Parkrun milestone for Liz
A North Connel lady has been celebrating completing her 150th parkrun.
Aptly-named Liz Parkes had hung up her training shoes after becoming the first female aged over 60 home in the St George’s 10k in Ambleside in 2007.
After moving to Argyll in 2016, however, the retired hotel manager joined the Ganavan Sands parkrun group to meet people and keep herself active.
‘At the start, I jogged round one week and volunteered the next, but soon built up so that I could jog round the course most weeks,’ she told The Oban Times.
‘I was looking for things to do to get me out and about and keep me fit and parkrun fitted the bill perfectly.’
Such is Liz’s love for parkrun that as well as turning up at Ganavan Sands every Saturday, she makes an effort to find one when she is travelling around the country meeting friends.
On Sunday April 9, aged 75, Liz notched her 150th parkrun on home territory having completed 111 at Ganavan and 39 elsewhere.
‘It gives you something to aim for,’ she added.
‘By this time next year I hope to have completed 200 and then 250 in 2024 when I will receive another milestone t-shirt.’
Liz has been awarded so many t-shirts she has made a quilt with them.
Now recognised worldwide, parkrun is a free, weekly, community 5k event which takes place on Saturday mornings in parks and open spaces.
Registration is free and only needs to be done once, whether you intend to walk, jog, run, volunteer or a combination of all three.
To find out more www. parkrun.org.uk/ganavansands/.