Parkrun is a participation-based community activity that helps people to get fit and stay well. The five kilometre walk, jog or run, held on Saturdays since 2015 at the Botanical Gardens, has now supported 3464 individual participants to start or continue their fitness journey.
We know that overall health improves if we do between one and three hours of vigorous or moderate physical activity a week and that almost 60% of Mount Alexander’s population are now at least this active. Parkrun has helped people get active and stay active because it is on every week and it is free.
Although non-competitive, parkrun values the achievement of personal gaols and uses milestones to help people along. Milestones include those for volunteering, and those for completing the distance each week.
Volunteers run the event. Of the participants this week, 13 have volunteered at least 25 times, six have volunteered at least 50 times and one person has volunteered an amazing 100 times.
This week, Steve Harris joined the 25-volunteer club and has 205 parkruns as well. Thankyou Steve.
Castlemaine now has 23 people who have completed between 100 and 250 parkruns and seven people who have completed over 250 parkruns. This week Nicki Renfrey joined the 250 club. This is no small achievement when you do the maths. There are only 52 possible Saturdays in one year so 250
parkruns could take five years. However, Nicki has also been a volunteer 40 times. Her 250 milestone has taken seven years of continuous vigorous activity almost every week. Nicki exemplifies what fitness for life is about. Her first comment on what 250 parkruns meant to her was “Seven years of friends and fitness”. She didn’t talk about speed or personal bests but motivation to stay fit and enjoy the walk jog or run. Well done Nicki for keeping it fun and staying fit.
This week there were 102 participants, 21 who walked all the way with 20 personal best times broken. Of those PBs Sam Henty and Kyan McGill both went under 20 minutes for the first time, Jarrod Harris found some speed after six months at a more relaxed pace and Emily Mahan is now a full two
minutes faster than when she started four years ago. David Reide and Helen Storrar were the fastest by age grade achieving 86% and 80 % of their age grade times. First women were Jo Stavers, Katie Conner and Emily Maher. First men were Kya Mc Gill, Sam Henty and Mitch Williams.
Volunteers this week were Claire Brien, Monica Collie, Dianne Cox, Simone Ewenson, Donna Faircloth, Michael Farr, Anthony Greaves, Jane Harding, Lucy Harris, Steve Harris, Pam Joseph and Dave Petrusma.
If you want to come to parkrun to walk, run or jog five kilometres, register first; https://www.parkrun.com.au/register/ and just bring along your barcode. Everyone, every age, and every ability is welcomed. If you would like to volunteer as a timer, scanner, or tail walker, get onto
the volunteer page; https://www.parkrun.com.au/castlemaine/futureroster/ and put your name down.
Training is provided on the day! See you all on the at the Botanical Gardens, Children’s Playground for an 8am start.