Social runners celebrate 300 events

ORGANISERS behind a free weekly initiative getting people active in nature marked a milestone over the weekend.

Since 2017, attendees of Bannockburn Bush parkrun have met most Saturday mornings to walk or run five kilometres from Bannockburn’s Old Base Road, and last weekend, more than 100 participants gathered to celebrate the 300th event.

“It’s epic,” said Bannockburn Bush parkrun co-director Julie Buyel. “When we initially started, we were so small, and there were weeks where we didn’t have so many participants.

“To keep building each week and averaging 60 to 80 participants for most of the year and get through COVID with no events is incredible.”

Many participants on the day dressed to the theme of op shop formal.

“The majority of people were running in outfits like a wedding dress, three-piece suits, sparkles, glam,” Ms Buyel said. “It was a fun event.”

Officially formed as part of the national parkrun initiative seven years ago, the progenitor for the local event consisted of a core group of a dozen people.

The original group met for about a year before securing funding from Golden Plains Shire to integrate into the Australia-wide program.

Ms Buyel said the local event has been a great benefit for Bannockburn and surrounds since its inception.

“I often hear people say it’s changed their lives,” she said.

“We’re a very welcoming community and people come for all sorts of reasons; they come because they’re lonely, to meet new people, for their mental or physical health.

“It’s changing people’s lives and that’s what I love about parkrun.”

The Bannockburn initiative is one of more than 500 parkruns are held regularly across Australia.

The local event is held at 8am each Saturday. To register to participate, visit the parkrun website.