Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 60, July 2014 | Page 46

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parkrun SA
Join the friendly, free 8am Saturday
morning 5km in your area!
Rondebosch Common, Cape Town
Facebook: Rondebosch Common parkrun
The seed for the newly-launched parkrun around the
picturesque Rondebosch Common was planted when I
was aimlessly rambling around the Two Oceans Expo in
2013. I chanced upon Bruce Fordyce single-handedly
manning a parkrun stand, and very soon we got chatting
about this new parkrun craze sweeping the entire world.

Woodlands parkrun, Johannesburg
Facebook: woodlandsparkrun
Twitter: @woodlandparkrun
The Woodlands Office Park parkrun has now had over
60 events, with an average field of 350 every week.
The venue boasts a game park with sable, springbok
and impala as well as an abundance of birdlife and
two huge tortoises. The course starts with an easy
downhill and a gentle uphill, which helps to spread
out the competitors on the day. Then, on entering
the park, you run in a clockwise direction with some
serious hills – we’ve been told by many parkrunners
that Woodlands is the hardest parkrun!
To date, 10 parkrunners have run their 50th parkrun
at Woodlands, with David MacCallum the first to
complete all 50 of his runs at Woodlands, while junior
Zoe Katsivalis has volunteered at 55 events!
– Event Director Staci Katsivalis

The Common was an obvious choice, a beautiful setting
in the shadow of Devils Peak, safe from traffic, and simple
to navigate! Twice around is conveniently 5km, too! The
only downside is that the Common is exposed to the
strong winds renowned in the Cape that can make the
course a real challenge. The official launch took place in
February 2014, with 136 eager runners at the inaugural
run. We have since had 18 events and have just under
1200 runners registered, averaging 175 runners per
event, with our record being 256 participants. Regular
winner Stephen Courtney holds the men