Melksham parkrun is celebrating a milestone after hosting its 300th event, with participants running, walking or jogging 5km around King George V Park.
Held every Saturday at 9am, the event is run by a core team of volunteers, with 37 marshals helping out at the 300th event. On the day, 31 people achieved personal bests.
“I had the privilege of kicking things off with the first timers’ briefing,” said run director Jim Judd. “12 nervous but excited newcomers stood before me, mingling with 17 well-travelled tourists, including those from Adelaide, Australia to be here.
“Some of our visitors also took on volunteer roles, with Christine taking on the role of parkwalker and Rich joining the set-up crew — proof that at parkrun, you can arrive as a stranger and become part of the team before the stopwatch even starts.
“There’s a rhythm to marshalling; the early front-runners flash past like a gust of wind, followed by steady clusters of mid-packers and finally the determined power-walkers and parkwalkers, every bit as committed as the leaders. Almost all of them gave a nod, a smile, or a breathless ‘thank you’ as they went by – small gestures that warm you more than the August sun.
“From my vantage point, I watched 208 finishers make their way past, some chasing PBs, others simply soaking in the morning. Among them were milestone makers: 100 parkruns for Azurah, Jemma and Sean; 50 parkruns for Rachel; 25 parkruns for Stephen; and Junior 10 for James and Charlie.
“Somewhere ahead of the pack, David and Katherine claimed the honours as first finishers. No parkrun happens without its volunteers and this week we had a bumper crop — 37 people in hi-vis, smiling, scanning, timing and cheering. Many were regulars but some were first-time volunteers, discovering what we long-timers already know: that helping out can be as addictive as running itself.
“Our roster is never full so if you ever find yourself in this position on a Saturday morning, do come along to the volunteer desk and we’ll find a spot for you.”
Melksham parkrun is a free and friendly weekly 5km community event welcoming runners, walkers and joggers. Spectators are also welcome. Before joining, register to take part via the website and get access to your own personal scannable barcode; without a barcode a time cannot be issued.
Support Local News
Help us keep your community connected and informed.
Local news is under pressure more than ever. For just £2 a month, you can support independent reporting that shares local stories, investigates the issues that affect you, and keeps residents up to date.
Choose a monthly subscription or a one-off donation. All donations will be reinvested into producing local journalism for Melksham.
Donate Now
