INAUGURAL CAMDEBOO NATIONAL PARK PARKRUN

Legendary nine-time Comrades marathon winner Bruce Fordyce was impressed with the turnout at the inaugural parkrun along Camdeboo National Park’s Mountain Drive on Saturday 2 February.  A total of 375 people participated in the event, which Fordyce said was impressive, considering that South Africa’s first parkrun in Johannesburg in 2011 only had 26 participants.

Parkruns are 5km running/walking events that take place every Saturday morning in 14 countries across five continents. They are run by volunteers and participation is free of charge. Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a South African and friend of Fordyce’s, started the concept.  There are currently more than 130 parkrun venues across South Africa which sees 60 000 participants gathering every Saturday morning for what has become a community bonding event more than just a 5km run.

Participants gathered across from the entrance to the local caravan park in Graaff-Reinet on Saturday morning.  The run itself took place along Mountain Drive.  When asked about the national park course, Fordyce said “The Mountain Drive course is hilly, stony, a dirt road and has a certain amount of altitude as well. I would say it’s quite a hard course but it’s still fun.”

Dr Beyers Naude Municipality mayor Deon de Vos was also in attendance.  The first finisher was Sipho November with a time of 18:40 and the first lady was Joanne van der Walt with a time of 25:48.

Speaking after the event, Fordyce said “Today we’ve had participants of all abilities and ages participating.  There were some very fast runners who were flying and there were some people who walk in the back and that’s fine. It’s great to see everybody out.”  

The event will take place every Saturday morning going forward, starting at 8AM.