IT WAS a cool morning for Gloucester’s 232nd parkrun after hot days during the week, with piles of fallen bunyah branches providing evidence of the strong winds that had swept through the park. There were 35 finishers for the event, including visitors from Port Macquarie and Blackheath.
Locals included three generations of each of the Watts and Murray families, with Olley Murray reaching his 25th run milestone. He opted to wear a tutu to mark the occasion, with Elaine and Bill Murray also dressed in tutus (a tradition they keep whenever the date is two-two, or 22nd of the month for those who follow the more traditional calendar).
The parkrun is often a time for catching up or for meeting new friends as you walk and talk around the route. Topics covered this time (or at least what the Run Director caught snatches of as people walked past) varied from how the Ashes Test in Perth was unfolding to the upcoming social media ban for under 16s (which was given as the reason one youngster was not bothering to smile for the camera – she was not going to see the photo anyway!).
The first male finisher was Daniel Brooks in 20.16, with Christine Bishop the first female finisher in 27.35.
The cooler temperature suited Lachlan Maggs and Howard Cameron, with both getting a personal best time. Rowena Sadler and David Francke were doing their very first parkuns. Welcome to parkrun! Louise Hopkins was doing her first parkrun in Gloucester, with her other 23 parkruns each being at a different location as she travelled around Australia.
It was an experienced band of volunteers that helped to deliver the event, with the dream team of Trudie Murray as timekeeper and Rod Eckels on finish tokens back on duty. Regular volunteer Garry Lyford had put his hand up during the week to don a red vest and take on the role of scanner.
Pat Burrows was enjoying the peace and quiet of being a tail walker at the back of the field, after her recent travels to the slightly busier India. John Rosenbaum kept her company and helped to pick up marker cones on the way back to the finish flags.
Gloucester parkrun is at 8am every Saturday – so come along and join in the fun of a 5 kilometre walk or run around Gloucester District Park (it’s a free event). There will be additional parkruns on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day if you want to get some extra exercise during the festive season.
By Carolyn DAVIES
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