queen', who undertook her 221st parkrun. Another was Nicola Soul who has completed 426 parkruns (throughout the country) and aims to be the first person in George to reach the 500-mark. Bets Fourie is the parkrunner who has completed the most parkruns in George, with 381 on home ground. Adding 15 parkruns elsewhere in the country, she has completed a total of 396.
Louis Massyn (73) completed his 252nd parkrun. He moved back to George three weeks ago after spending many years in Welkom. "I ran my very first parkrun in George years ago. I am grateful to be back today with the 10-year celebrations," said Louis, who recently joined the Outeniqua Harriers Running Club. This veteran athlete has completed 47 Two Oceans and 49 Comrades marathons.
Ryder is excited about working towards holding larger weekly parkruns, and appeals to all to come exercise in the wide open spaces of Witfontein, at the back of the botanical garden. "Do it at your own pace and own time," he urges.