HARTENBOS NEWS - A million people have participated in parkruns in South Africa since the start of the parkruns in this country. 

This milestone was celebrated on Saturday, 16 November, with some parkruns in the country organising something special to commemorate the occasion. 

The Hart & Bosch Village Parkrun in the Hartenbos area also celebrated this milestone. 

There were 343 participants and 38 volunteers at the parkrun on 16 November. 

The marshals at parkruns are always volunteers. 

Bruce Fordyce

Parkruns were started in 2011 in South Africa by legendary marathon runner, Bruce Fordyce.

Currently the president of Parkrun South Africa, Fordyce said: “Who could have guessed that when we stood there at the inaugural Delta Parkrun [in Victory Park, Johannesburg] with just 29 participants, that just 13 years later we would see that more than one million people participated in parkruns here in South Africa - incredible. 

“I’m excited to see what’s going to happen next with parkrun in South Africa. 

"There are so many more people who would benefit from coming along to parkrun, whether to walk, jog, run or volunteer, and we look forward to another million South Africans signing up over the next few years.”

The participants just before the start of the Hart & Bosch Village Parkrun on 16 November.
BELOW: It was Michael van der Merwe's 50th time volunteering at a parkrun.

We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news.