GEORGE NEWS - For the celebration of its fifth birthday on Saturday, George Parkrun asked parkrunners to donate pet food and running shoes to those in need.
The turnout was great and almost 50kg of pet food and 30 pairs of shoes were received. The pet food was donated to SPCA George and many pairs of shoes will be donated to Prins Albert Parkrun, as many of the children do their Karoo course barefoot. George Parkrun started in 2014 through the enthusiastic vision of Chantell Liddell and Neville Myburgh, who saw the potential for a 5km route from the Garden Route Botanical Garden into the surrounding forests and back.
The event has grown to a steady number of an average of 450 parkrunners throughout the year, peaking at close to a thousand during the holiday season.
Since January, George Parkrun rarely saw fewer than 600 runners at an event, which clearly shows the community's interest in their own well-being and their desire to enjoy a natural environment.
It is, however, the volunteers that deserve praise, as they are the backbone of any parkrun. George Parkrun is blessed with a number of dedicated, smiling parkrunners who have made particular volunteer roles their own.
Marge Webster, a regular 'tail walker', made a high-visibility jacket for her dog Flash who accompanies her on her way around the course, making sure no parkrunner is left behind.
The dedicated setup team, mother and son Adele and Freddie Munro, are also appreciated for arriving at 07:00 every Saturday to help with the pre-event setup duties.
Over the past five years the event has been affected by devastating fires (October 2018) and the tragic death of Andre Kotzé, a 59-year-old parkrunner who passed away at a parkrun on 2 December 2017 while descending the steepest part of the route.
These incidents left lasting impressions on all the volunteers and parkrunners involved and have become part of George Parkrun's story. Ultimately, everybody realised anew what a privilege it is to have good health and safety, as well as the magnificent surroundings beneath the Outeniqua Mountain.
It is a privilege to have the Garden Route Botanical Garden as venue. The wide lawns offer ample parking while the start area is located in front of the convention centre, where parkrunners can visit the restrooms before heading out for their run.
The start area is separate from the finish area, though, so parkrunners are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes before the start to allow them sufficient time to walk the 400m from the parking to the start in time for the pre-run briefing.
First-time parkrunners will be glad to know that dogs are welcome at George Parkrun, and they most certainly enjoy the two streams they have to cross on the route. Babies in prams have a tough time though, as only the most dedicated 4x4 prams successfully navigate the course over tree roots and small rocks.
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