Ballito joins the Parkrun family

Comrades legend Bruce Fordyce has run every Parkrun in the country and added Ballito to his list over the weekend.

Every Saturday at 8am around the country and all over the world, millions of people come together for Parkrun, a 5km route in a park or on the beach promenade.

Ballito has finally joined the Parkrun family and Saturday saw 245 parkrunners tackling the inaugural 5km route through the sugarcane and on the mountain biking track at Sugar Rush Park.

People of all ranges of fitness, from families with their dogs to old marathon veterans, took part.

It is a free event and open to all.

The only thing you need to do is register online where you will receive a barcode.

You need to bring this barcode with you to scan at the end of the route in order to receive your official results via email.

The director for Ballito Parkrun, Dwain Swiegers said he wanted to give back to the community.

“It is such a great initiative to get everyone involved and moving,” said Swiegers.

As the owner of I Move Fitness High Performance Centre in Ballito, helping the community stay healthy is a passion for Swiegers.

“What is nice about Parkrun is that it is a community sport and we are all just here to enjoy it whether you walk, run or sprint,” he said.

Bruce Fordyce was one of the initiators of the South African Parkrun.

“We started the first Parkrun with about 20 people and it has since grown to almost 60 Parkruns across the country and more than a quarter million registered parkrunners,” said Fordyce.

Ballito’s Parkrun route at Sugar Rush is more of a trail run.

The route goes past Collisheen Estate and the Ballito airfield, joining the mountain bike single track which winds and bends through the trees and then up the hill towards the coffee shop at Sugar Rush to finish.

Rose Juby, co-owner at Sugar Rush Park said they are very happy to host the Ballito Parkrun.

“It was so great to see everyone come out for the first Ballito Parkrun, we are really hoping it will grow bigger and bigger,” said Juby.

She said they are hoping to attract a lot of runners but they also need volunteers.

“Everything about Parkrun is free and volunteer-based so we are looking for people who can give their time on Saturdays to help with the marshaling of the route,” said Juby.