A personal account of how parkruns have revitalized green spaces and fostered community in South Africa, highlighting the social and environmental benefits beyond physical fitness.
Parkruns have allowed South Africans to reclaim their green spaces and get some much needed exercise. I’ve always enjoyed my Saturday morning sleep-ins, truth be told. Until a former work colleague, who I now consider to be a good friend, came and steamrolled over that comfortable habit. “Would you like to join me for a parkun tomorrow?”, he casually enquired one Friday afternoon. Because clearly I looked like a sucker for punishment.
Having given up smoking a few years prior and feeling keen to develop my fitness I took on the challenge and have never looked back. I completed my first event, the Athol Oaklands parkrun, in 2018, finishing in about 33 minutes after considerable huffing and puffing, but in less than a year I had managed to shave almost 10 minutes off my Personal Best (PB) time. But there is a lot more to the parkrun phenomenon than just keeping in shape and challenging your fitness goals. In the process of mixing it up and being the occasional parkrun ‘tourist’, I have also seen some interesting places that I never would have discovered before, and in the process have met some highly inspiring people. I never cease to be amazed by the friendly and inclusive vibe felt at the Bosmont Parkrun, west of Johannesburg, which I have attended occasionally. Here the community members really go out of their way to make guests to their neighbourhood feel welcome. The Bosmont Parkrun has galvanised the sense of community in the area and attracted new tourists. Picture: Facebook Runners and walkers alike cheer each other on as they make their way through the route, which volunteers have put considerable effort into cleaning up and making traversable. Following the event, it’s not uncommon for the participants to mingle with koeksisters, cake and coffee as they catch their breath under the shady trees next to the Bosmont Stadium where the event starts and finishe
Parkruns Community Fitness Green Spaces Social Impact
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