Happy birthday, Uvongo parkrun
Bruce Fordyce was one of a handful of people who took part in the inaugural run.
UVONGO parkrunners will have an extra spring in their steps when they run or walk from St Michael’s to Uvongo and back on Saturday this week.
They will be celebrating their parkrun’s first birthday and will be looking back on a year of fabulous fun and friendly competition. To add to the celebration the organisers ask all parkrunners, old and new, to take part in the birthday run and to make sure that this run beats Uvongo’s all-time attendance record of 183 runners. Please wear a funny hat and join the organisers for a birthday cake treat after the run.
A worldwide organisation, parkrun hosts free, timed runs in parklike surroundings every Saturday morning at 8am. There are 30 of these events in South Africa alone and many more in many different countries. Runners receive unique bar codes on registering. These are scanned as they cross the finish lines and the results are recorded and published. Although runners are registered with their home parkrun they are welcome to take part in any parkrun anywhere in the world.
The Uvongo parkruns are organised by Margate Round Tablers and other dedicated volunteers who give up their Saturday mornings to host them. The inaugural Uvongo parkrun was held a year ago and Comrades Marathon star Bruce Fordyce, who is involved in parkrun South Africa, was one of the first runners. Although only about 30 people took part in the first Uvongo parkrun, it quickly gained momentum. Now, a year later, an average of 113 runners complete it every week.
The weekly parkrun has presented a fun challenge to many regulars of all ages and very different abilities who have watched,with a sense of achievement and pride, their personal best times diminish over the year. In fact, since its inception, the Uvongo parkrun has boasted a magnificent 1 436 personal bests. Overall, 1 391 different runners, including many regulars and quite a few visitors from other parts of South Africa and even other countries, have crossed the Uvongo finish line since the parkrun was started.
One of the best aspects of the run is that it is open to anyone. At the moment, the average time it takes to run the course is 41 minutes and 27 seconds. However, times differ greatly. Speedsters cross the line in breathtakingly short times while others walk or even stroll across the finish long after the front runners have packed up and gone home. It doesn’t matter. It is not a race as such. It is, if you wish to be competitive, simply a personal race against the clock and everyone is welcome.
Over the months a number of very talented Uvongo runners have emerged. The men’s champion is Fred Goodhead who has set a course record of 17 minutes and 59 seconds. His female counterpart is Caity Schlemeyer whose best time is 21:16. Andrew Spence is the age grade record holder. Another top achiever is Philip Prinsloo, the first person to notch up his 50th Uvongo run – an honour he achieved at the 51st Uvongo parkrun. This means he has only missed a single solitary Uvongo parkrun since its inception.
To Philip and many other regulars as well as the volunteers who make it happen every week the anniversary Uvongo parkrun week will be a very special occasions – and an achievement for everyone involved. Make sure you are there.
