Cloncurry’s first parkrun is set to start this Saturday (October 28) and you are invited.
Parkrun is a weekly 5km timed run or walk and is suitable for people of all ages and abilities.
It is a free event but you do need to register in advance with parkrun Australia at www.parkrun/register.
There you can register Cloncurry as your home parkrun and you will get your unique barcode, which you need to print off and bring on the day.
Some other handy items to bring are a hat and water bottle.
The 5000m metre course is at Mary Kathleen Park, Cloncurry and is run entirely on gravel paths.
Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain.
Depending on availability, marshals will be at key sections of the course, or signs will be in place.
Held across the country, the Cloncurry parkrun is being billed as one of Australia’s most remote.
Cloncurry parkrun event director Denis Imhof said he’d got involved in the parkrun at Hervey Bay and wanted to bring the concept to the North West.
“Saturday October 28 is our official launch date,” Mr Imhof said.
“We’ve been running trial events the last few weeks but the 28th is when we go live, and we’ll have timing and we’ll go live onto the parkrun Australia website.”
We’ve been running trial events the last few weeks but the 28th is when we go live, and we’ll have timing and we’ll go live onto the Parkrun Australia website
- Denis Imhof
Mr Inhof said it was crucial people registered in advance so they could get their time recorded.
“Once you’ve registered and got your barcode you can do any parkrun in the world,” he said.
“In Australia alone we are up to about 248 now.”
Mr Imhof said runners controlled their own destiny in parkruns.
“It’s not like a race where you are trying to get the fastest time, it’s more up to you if you want to bring your time down or get a PB, there is no expectations, it’s about participation and having a go,” he said.
“If you want to walk you can walk, if you want to run you can run.”
Parkruns are held at 7am each Saturday.