Shayla clocks 50th parkrun

Having established herself as one of Benoni Northerns Athletic Club’s (BNAC) rising stars, young athlete Shayla Lloyd attributes much of her development to the weekly parkrun events that sparked her passion for running.

The BNAC junior said her Saturday mornings have never been the same since she participated in her first parkrun on November 9, 2019, in Atlasville.

“It’s been worth every minute,” said Shayla. “Parkrun has helped me improve my fitness and work on bettering my time. It’s boosted my confidence and self-esteem. It clears my mind and helps me start fresh.”

Now 10 years old, Shayla celebrated a major milestone by completing her 50th parkrun on May 17 at the Mofolo parkrun in Soweto. Her family joined in the celebration, including her mother, Cheryl, and older sister, Tamica, who completed her 100th parkrun in December.

“Running my 50th parkrun was a goal I had set for 2025. Achieving it early made me realise how effortless it feels when you truly love running. All it takes is dedication and consistency,” she said.

Shayla’s parkrun journey began with a 5km debut time of 55:51 in 2019. Since then, she has shaved more than 28 minutes off that mark, boasting a personal best of 27:32 set at the Carnival City parkrun.

“My first run felt really tough. I was exhausted,” she recalled. “But parkrun helps us stay fit, build discipline, and create a routine. It encourages us to set goals and track our personal progress. It’s great for both physical health and mental wellbeing.”

Shayla is also actively participating in the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) cross-country season. At the first league meeting held at Kwa-Thema Stadium on May 3, she finished 12th in the U10 girls’ 2km race with a flat time of 10:00.

She is just one of several talented BNAC juniors making their mark in the sport, and she’s only just getting started.

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