Halls parkun is now thrice as nice
The Halls parkrun commemorated its third anniversary in December and one of the organisers, Michael Strydom, was there to run his 96th race.
“I ran the very first parkrun in Mbombela. It has been such a wonderful way to keep fit and make friends with different people from all walks of life. The route is great and we try to keep the race green and environmentally friendly. Plus, it’s nice to know it is always going to be five kilometres and always on a Saturday,” he said.
Because Strydom was on parkrun timing duty on Saturday December 17, he and his fellow organisers arrived at 06:00 to complete their runs or walks.
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The Halls parkrun starts at 07:00 sharp from October to March, in order to miss the heat of the day, and 08:00 for the rest of the year. That Saturday, however, it was stinking hot at 07:00 already.
The first male runners to cross the finish line were Tertius and Frans-Josef Mentz for their first parkrun win. Vusi Mahlalela was not too far behind them in second place. Angelique Nel was the first female to finish. Lindy Saayman with her dogs, Diesel and Dusty, followed soon after.
Martie van Putten has run more than 80 parkruns. The 67-year-old finished the five-kilometre route in just over 30 minutes along with fellow runner Hendriette Laesecke who has completed 75.
“This is such a social event. You meet up with a lot of people you just don’t see any longer around town and it is a great way to keep fit,” Van Putten said.
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Although it is called parkrun, most participants actually walk. They bring their dogs, their prams and their kiddies with them. As Strydom said, “It’s a great way for people to get off the couch and have a good start to the day.”
According to the parkrun South Africa website, weekly five-kilometre timed runs are organised in communities around the world.
“They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in. These events take place in pleasant parkland surroundings and we encourage people of every ability to take part; from walkers or those taking their first steps in running to Olympians; from juniors to those with more experience; we welcome you all,” the website reads.
The Halls parkrun happens every Saturday morning, regardless of the weather or if it is a public holiday. The next event will take place on January 7.
For more information or to register for your own barcode, visit www.parkrun.co.za.
