AFTER a long hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Melksham parkrun triumphantly returned last month, with emotions and excitement running high.
The free weekly 5k run, held every Saturday at 9am in King George V playing field, returned on Saturday 24th July, with 128 runners, walkers and joggers taking part in the 111th Melksham parkrun event.
“The true spirit of parkrun was in force,” reports volunteer Ben Phillips, “people coming together – as a community and beyond – to socialise after 16 months of no parkrun due to the pandemic. However, we now have the power of the vaccine which has given the green light for parkrun to return.
“It was so nice to see the words of encouragement projected all throughout the run – parkrun is truly back.
“Melksham parkrun #111 saw 128 runners, walkers and joggers take part in the event. Of these 128 parkrunners, an amazing 24 smashed their personal bests – well done. And to the 22 first timers, whether you’re visiting or if it’s your first time doing a parkrun, everyone at Melksham parkrun welcomes you and hopes you had a great run!”
One of the participants, Sue Mortimer, added, “I really have missed this positive start to the weekend and am over the moon that it is back. I am not a runner but love being a parkrunner. It really is for everyone whatever your age, size, ability or fitness levels. This free weekly timed event, which is not a race, gives a huge sense of community that I love as people run, jog or walk the 5K. It’s the community smiles on parkrun faces receiving and giving encouragement to each other along the way that I have missed the most.
“When you cross the finish line nothing beats that great sense of achievement you feel!
“So I wish to say a massive thank you to the many parkrun volunteers who turn out early on a Saturday morning and don on their hi-vis to undertake their roles whether it be race director, time keepers, barcode scanners, marshalls, tail walkers or one of the other many important duties they so willingly undertake because without you it just wouldn’t happen, there would be no parkrun family!”
The parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am in King George V playing field. For more details visit: www. parkrun.org.uk /melksham or www.facebook. com/ melkshamparkrun
Photo by Sarah Cardy
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