Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 60, July 2014 | Page 46

ER N IA D RT PA E M 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