Uvongo parkrun record tumbles

THE Uvongo parkrun attracted record crowds and runners and walkers from all corners of South Africa – and even the world – during the December holiday season.

This run or walk, from St Michael’s beach to Uvongo beach and back, is one of 2 677 free, timed 5km events that are held in park like environments in South Africa – and 53 446 across the globe – every Saturday morning at 8am. Nearly 97 000 parkrunners are now registered in South Africa, so this keep-fit movement is really huge.

Last Saturday was the Uvongo parkrun’s 88th event so it is not surprising that many regulars have earned their coveted orange shirts by completing 50 runs. Quite a few local runners earned this distinction during the busy December season.

On average 123 runners take part in weekly events and for a long time the record of 183 runners, set in December 2013, went unchallenged. However, this record took a serious tumble this December. On December 20 a substantial field of 245 runners set an impressive new record and the following week, 227 runners lined up for the parkrun. As can be imagined the volunteers who organise the runs had their hands full keeping track of such a large crowd. Things quietened down a little on January 3 when 170 runners, still well above the average, completed the run and there were 160 runners last week.

What was particularly impressive was just how many different parkruns these large holiday fields represented. Runners came from so many different areas in South Africa and a substantial amount of visitors came from a good selection of overseas countries. Running the December parkruns were like taking aprt in international events. Feedback the organisers are receiving from visiting runners is that Uvongo parkrun is a particularly friendly one.

Many holidaymakers ran their first ever parkrun in Uvongo – and by the time they had finished, most of them were hooked on the concept.

A regular Uvongo runner asked one first-timer from Gauteng if he had enjoyed the run and was rather taken aback when the first timer said no.

“‘Enjoy’ is too mild a word for what I experienced today. Being part of this global keep-fit movement was a phenomenal experience,” he said. Since returning home he has regularly taken part in his local parkruns.

While Uvongo parkrun has unearthed some amazing running talent, the organisers are just as impressed with those walkers who patiently slog it out at the back of the field every week. Many of these less competitive types are nonetheless notching up new personal best times and, an even more praiseworthy effort, earning their 50-run T-shirts. The point about parkrun is that it is for everyone, fast or slow, fit or not so fit and young or not so young.

The unsung parkrun heroes, though, are the thousands of volunteers around the world who give up their Saturday mornings to make parkrun the great success it is today.

Anyone is welcome to take part in the Uvongo parkrun. Go to the parkrun website and register. You will be given a unique bar code. Print it out and hand it in for scanning whenever you cross the line. It is that simple to be part of the friendly walkers and runners who are keeping fit the fun way.