Parkrun walker and volunteer celebrate double whammy
Alex Nagy celebrated his 250th volunteer and parkwalk stint simultaneously at the Roodepoort parkrun recently.
Roodepoort parkrunner, or walker, Alex Nagy reached two remarkable milestones on September 5, completing his 250th parkrun as well as his 250th volunteer stint.
“Celebrating both milestones together was an honour. Reaching 250/ 250 makes me proud to be part of an activity which, for one hour on a Saturday morning, unites people from all walks of life in the common cause of keeping mind and body healthy,” said Alex Nagy.
He added that the achievement reminded him of the importance of supporting the event through volunteering.
A decade of involvement
Nagy’s journey began in 2015 when his daughter introduced the family to the Spur Winter series before they planned to emigrate to New Zealand.
A conversation with a client soon led him to Roodepoort parkrun. After attending for a few weeks, the family took a break while preparing to leave South Africa. From March 2016, Nagy returned as a regular participant.
“I never imagined reaching 50, never mind 250,” he said.
For Nagy, parkrun has become much more than exercise. He described it as ‘a feel-good drug with a competitive edge’ and said that once it was in the blood, a Saturday morning was unimaginable without it.
The joy of giving back
Volunteering has also become an important part of his parkrun experience. As a timekeeper, he enjoys seeing the determination and happiness on participants’ faces as they cross the finish line.
“I feel like I am rendering a service to the community,” he said. “The joy on their faces just lifts my spirit.”
Nagy also encourages everyone to volunteer, reminding the parkrun community that without volunteers, there can be no parkrun.
