The all new Flaxmere parkrun

If you have been following Flaxmere’s Facebook page you won’t have missed this news. The new Flaxmere Park parkrun is the 29th one in New Zealand and the 1870th in the world. There are nearly 4 million people across the world turning out every Saturday morning for a run, jog or walk. And Flaxmere is getting into it in a big way, with more than 100 turning out for each of the first two Saturdays.

The passionate team running the free weekly event say that as well as being good for fitness, parkrun is fun and builds new friendships within the community. .The international phenomenon was started by volunteers in Bushy Park in London in 2004. For founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt, it was about sport and community, with both equally important. Newly fired from his job, the keen runner had a vision to see a parkrun in every community; a ‘family’ of like-minded people who might not want to be tied to a club. Little did he know that it would spread like wildfire across the world . . . to Flaxmere.

Participants range from those keen to keep improving their personal best times, to those wanting a regular walk around the park with their youngsters (some in push chairs), the dog (on a lead), or their friends. Register for your barcode so you can keep track of your runs (www.parkrun.co.nz/flaxmere/) and see you Saturday, 8am!