Runners, joggers and walkers in Central will have the global free community event parkrun on offer in Alexandra from mid-May.

Event director Sally Booth has been the driving force behind bringing parkrun to Central, registering the course and coordinating volunteers.

Sally said it had been a year and five months in the making.

“It’s been a bit like a third job.”

Sally also works as a social worker for Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and in mental health for WellSouth.

She said everyone is welcome at every parkrun and she hopes it will bring more visitors to town, and boost peoples’ mental and physical wellbeing.

“There’s never anyone in last place as there is a tail walker and there is no time limit.”

Sally Booth took part in the Coast to Coast in a team with her family this year. She did the mountain run leg. PHOTO: Supplied 

The first official parkrun in Alexandra is at 9am on Saturday, May 11, and will be an up and back course, starting on the rail trail just north of the Dunstan Park subdivision, up to Coates Rd and then back, and into the pines for a 400m loop, finishing where it started. 

“We did investigate other options for various trails but [parkrun’s health and safety requirements are specific],” Sally said.

She said that the run could not cross any driveways, roads or access ways, and it had to be wide enough for mobility scooters and prams, and potentially able to cope with around 200 people at a time.

Prior to the first parkrun, two trials are being run this month on Saturday, April 20, at 2pm and Sunday, April 28 at 1pm. 

For the first official parkrun event in Alexandra she is hopeful of about 50 people coming along. 

Volunteers at the 250th Queenstown parkrun on February 3, 2024 included Alexandra’s Shelley Charlton (fourth from left). PHOTO: Instagram @yogabounce 

Prams and dogs are welcome, there is no need for fancy equipment. To find out more join the Facebook group Otago Central Rail Trail parkrun, Alexandra Trials.

A web page will be launched next Friday, April 19. Participants and volunteers need to register online prior to the first parkrun. On May 11 they need to print out and bring their barcode along to take part.

Sally thanked event director Sarah McKey, run directors Dean Gerling, Tom Health, Shelley Charlton, Murray Booth, Maria Burnett and others who have volunteered.

Parkrun began in New Zealand in 2012 and has become a feature in many communities, uniting those new to running, families, visitors, young and old alike for an inclusive fun timed five kilometre run every Saturday morning.

Across New Zealand there are more than 44 events in public parks or open spaces and along with participating there are lots of ways to volunteer, including setting up the event, marshalling, timekeeping, scanning, handing out finish tokens or tail walking.

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