Roodepoort parkrun set to reopen on October 30
Second oldest parkrun on South African calendar a huge draw for locals and tourists
While little can keep runners out of their trainers, the unique feeling of parkrun is unmatched.
With parkruns gradually reopening in the past few months, depending on state-mandated lockdown levels, one of the biggest on the calendar is ready to go. On October 30, the parkrun community will once again fill Len Rutter Park after the Roodepoort parkrun received the green light. For the first time in over 18 months, parkrunners will get to add a digit on that all-important run count.
The Roodepoort parkrun was the second parkrun added to the South African schedule that now boasts 225 parkrun locations. Due to the dropping to level one, gatherings of 2 000 people outdoors is permitted, putting the average number that usually attend well within in the limitations. “We are thrilled that Roodepoort is back, absolutely delighted,” said parkrun SA founder, Bruce Fordyce.
A parkrun event is more than just gathering in an open field and going for a light, as ardent supports with attest to the finer details of the events that are so popular. They are a large logistical undertaking, as Bruce explained, “We have had to undergo a process of assessing the route to see if it may have changed over time. We needed to get approval from land owners, in this case the City of Johannesburg, and all in all head office in the United Kingdom takes about two weeks to finalise preparations.”
The reopening will not be too grand an occasion as not to tempt fate. “We do not want to go too wild and try break the outdoor gathering limit. Hopefully we will just fly below the radar,” the nine-time Comrades Marathon winner joked.
Parkrun celebrates its tenth birthday this November, and Roodepoort parkrunners may get the chance to run side by side with the legend. “It is a very special occasion for us and we are just so happy to be back,” Bruce said, hinting at his own return to the paths of Len Rutter Park.
