TRAIL RUNNING
Here ’ s to the Next 10 Years
Lions delaying the start , whale sightings on the coast , curious giraffes and pre-event briefings in Zulu ... This November , parkrun South Africa turned 10 , and to celebrate , parkrun South Africa President Bruce Fordyce talks us through the growth of parkrun across a country that now boasts over 200 different parkrun venues .
Amanzimtoti parkrun
First Delta parkrun Mofolo parkrun Standerton parkrun Melkbosstrand parkrun
One Saturday morning in November , 10 years ago , a group of 26 runners and four volunteers gathered outside the research building in Johannesburg for a 5km around Delta Park . This rather inauspicious start heralded the birth of parkrun in South Africa . As with the very first parkrun in the world , which took place in October 2004 at London ’ s Bushy Park , we were also brought together by parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE . He had mentioned to us about starting parkrun in South Africa , and some sixth sense told us this would be an excellent idea .
However , even with Paul ’ s encouragement , and our own enthusiasm , I don ’ t think that even the most optimistic of observers could have predicted that a few years later there would be more than 200 parkruns across South Africa , with up to 60,000 walkers , joggers , runners and volunteers each Saturday , and over 1.2 million people registered .
At the beginning , growth was slow , but then it became steadier . Delta was followed a few months later by a second parkrun at Roodepoort , then a third at Ebotse and a fourth in the Eastern Cape at Nahoon Point . At this point , the spread of parkrun started to gain pace . We also went on to welcome two new parkrun countries , Eswatini and Namibia , to the parkrun family .
Parkrun South Africa has always attracted walkers of all abilities , and we are proud of how many walkers take part every week . We are also delighted that our average parkrun finish time is 42 minutes and 57 seconds . This is the slowest average finish time in the parkrun world .
South African parkruns now range from the Indian Ocean ( North Beach , Amanzimtoti , and Uvongo ) to the Atlantic Ocean ( Melkbostrand and Big Bay ).
Curios giraffes at Umfolozi parkrun
There are parkruns in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains ( Cannibals Cave and Winterton ), in the semi-arid deserts ( Aggeneys and Springbok ), and bordering the Kruger National Park ( White River , Hoedspruit and Barberton ). Also , some incredibly picturesque parkruns can be found in the Western Cape vineyards at Root 44 , Vredendal and Franschhoek , and on many golf courses ( Sand River , Vrede and Ladysmith ).
Nkomazi parkrun once delayed its start because visitors from the Kruger Park were blocked by a pride of lions lying in the road , and parkrunners at Umfolozi are often accompanied by curious giraffes . Pelicans regularly hunt for fish in the lagoon at Walvis Bay parkrun , and whale sightings are common at many of our coastal parkruns .
We are very pleased that parkruns are spreading into our townships and reaching some of the more disadvantaged communities . It is exciting to listen to a pre-event briefing given in Zulu or Xhosa , and some interesting and heart-warming stories have emerged from these parkruns . For example , at the launch of Mofolo parkrun , a string quartet entertained parkrunners , and there was singing and dancing on its famous rainbow stage .
I don ’ t believe any of us had an inkling of how popular parkrun would prove to be in South Africa . We had no idea that several of our parkruns would regularly number over a thousand participants , and a few over two thousand . So , as I cast my eye over the very first set of Delta parkrun results in November 2011 , I am filled with nostalgia at the wonderful memories they stir up . Importantly , however , I am struck by how many of those original parkrunners are still taking part a decade later .
It ’ s amazing how parkrun has become such a permanent and important part of our lives , so here ’ s to the next 10 years !
About the Author
Bruce Fordyce is a legend of South African running , having won the Comrades Marathon nine times , including eight consecutive victories from 1981 to 1988 . He also won the London to Brighton Ultra three years in a row , and he is the former World Record Holder for both 50 miles and 100km . He has written several books on running and served as a TV commentator and pundit , as well as a popular motivational speaker . Today he is President of parkrun South Africa , and he runs the organisation alongside his wife , Gill .
40 ISSUE 146 NOVEMBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za