The international running phenomenon parkrun will soon hit Warrnambool.
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The free timed five kilometre event will be launched on November 19 at Lake Pertobe and be held each Saturday.
Race director Courtney White instigated the Warrnambool event after seeing the enjoyment of participants at Gippsland where she is originally from.
She said her sister Sheridan attended parkrun most weeks and enjoyed trying to improve her time at the community event.
“I went along with her one week and saw all about parkrun, how cool it is and how fun it is and thought ‘I want one of these in Warrnambool,” Ms White said.
Parkrun started in the UK in 2004 when 13 runners got together in Bushy Park, Teddington. There are now more than half a million runners who participate at more than 900 locations worldwide.
Ms White said participants could walk, jog or run and those who registered received a bar code which tracked their progress.
“We want to promote it as something for everyone. It’s for all ages and abilities - families, kids, adults. It’s open to absolutely everyone,” she said.
The unique bar code also enables them to participate at other parkruns across Australia and internationally, while also providing feedback on individual’s weekly progress.
Portland and Hamilton have established parkruns and a Port Fairy event is expected to begin by the end of the year.
“It’s definitely taken off across the south-west. It’s really exciting,” Ms White said.
Port Fairy parkrun race director Kate Winnen is excited the town’s residents will soon join the movement.
“Port Fairy’s in the pipeline,” Mrs Winnen said. “We haven’t got our launch date but it’s not far away. We hope to be running by the end of the year. It’s certainly happening.”
Ms White welcomed volunteers to see how the Warrnambool event worked and there were different roles available.
To learn more go to the Warrnambool parkrun Facebook page. Online registrations will open at parkrun.com.au on October 28 once the Warrnambool page is operational. To volunteer call Courtney on 0408 574 297.