Parkrun, a revolution not discovered by all
The 5km events cater to runners, joggers and walkers of all shapes and fitness levels which are held on Saturdays, for free, and arranged by selfless volunteers.
The Alberts Farm parkrun is a shining example of how community spirit can be both essential for building relationships and good for one’s health. But this is true for all parkruns which are run and managed by dedicated volunteers.
For those unfamiliar with the revolutionary concept, Clive Smart, an ambassador for several local parkruns explains it best. “All events are 5km long and take place in public parks and other open spaces with no time limit for finishing. Some participants are in a race to the finish, others come for a leisurely stroll at their own pace or even for those who want to walk their dogs.”
The events are free and are specifically aimed at ‘getting people off the couch’ in a fun and community-orientated weekly event.
Once you are registered, take along a scannable copy of your barcode with you and you can participate at any venue, in any country. There are currently 2 300 parkruns worldwide.
Lucy Balona, co-event director for Alberts Farm says, “Nobody can be too old or unfit to join in. We have people currently battling cancer and those who have successfully beaten it who come regularly as the atmosphere is relaxed and there is no performance pressure.”
When the event begins at Alberts Farm at 08:00 each Saturday, participants are signed in for safety reasons and to enable you to track how many events you have done.
“Some people take tracking their events very seriously, it’s wonderful,” says Smart.
There are various items available for purchase at various thresholds for those who wish to mark significant milestones.
There are volunteers along the track and always someone at the very back to ensure nobody feels like they are coming last but to make sure everyone who began it, finishes and nobody is left behind.
Balona mentioned that some people prefer to volunteer than to participate – something that is essential for the well-being of the event. “Our team comprises the most amazing, fun-loving and helpful people who adore assisting and interacting with the runners and walkers. We could not be more thankful for them.”
To learn more about parkrun, register, enquire about becoming a volunteer or contact the Alberts Farm team, please visit www.parkrun.co.za/albertsfarm or email albertsfarm@parkrun.com.
Nearby parkruns that begin at 08:00 each Saturday:
- Delta Park: delta@parkrun.com
- Wits: wits@parkrun.com
- Roodepoort: roodepoort@parkrun.com
Related Article: SPAR Women’s Virtual Challenge goes physical with Parkrun SA
