Parkrun clocks up the 100th event
Parkrun Grahamstown celebrated their 100th anniversary at the Botanical Gardens last Saturday. The event celebrates a milestone of 46 780km that have been run.
Personal best runs have also been recorded over the past two years - 1 813 of them. The event was mainly held in celebration of parkrun volunteers who have dedicated their time each week to help organise and see that each event turns out successfully.
Parkrun Grahamstown was founded by Nicola Brown together with Catherine Deiner, Lindsay Webber and Sally Prince-Smith in September 2014. The run/walk is free for all participants of all ages. This is all thanks to South Africa parkrun sponsors Blue Level Telecoms, Discover Vitality and mrp Sport. Dogs are permitted to join participants but only if they remain on a leash. Brown states that parkrun has generated an incredible amount of energy and built a sense of community spirit.
“The growth I have seen in many runners and walkers has been astounding and made me very proud of this initiative” said Brown.
Residents of the Grahamstown community have not only turned out in numbers to run/walk but there has been a consistent growth in the amount of volunteers that turn up and lend a hand every Saturday. The event needs about five volunteers each week whose jobs include setting up the route with markers and arrows as well as keeping times of registered partici- pants. Volunteers also help in taking photographs which are uploaded onto the Parkrun Facebook page at the end of each run.
Brown states that she is most proud of participants who get up each morning to run a 5km; however she is also praises her team who have ensured that each event is a success.
“I am even more grateful to the core committee who have breathed a second energy and enthusiasm into parkrun over the cold winter months – they have shown great dedication and I am so lucky to have their support,” said Brown
Regular volunteers were each given a thank you gift. However no lucky spot prizes were handed out as no participant has clocked their 100th run yet. This is expected to change, however, in five weeks’ time as regular participant Stavie Van Aardt is set to reach his 100th parkrun. Van Aardt has 96 runs under his belt so far and has only missed four parkrun Saturdays.
Parkrun’s 100th anniversary comes weeks before they are set to celebrate their second birthday on 24 September. Brown is hoping for a huge turn-out for this event as there will be prizes handed out to their top runners and volunteers.
All members of the Grahamstown community are invited to be a part of this celebration. The team is also looking for donations toward this celebration and daily running costs. If willing to donate or volunteer at any one of the events, please email grahamstownhelpers@parkrun.com.