Running legend visits Bay to launch new leg of worldwide Parkrun event

Nine-time Comrades Marathon champion Bruce Fordyce was in Port Elizabeth on Saturday to launch the local leg of Parkrun – a free, timed run of about 5km.

Fordyce is the country manager for Parkrun South Africa and was responsible for introducing the worldwide run, which started in the UK and sees about 300000 across the world hitting the road at 8am each Saturday.

The Port Elizabeth leg, which started at Hobie Beach on Saturday, is the fifth in the Eastern Cape and the 19th in the country.

Organiser of the local leg Rosalind Wilson was thrilled with the turnout.

"We had an outstanding turnout – the PE Hobie Beach parkrunners were amazing and we are incredibly happy with the results. After months of planning, it all came together perfectly.

"We had a total of 182 runners, of which 167 were first-timers. Representatives of 13 different athletics clubs took part," she said.

While the parkrun is not a race, the best time achieved was by Graham Eshmade (19:50) in the men's category, while the best women's time was by Lise Classen (21:41). Connor Wade was the first junior home in 25:04.

Parkrun is an enjoyable, sociable, open-to-all weekly event organised completely by volunteers. There are no registration fees or licence numbers and it caters for all ages and fitness levels.