Parkrun sparked a life-changing journey for Hilton Neuwerth, and 500 runs later, the Benoni athlete is still going strong, fuelled by a deep passion for the community that introduced him to a sport he has cherished for more than a decade.

Neuwerth celebrated his remarkable 500th parkrun milestone in memorable fashion at Ebotse parkrun on March 14, surrounded by family and fellow runners, marking not just a number but a journey built on dedication, consistency and gratitude.

“It’s 12 years of doing this. We slowed down a bit during Covid-19 and because of injuries here and there. My wife and I plan our travels and holidays around the availability of a parkrun in the area. If there is one, we are happy, if there isn’t, we are quite depressed,” he said.

He made his debut in the 5km event on April 19, 2014, when he and a group of friends, none of whom had run 5km or more before, decided to give parkrun a try. What started as a once-off quickly became a Saturday morning ritual.

“We tried it, walked most of it and probably finished in about 50 minutes. From there, the bug bit. It became a regular weekend activity. We slowly improved, the 5km became 10km, then 15km and eventually 21km, which is the furthest I’ve run. We do parkrun every weekend, for the love of it and the coffee afterwards.”

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Reflecting on the milestone, Neuwerth expressed gratitude for the role parkrun has played in shaping his running journey, noting how it has inspired others in his circle as well.

“It’s been incredible. Parkrun got me into running. I do it socially, but a friend of mine is now preparing for his first Ironman because of parkrun. It opens doors. For me, it’s about enjoying running socially.”

He also praised the volunteers who make the weekly event possible, highlighting the often unseen effort behind the scenes.

“I’ve had a lot of fun doing parkrun at around 70 different locations. I’m still fairly new to volunteering, with about 35 volunteer stints. The volunteer group is amazing. There’s so much that happens behind the scenes. People arrive and run without realising the work that goes into organising it.”

Neuwerth encouraged anyone considering taking part to simply take the first step.

“Just do it. Do your best today. Give yourself small goals, like running the whole way without walking or finishing under 50 minutes.”

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