The morning of August 1, 2026, dawned like any other Saturday at the Rooipoint Farm parkrun. But for Willie Boardman, it was anything but ordinary.

At precisely 08:00, Boardman crossed the finish line for the 500th time.

Five hundred Saturday mornings, five hundred five-kilometre journeys, five hundred finishes, and each one a story unto itself.

“I love it with a bang,” Boardman said with a grin that suggests he means every word. “Nature talks to parkrunners.”

The 500-milestone places Boardman in an exclusive club of parkrun devotees who have made the weekly 5km event an unshakeable part of their lives. But to truly understand the significance of this achievement, one must journey back to where it all began.

It was September 19, 2015, when Boardman first encountered parkrun, almost by accident. “The previous Saturday, coming from town, I noticed people standing at Trimpark and asked them what the occasion was. They said it was parkrun,” he recalls.

“The next Saturday, I joined.”

At that point, Boardman was what he candidly describes as a ‘complete beginner’ with ‘no fitness plans’.

His relationship with running was non-existent and his exercise routine was virtually invisible. Yet something about those first five kilometres at Potchefstroom changed everything.

The nature, the conversations and the sense of community; Boardman was hooked from the very first step.

Over more than a decade of Saturdays, he transformed parkrun from a casual weekend activity into what he calls ‘a mindset change in my head’.

But how does one maintain such consistency through cold mornings, rainy days and the countless obstacles life throws our way?

“With the strength of the Lord, He made it possible every time,” Boardman says, his faith clearly central to his perseverance.

His motivation extends beyond the physical. “I love it,” he says, “and to keep myself fit and keep the doctor away.”

The health benefits have been profound. Reflecting on the person he was before that first parkrun, Boardman notes, “I changed very much. I like to keep myself fit and sickness away, and I feel younger.”

Family and friends make every kilometre count

Behind every great achievement stands a support system, and Boardman’s family has been there every step of the way.

“The support from family was good,” he says warmly. “They joined and it was nice to run with the grandkids.” Those Saturday mornings with grandchildren running alongside him created memories that transcend any statistic or milestone.

“The parkrun friends I made,” Boardman says, “are like my extra family.”

Every parkrun regular knows that the event is as much about community as it is about running.

Boardman has accumulated friendships across multiple events, with each location adding new faces to his ever-expanding circle.

At Potchefstroom, there were Gerhard Dikker and Lukas van Sittert. In Fochville, David Drake became a familiar presence. At Grey Goose, Boardman counts Tielman Roos, Johan Harmse, Dawid Malan, Johan Stoltz and ‘too many others to mention’ among his running companions.

His local event at Rooipoint Farm is made special by what he calls ‘the characters’: Athol, Gywneth and their team.

“Always,” Boardman says when asked if parkrun has connected him with people he would never have met otherwise. “I met so many different people from all over.”

Rain, snow and flu never stopped him.

The journey to 500 was never going to be without its challenges. Illness, weather and the general weariness of life could have derailed Boardman at any point. Yet he pushed through.

“Whether it was raining, snowing or when I had flu symptoms, it never stopped me,” he says with quiet determination. “Even if I only walked, I was there.”

Every parkrun he finished was special in its own way, but Boardman particularly cherished ‘the ones with scenic routes’.

“Every parkrun that I finished, I enjoyed,” he says, refusing to single out any one experience over another.

And when asked if there was ever a Saturday he almost didn’t go, the answer was immediate and unequivocal.

“There was never a Saturday I didn’t want to go; it’s in my blood.”

When the world shut down in 2020 and parkrun events were cancelled, Boardman refused to let the pandemic break his rhythm. “That was not going to stop me from doing my walk/run,” he resolved. “Even though there were no parkruns during that time, I still woke up in the mornings and did my 5km in my suburb with my mask.”

He didn’t seek alternatives or virtual substitutes. He simply continued his routine, mask firmly in place, maintaining the discipline that had already carried him through hundreds of Saturday mornings.

When parkrun finally returned, the atmosphere was electric. “It was a welcoming occasion to talk and see all my parkrun friends,” Boardman recalls, the relief and joy still evident in his voice.

The 500 mindset

When did the number 500 first enter Boardman’s mind as a realistic goal?

“I knew there were milestones to be reached,” he says. “Parkrun friends reminded me near each one.”

Those milestones – 50, 100 and 250 – each served as markers on the path to the ultimate achievement. Along the way, the support of fellow runners kept him motivated and focused.

“It changed very much,” Boardman reflects. “Good health, clear thinking, and the love of nature and parkrun friends. They’re like my extra family.”

Boardman’s commitment to parkrun extends beyond participation. With 16 volunteer stints to his name, he has experienced the event from virtually every angle. His volunteer roles have included timekeeper, marshal, pre-event setup, barcode scanning, post-event close-down, finish tokens, tail walker and parkwalker.

“Each volunteer role is my favourite,” he says, demonstrating the same enthusiasm for service that he brings to his runs.

The decision to volunteer came from a simple place: “Time to give back.”

His perspective shifted dramatically once he started volunteering. “Very much,” he says, emphasising how the view from the other side gave him a deeper appreciation for the event. “Each step in the volunteer role is important,” he explains.

His approach to volunteering is refreshingly selfless. “My name is available. Should they run out of volunteers for a parkrun Saturday, I will stand in for them.”

When asked what someone who has never volunteered is missing, Boardman is clear: “If parkrun/walk is maybe not for you but you still want to do something, volunteering with other volunteers helps you make new friends in the fresh air.”

One particular volunteer moment stands out.

“When the people cross the finish line and they look tired, I cheer and inspire them.”

The volunteer milestone shirts – for 25, 50 and 100 volunteer stints – carry special meaning for Boardman. “To show other parkrunners that they can also reach their milestones by seeing the shirts on you,” he says.

With 500 runs behind him, Boardman has earned the right to offer advice to newcomers. To someone about to attempt their very first parkrun, his message is simple and powerful: “Go for it! Don’t stop – even if you walk, do it!”

Boardman himself walked when necessary, pushed through when others might have stayed home, and never lost sight of the joy that brought him to that first event in 2015.

Now that he has reached 500, what comes next?

“Still going strong forward with future parkruns and will never stop,” Boardman says with the conviction of someone who has found something truly meaningful.

His body may feel younger, his health may be better and his social circle may be wider than he ever imagined possible when he first asked those strangers at Trimpark what they were doing.

But most importantly, Willie Boardman has discovered that the journey itself is the destination. And he has no intention of getting off this particular path any time soon.

As he looks towards the future, one thing is certain: When next Saturday dawns, Willie Boardman will be there, running, walking, volunteering or simply cheering others on.

Because parkrun isn’t just something he does; it’s who he is.

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