For most people, a Saturday morning parkrun means turning up, completing 5km and perhaps stopping for coffee, but for 82-year-old Neil Munro, it has meant nine years of chasing letters across four countries.

The Inyoni Creek resident completed his parkrun alphabet on October 3 at the York Timbers parkrun in Sabie, where he finally collected the elusive letter Y.

The parkrun alphabet challenge requires participants to complete events beginning with every letter of the alphabet except X — 25 letters in all. Some are relatively easy to collect, while others require considerably more planning.

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To date, Neil has completed 310 parkruns at 139 locations, including 122 in South Africa, 15 in the UK and two in Namibia. However, the missing Y had been particularly stubborn.

“There was no Y in South Africa until York Timbers launched in Sabie on August 22,” he said.

With a scenic setting, York Timbers was a fitting place for Neil to complete the challenge, making it one of his most memorable runs, while some others have taken him further afield.

For his 80th birthday, he skipped the traditional party and flew to Namibia with friends to complete the Walvis Bay and Swakopmund parkruns.

Trips to visit his daughter in England have also doubled as opportunities to fill gaps in his alphabet, including the Queen Elizabeth parkrun for the elusive Q and Bushy Park in London, where parkrun began 22 years ago.

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“Saturday parkrun is like a ritual,” said Neil, who once struggled to walk.

He had both knees replaced in 2010 after years of pain, poor mobility and a crooked leg. “The surgery was a success and I am fully mobile again,” he said.

When Neil registered for parkrun in 2017, his barcode number was in the three millions. Today, newly registered barcodes worldwide have reached more than 12 million. “I doubt if Paul Sinton-Hewitt realised what he created 22 years ago,” Neil said. “I salute the man.”

With the alphabet now complete, there is little chance Neil will be hanging up his parkrun barcode.

He appreciates that the events are free and inclusive, welcoming everyone from young families and runners with prams to people bringing dogs on leads.

“With the many challenges, you will never be bored,” he said. “It’s fun to see how many you can achieve.”