Parkrun sprints towards 100th event!

MELKSHAM parkrun will celebrate its 100th event this Saturday, 14th December.

The Melksham parkrun core volunteer team reports, “As we approach our 100th event this coming Saturday Melksham parkrun core volunteer team would like to re-iterate their thanks to all who have helped make this hugely successful free weekly event possible. 

“As well as Melksham Town Council, Melksham Without Parish Council, Wiltshire Council, Cooper Tires and the trustees of the Adventure Centre, thanks go to all who have donated throughout the year and of course to the fantastic volunteers who make the event happen every Saturday. 

“Melksham parkrun is one of over 600 in the UK and over 1,500 worldwide, with our runners having covered over 83,000 kilometres. 

“The cooperation of other park users has played an important part in the event’s success. Most walkers and dog-walkers quite quickly realised that their park wasn’t being ‘taken over’ on Saturdays by a running elite, but is shared for less than two hours by ordinary people, including whole families, who discovered that regular running, jogging or walking did them the world of good and still left most of the weekend free. 

“The structured but friendly nature provides that little bit of a push some of us need. It’s also a great way to make new friends. 

“There’s a growing number of examples of parkruns bringing about mental as well as physical benefits and many GP practices all over the country have signed up as parkrun practices following an initiative by the Royal College of GPs. 

“Our Spa Medical Centre was the first in Wiltshire to sign up and several staff have already taken part in our parkrun. The 5 kilometre event starts at 9am every Saturday in King George V Park and is open to everyone of all ages and abilities. Junior parkrun (2k for 4-14 yrs) has just started and is held in the Park at 9am on Sundays. Google Melksham parkrun or Melksham junior parkrun for further details.”