Lonehill parkrun saw a strong turnout on January 31 as runners, walkers and volunteers gathered for the weekly 5km event in Lonehill Park.

This week 469 people ran, jogged and walked the course, of whom 59 were first timers and 46 recorded new personal bests.

Read more: Fourways daredevils hit the streets in purple Speedos for Hollard Daredevil Run

Suraj Valand, one of the organisers, said the parkrun is free and open to everyone.

“Participants can choose to run, jog or walk the route, while those who prefer not to take part physically are encouraged to volunteer.”

He said the Lonehill Parkrun route is known to be one of the more challenging courses, consisting of two laps of about 2.5km each. With its hilly terrain, it offers excellent training for participants looking to push themselves.

The highest point on the course is affectionately known as ‘Happy Rock’, and was named by ultra-marathon legend Bruce Fordyce.

Valand also noted that the parkrun relies heavily on volunteers to run smoothly each week. Roles include timekeepers, token distributors, barcode scanners, marshals, tail walkers and park walkers, all overseen by the run director.

This week’s event was made possible by the dedication of 21 volunteers.

“Volunteers also set up the course before the event, ensure water is available for dogs, and pack everything away afterwards, leaving the park in good condition.”

Valand also encouraged participants to ensure they are physically able to take part and to consult a doctor if they have any health concerns.

Also read: Lonehill gears up for 22nd annual fun run

“We have people who finish in under 20 minutes and others who walk for over an hour. The most important thing is enjoying the outdoors and improving your fitness at your own pace.”

This week also saw international flavour to the morning with visitors from Malawi, Caroline Magola and Clukondi Chabvutz participating.

@caxtonjoburgnorth Watch: From first-timers to seasoned runners, Lonehill parkrun saw 469 runners, joggers and walkers for a m 5km parkrun this morning [January 31]. Video: Ayanda Ntshingila #Fourways #Parkrun ♬ original sound – Caxton Joburg North

“We arrived yesterday and leave tomorrow. We’re staying nearby, so we decided to look for a parkrun because we like to keep active when we travel. We found this one and it was a very warm, welcoming community. We really enjoyed it,” said Magola.

Valand added that Lonehill Parkrun started on April 26, 2014. Since then, 3 ,725 participants have completed 237 132 parkruns covering a total distance of 1 185,660km, including 35 128 new personal bests. A total of 633 individuals have volunteered 7 346 times.

Today’s results can be found at: Parkrun.co.za/lonehill

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!