Gail (70) and Robin Williams (77) have redefined the meaning of couple goals by completing one of parkrun’s most sought-after challenges together.

The pair recently completed the parkrun alphabet challenge at Jock Trail parkrun in Graskop, Mpumalanga, ticking off the final letter needed to complete the A to Z journey.

The alphabet parkrun is a popular goal where participants run or walk at parkruns whose names start with every letter of the alphabet.

Over the years, the couple has completed more than 850 parkruns between them across several South African provinces and in the United Kingdom.

Gail explained that when they first downloaded the parkrun app, they realised they had unknowingly completed lots of challenges.

“The first challenge we completed was parkrun tourist, which was to do 20 different parkruns. We didn’t chase it; it just happened by doing a parkrun closest to where we were on holiday. The next was Windgat, which is to attend 100 different South African parkruns.

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“We heard about the alphabet challenge when one of our parkrun friends mentioned that Zandvlei in the Cape was the only Z. So when Robin did the Cape Town marathon, we stayed a week longer with our son and his family to do Zandvlei parkrun. We did the O at Onderstepoort parkrun.

“We went to the UK visiting family and then decided we’ll do the Q and Y because in 2025, South Africa didn’t have those two letters.

“We proceeded to complete Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School parkrun and two weeks later, the Y Promenâd parkrun in Wales,” she recalled.

Having started in 2014, the Jock Trail marked the 454th parkrun for Robin and the 404th for Gail. Gail reflected on the most memorable parkruns as well as their experience in Graskop.

“The Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School one was memorable because I had to download the UK train app, work out which trains to take and which stations to get off at. It was very stressful because my son and daughter-in-law had other plans.

“After the parkrun we had to run to the bus stop because there were fewer buses and trains on a Saturday,” she said.

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She added that the Y Promenâd parkrun was scenic as they also had time for sightseeing.

“The Jock Trail parkrun was probably the craziest parkrun we did because we left Friday, slept over close to the start, did the parkrun then checked out, went for breakfast then all the way home,” Gail said.

She and Robin said they felt humbled to have achieved the milestone together.

“This is a goal that is out of reach for many South Africans. We feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to complete it together,” she said.

Gail said the runners they have met over the years, especially when they were volunteering, have impacted them positively. She encouraged the community to give back by volunteering and also shared advice for aspiring runners.

“You are never too old to start walking a parkrun. Many people think you have to run, but I’m a walker. There’s a tailwalker at every parkrun so you will never be last,” she said.

The parkruns on her bucket list include Clarens, Dullstroom and East Coast brewery to complete the Compass Club challenge.