Polokwane Parkrun celebrates first birthday

Lovely weather and a freshly paved parking area welcomed guests at the first celebration of the city’s parkrun that was hosted at the park opposite Hoër Tegniese Skool Tom Naudé on Saturday.
The event was attended by 280 runners, mostly regulars as well as Lois Hardy, member of the Polokwane Municipality Mayoral Committee and nine times Comrades Marathon winner Bruce Fordyce in his capacity of National Director of Parkrun South Africa.

A lucky draw took place and participants enjoyed cake to mark the celebration while trophies were handed to the male and female runners at the top of the table for the last 52 runs for this year. Michael Ward and Jeannie Owens were the winners of the trophies.
The organisers could not provide the name of the winner because he was not a registered runner. Louise Schutte was second, followed by Simon Bophela, Johan van Huyssteen and Wilthy Bophela.
Hardy said that the municipality took pride to be involved in the upgrading of the park and said that the facilities can now be properly utilised to the benefit of the community.
Fordyce congratulated the organisers on the celebration of the event’s first birthday and expressed the desire to be part of the next celebration as well. He also applauded the “Parkrun Tourists” who came from as far as Cape Town and Lephalale to support the event.
Polokwane Parkrun Event Director Felicity Roberts said that she was happy with the turnout and the fact that most participants were regulars, indicated that it is sustainable.
“There were also a number of other running and other events at other venues that influenced availability of runners,” Roberts said.

Featured Photo: Lois Hardy, member of the Polokwa-ne Municipality Mayoral Committee welcomes runners at the 1st celebration of the Parkrun.

BARRY VILJOEN
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