Parkrun comes to Graaff-reinet

Parkrun looks to be coming to Graaffreinet as plans are being put in place to launch the event locally at the start of February.

Mountain Drive has been earmarked as the venue for the runs which will be held weekly, every Saturday morning starting at 08:00.

The official launch will be held on Saturday, 2 February at 08:00 with the legendary Comrades winner, Bruce Fordyce, in attendance to celebrate the launch of the longawaited local Parkrun.

Participants must gather at the entrance to Mountain Drive on the R63 to Murraysburg across from the entrance to the local caravan park.

A large attendance is expected, so those wanting to participate are asked to arrive well in advance.

The event is free of charge, costing you nothing for a healthy outing on a Saturday.

Parkruns are 5km running/walking events that take place every Saturday morning in fourteen countries across five continents. They are run by volunteers, and participation is free of charge.

A South African, Paul Sinton-hewitt, a friend of Bruce Fordyce, started the concept.

The first Parkrun took place in Johannesburg in 2011 and 26 people took part.

Today there are 130 plus Parkrun venues around South Africa with 60 000 participants on a Saturday. Membership has reached the 800 000 mark last year.

Overall Parkrun is much more about community bonding than it is about doing a 5km run.

It’s a very friendly and warm event with people who can’t wait to see each other on Saturday mornings, share conversation and go for a coffee or breakfast afterward.

When participating, times are taken with the aid of a barcode print, which can be obtained from the Parkrun website.

As of 11 January, Graaff-reinetters can register for the local event.

Go to Parkrun South Africa at https:// www.parkrun.co.za/register/ and fill in the barcode page, print it and have it ready to scan at the finish line of the route.

Registration is, however, entirely optional and not a necessity for participation, but please note that the rule is strictly ‘no barcode, no time’.

Times are collated worldwide. Volunteers have put in a lot of extra hours and effort to get this wonderful event registered in Graaff-reinet. So, Graaff-reinetters, arrive in your numbers.

For help with registration or to find out more, e-mail Rozelle Köhne at rozelle@montego. co.za or SMS Lusan Luscombe at 082 780 0739.

A volunteer training and pilot run will be held on Thursday evening, 31 January, at 18:00 - enthusiasts and those wanting to volunteer are invited to join the organisers for training or to walk/run the route.

The official launch will be held on Saturday morning, 2 February at 08:00.