parkrun in Parys: It feels so good to be back
Thank you to all the volunteers and Monica Muller, local parkrun event director for their commitment and effort in getting the new route and venue approved, cleaning the route and seeing that all went smooth today.
“”What an amazing event it was. It feels so good to be back. “
These were the remarks heard today at the first Egweni River Lodge parkrun in Parys. A day parkrunners were looking forward to for the past 19 months since lockdown brought a sudden stop to this very popular Saturday monring walk/run with it’s scenic 5km route along the Vaal River.
And what a surprise when head of parkrun SA and Comrades-legend, Bruce Fordyce, and his lovely wife, Gill, came for the opening and both completed their first Egweni River Lodge parkrun. “It feels so good to be back”, the 65 year old Fordyce said on completing his 408th parkrun.
Almost double the number of parkrunners seen usually at the local parkrun, were seen here today – mostly because of parkruns gradually opening all over the country, and enthusiastic parkrunners who wanted to log their first Egweni River Lodge parkrun as tourists
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With the route changed so that the Mimosa Gardens no longer will be the start and finishing point, the name of Parys’ parkrun also changed to Egweni River Lodge parkrun. The day turned out to be not only sunny but a roaring success for the event co-ordinators and those who for the first time had the opportunity to once again do what they love most on a Saturday morning – parkrun.
With the river close by, dogs who joined their owners on the parkrun route, grabbed the opportunity of a quick swim before the start.
For parkrunner like Willien Diedericks, today was a milestone completing her 100th parkrun after months of waiting.
Before lockdown there were about 220 parkrun venues all over South Africa, and although a few will not re-open, parkrunners will see new venues opening as parkrun is opening gradually with about 70 venues already open. To host a parkrun about 6 volunteers are needed. So remember for every 10 parkruns completed you might want to volunteer for one parkrun, giving other volunteers who also want to log a parkrun the opportunity to also take part. Whether you walk or run, alone or as a family, with a stroller, a dog on a leash, no matter if you are fit and fiddle or not, you can do it. The complete 5km scenic route or part of it – do it the way you are comfortable with, as long as you enjoy it because parkrun is for all – even if you finish the 5km in an hour and a half – the tail walker will see that you end up at the finishing point safely. First in today was Adam Thatcher from Johannesburg in 21:28. Today was his 296th parkrun.
Thank you to all the volunteers and Monica Muller, local parkrun event director for their commitment and effort in getting the new route and venue approved, cleaning the route and seeing that all went smooth today. What an event! See you this coming Saturday at 08:00 at Egweni River Lodge.
