The island’s weekly 5km community run started in April 2016, almost 12 years after the first ever parkrun event held in Bushy Park in London. Event director Lorna O’Donnell launched the event locally, after enjoying parkruns in her home city of Edinburgh.
‘We had a hundred people turn up for our first run on the island,’ she said.
‘Beforehand, lots of people here had no idea what it even was. And now we have 6,500 people registered – can you imagine if they all turned up one Saturday? Visitors come here specifically for the parkrun, some have even booked a whole cruise, just to tick Guernsey off their parkrun list. So I’m very pleased that the island has parkrun and is involved. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years.’
Organisers had planned for bunting, cakes and all things Guernsey to decorate the start line at their milestone birthday, however the windy weather would not allow for anything other than runners to remain stationary ahead of the run. The occasion was instead marked by the bright colours, fancy dress and buzzing merriment of its keen participants.
‘I’ve come as Harry Potter,’ said eight-year-old Amelia Dean, a regular parkrunner and volunteer.
‘I like running, and I like helping out, it’s fun being part of it.’
Her mum, Lindsey has been volunteering at the event since day one.
‘I’ve met so many lovely people, it’s a real community spirit and it motivates me to get out of bed on a Saturday and actually do something for me once a week,’ she said.
‘I enjoy seeing new people join, and hearing the difference it makes for them in terms of mental health. It’s like my personal escape, and it’s nice to hear that others appreciate it in the same way.’
Warming up with his teammates was Kevin Trump, who holds the current record for the most parkruns in Guernsey for a man.
‘This will be my 382nd run,’ he said.
‘I can’t do Saturday without parkrun – I love everything about it. Without it, I wouldn’t have met all these guys. It’s such a sociable fun event, and I love that it’s for everyone, for any ability. You can bring your dog, bring your family – it’s brilliant and since I discovered it, I’ve hardly missed a single one.’
His parkrun peer and rival, 78-year-old Terry Greening, is hot on his heels for the title – running his 380th on Saturday.
‘I love the friendliness of it,’ he said. ‘I did the first one, and I don’t know where the 10 years have gone. It’s a lovely event and I’ve met a lot of people through it.’
Its birthday run was the 466th to take place in the island, in which time almost 10,000 runners, helped by almost 900 different volunteers, have run or walked more than the circumference of the earth.
‘We’re routinely getting around 200 people each week now,’ said Charlotte Dunsterville, Saturday’s run director, who also took part in the first local run.
‘I never thought I’d be directing the run 10 years later – it’s quite an honour. It’s taken off so well and I’m not surprised really – we’re an island of runners and this is a really good, inclusive community event. It’s not a race, so it’s not competitive, there’s no pressure – but people like to aim for personal bests, and so still get that sense of achievement.’