By SARAH DECK
This Saturday, 18 July, marks the first birthday of Noosa Parkrun and event organisers are encouraging everyone to come along and celebrate.
One year ago saw the birth of the volunteer organised Noosa Parkrun.
The free, weekly timed five kilometre run is part of a worldwide phenomenon which started in England just over 10 years ago and is open to everyone, young and old, fit and not-so-fit.
It takes place at the same venue and time every week of the year – 7am at Noosaville School, Beckmans Road, Noosaville.
During this year 744 local runners have registered for the event.
Interstate and overseas Parkrun visitors have clocked up an impressive total of more than 18,000 kilometres.
Ages range from five to 80 years old and the women’s course record standing at 19 mins 18 seconds is held by 12-year-old Chloe Mclennan.
However the majority of runners are mums and dads in the 30 to 45 age group and they are accompanied by some very enthusiastic children.
Most people feel that they could be doing something extra in terms of exercise and there are often very valid reasons why this is tricky to fit into their schedules.
Finding a way to remove these excuses is often part of the challenge and it is for people such as them that Parkrun provides the perfect opportunity to begin a new habit.
A Parkrun visitor commented in its guest book “wonderful run, lovely and scenic, brilliantly organised, very friendly and welcoming to all“.
Another mentioned the “great sense of community”.
Runners are invited to come along and see what it is all about.
All they need to do is register and print off a barcode.
Visit www.parkrun.com.au/noosa for details of the course.
Once registered runners can participate at any Parkrun event in the world.
