It was a cold November morning in 2015 when Esme handed her husband, Ralph Vasbender, a newspaper clipping from the Advertiser and told him to get to Grey Goose.

“I had no idea that simple instruction would change my Saturdays for the next decade,” admits the now-500-club member with a grin.

On Saturday, August 22, Ralph joined an elite group of parkrunners worldwide when he completed his 500th 5km event at Rooi Point Farm, a milestone that has been over 10 years in the making.

November 21, 2015, marked the third parkrun ever held at Grey Goose. For our interviewee, then a casual runner keeping fit through ‘boring’ weekly runs, the appeal was immediate.

“The idea of being timed and positioned like in a race appealed to me immediately,” he recalls. “I was hooked from that first finish line.”

Little did he know that the first step would lead to an unbroken streak that would see him miss only four runs due to injury or illness in the early stages, followed by an astonishing 459 consecutive parkruns since August 2016, pandemic lockdown notwithstanding.

“It becomes like a drug,” he laughs. “After the first 10, 20, you don’t want to miss one.”

While the physical benefits are evident, our runner has maintained remarkable health throughout the journey; it’s the community that has kept him coming back week after week, year after year.

“It’s a weekly social gathering,” he explains. “Interesting people coming together, chatting and doing a quick run or walk in between.”

The Rooi Point Farm parkrun bunch, he says, has become a family.

“I would even go further and call them friends. We have so many different characters here; all special people and I’m proud to be part of them.”

The social tapestry includes encounters with running legend Bruce Fordyce on several occasions, plus countless other charismatic personalities encountered while travelling to different parkruns across the country.

Behind every successful parkrunner is often an equally dedicated support system.

“My wife, Esme, is the main support, making it possible for me to be away in those early Saturday hours,” he acknowledges. “And then, of course, Lace and Lucy, my granddaughters, have joined me running – which is very important to me.”

A milestone worth celebrating

When asked about his most memorable run, there’s no hesitation.

“That was without a doubt January 1, 2022, in Vryheid. My 250th,” he says proudly. “And on top of that, I won that one.”

The journey of milestones has been a gradual realisation rather than a planned conquest.

“At 250, it was quite a shock, realising it would take another five years to get to the next.”

The Covid-19 pandemic brought the world to a standstill, and parkrun was no exception.

“Devastated,” he says simply when asked about the shutdown. “Living on a large property proved fortunate; the running continued, albeit in isolation. The return to Vryheid’s parkrun was emotional, marked by the presence of Willie Boardman.”

“It felt like being at home after more than a year of not seeing a parkrunner,” he recalls.

The volunteer spirit has also played a significant role in his parkrun experience.

“The most exciting part is being there first early in the morning, seeing everybody arriving and being able to greet and hear all the news first,” he says.

Inspired by Gwyneth and Athol, he became a regular volunteer.

“Seeing those two putting their hearts into it was, for me, the moment to join,” he says.

So what’s next for a man who has achieved the 500-milestone?

“Once you reach 500, you are the furthest away from the next running milestone,” he reflects philosophically. “Try to keep up with the others, stay healthy and enjoy the ride.”

For those about to embark on their own parkrun journey, his advice is characteristically pragmatic:

Competitive people will always see it as a race. They don’t need advice. For non-competitive people, run or walk, enjoy it and come back for more.”

Reflecting on the journey, he offers perhaps the most telling insight into what this decade of Saturdays has meant: “It made me more confident, dealing with complete strangers.”

From a newspaper clipping in 2015 to 500 finishes spanning multiple events, locations and countless friendships, our local parkrunner has discovered something that no time on a Saturday morning can fully capture.

But if you ask him what parkrun has done for him beyond giving him a time, he simply gestures to the community around him.

“The answer to that lies in all the other answers given.”

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The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel