Double delight for Newbury parkrun as the event celebrates its 500th outing and its 11th birthday

Newbury’s parkrun has a double celebration next month.

Saturday, February 11 marks a significant milestone in the life of the free community run – its 500th event and its 11th birthday.

Since the 317 runners completed the first Newbury parkrun on February 11, 2012, more than 19,500 people have taken part, supported by over 1,700 volunteers. The course at Greenham Common has been completed 185,000 times.

Fraser Harding, event director for Newbury parkrun, said: “The sense of community is what makes parkrun so special.

“Over the past 11 years, parkrun has become an important weekly event here in Newbury – many life-long friendships have been forged on our beautiful course, and people have discovered a passion or talent for running and volunteering.

“Since starting, we've welcomed over 19 thousand participants at Newbury, delivering a real impact on health and wellbeing of the local community.”

Around 400 people of all ages and abilities – including those with pushchairs and dogs on short, hand-held leads - regularly take part in the Newbury parkrun, which is held at Greenham Common and supported by BBOWT, Natural England, West Berkshire Council and Greenham Parish Council.

Each week the participants, who also include ‘parkrun tourists’ who travel across the country to take part in different parkruns, navigate the single-lap course, cheered on by 35 enthusiastic volunteers.

The 500th event will be marked by a group photo of those who took part in the first Newbury parkrun, pacers to help the runners achieve their target times and lots of cakes.

The organisers are hoping that previous visitors and former participants will take the opportunity to return for the occasion.

Anyone wishing to volunteer on the day or contribute to the baking is asked to email newbury@parkrun.com and those thinking of attending for the first time are warmly encouraged to do so but should register beforehand at parkrun.org.uk/register.

Parkrun is a free community 5k event, where people walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. It takes place at 9am every Saturday morning at venues across the country.