JOIN THE CLUB: Park Run steps out in Geelong

Life in Geelong is a walk in the park for many but a few keen locals want to change that.
They want to speed things up a little, so they’ve started Park Run Geelong, joining a world-wide movement.
One of the local group’s founders, Adam Hunter, said he experienced the concept during a visit to the Gold Coast, the first Park Run in Australia.
He enjoyed it so much he contacted Park Run Australia and offered to start a branch in Geelong.
“The idea began in the UK about eight years ago and has grown massively from there,” Adam explained.
“There are about 200 runs worldwide now, all of them free 5km events held on Saturday mornings at 8am at a local park.
“Once you register you’re registered for life and are instantly part of the worldwide Park Run movement.
“That means you can run anywhere in world – just turn up to your local Park Run park and join in the fun.”
Adam said the global approach was based on individual runner barcodes.
“When you register you receive your barcode that’s scanned when you participate in a run.
“That way you can get your individual run times and position by email.
The Geelong course is based at Balyang Sanctuary and started just two months ago.
More than 500 runners have since registered and the event averages 100 participants a week, all supervised by volunteers.
Adam and fellow event director Greg Sutton head the group of volunteers who rotate each week performing tasks like registration, timing and marshalling.
The runners have a combined total run time of 342 hours and have covered 3770km in an average time of 27 minutes 11 seconds.
“The concept is growing mainly because it’s free, professionally organised and community-based,” Adam said.
The Park Run website has a map of the course, posts results and includes a Flickr stream of photographs of participants in all their athletic glory.
Adam said many runners from various Geelong running clubs enjoyed the weekly Park Run as their club seasons ran down.
“We support any other running group or club and if we can help generate more members and encourage runners to move on to the next level we are happy to do so.
“It’s open to all comers, from the beginner through to Geelong Olympian Craig Mottram, who actually held world Park Run record for many years until recently.”
Adam said more information was available at parkrun.com.au/balyangsanctuary or by phoning him on 0418 518 129.