Parkrun likes recognising milestones, with anyone running in their 25th, 50th, 100th, 250th or 500th event receiving a shirt to mark the occasion.
However, with Point Cook parkrun celebrating their 10th anniversary this weekend, providing a shirt to each of the 150 runners expected to take part isn’t feasible.
Instead, event director Blair Rundle is encouraging participants to bring along their own commemorative clothing.
“The theme for the morning is fancy dress. It will be a party atmosphere,” he said.
Fancy dress is one of the aspects that sets parkrun apart from traditional fun runs and has contributed to its popularity since launching in the UK in 2006.
The first parkrun in Victoria was held at Albert Park Lake and among the participants were a group from the Point Cook Running Group.
“They thought this would be a great addition to the local area of Point Cook so they set to arranging our event,” said Mr Rundle of how the local version came about in 2014.
Since then more than 50,000 people have run in parkruns at Arndell Park in Truganina, covering a distance of 254,525kms.
Blair Rundle became one of them in 2017 and explained the attraction.
“It’s not a race. It’s an activity that all family members can be involved in, you don’t have to
run the event, you can walk, chat and enjoy the company of others. Also, it’s free!,” he said, adding that anyone over the age of four can take part.
“My dad started parkrun 3 years ago at the age of 76. He has now completed 95 parkruns.”
To join Mr Rundle’s father and friends in the 10th anniversary parkrun on Saturday January 20 visit: www.parkrun.com.au/pointcook/
Cade Lucas.
