The Norm-Hudlin Trails parkrun, one of Gqeberha’s five active parkrun locations, has contributed to a remarkable milestone for Parkrun South Africa, recording one million unique participants.
Since its inception, the Norm-Hudlin Trails parkrun has welcomed over 3 927 participants, creating a vibrant, inclusive community for runners, walkers, and volunteers.
According to Events Ambassador of Parkrun SA and Co-Event Director at Norm-Hudlin Trails, Amanda Mortimer, “We’re delighted to have played a small part in contributing to this milestone. It’s such a big number, but parkrun is also about the small things that we see every week; the smiles, the friendships, and the friendly and welcoming community that we have created.”
Mortimer emphasised that volunteers are the heartbeat of the parkrun community, extending a big thank you to the volunteers.
“We look forward to welcoming many new and previously active participants! Come and join us on a Saturday morning. It’s free, it’s friendly, and it doesn’t matter how fast you are. You can walk, jog or run, or come and help as a volunteer. We hope to see you soon,” she said enthusiastically.
This remarkable achievement is particularly meaningful to Bruce Fordyce, President of Parkrun South Africa, who was present at the first South African parkrun at Delta Park, which attracted only 29 participants.
Reflecting on how far parkrun has come, Fordyce cited how amazed he is after 13 active years to see more than one million people join parkrun in the country.“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,” he added.
Since parkrun’s debut in South Africa in 2011, the initiative has blossomed, now hosting over 220 events nationwide. Mortimer highlighted the achievements, noting that parkrun’s growth and community-driven mission have been consistent across all regions.
To enter, each parkrun event remains free and accessible, welcoming all participants and volunteers.
With parkrun becoming a Saturday morning staple across South Africa, this year’s registration numbers are expected to be the highest since 2019. Over 60 000 volunteers have supported the events, making the milestone possible.
Mortimer encouraged all to join, “It doesn’t matter how fast you are. It’s a community where everyone is welcome; whether you’re there to walk, jog, run, or just lend a helping hand.”
For more information, visit www.parkrun.co.za/normhudlintrails.
