welcome to this week's newsletter

In this week’s newsletter we launch a new event at Rockingham, celebrate Ginninderra parkrun’s 1st Anniversary, and host the inaugural GCAM Reunion Day.

When I first started writing this weekly newsletter in June 2012 it was often a bit of a struggle to come up with interesting and engaging content week in week out. Not even 12 months later and this situation couldn’t be further from the truth, and in fact I have so many amazing statistics and stories to share with you this week that I almost don’t know where to begin, but here goes nothing…
At a global level, we recently registered our 500,000 parkrunner and set our largest ever weekly attendance with over 37,000 parkrunners participating. And it just so happens that parkrunner number A500000 is an Aussie (Amy Little) who ran her first event at the inaugural Augustine Heights parkrun two Saturdays ago.
On Saturday parkrun really came of age in Western Australia with 160 runners at Claisebrook Cove and an incredible 111 runners at the launch of Rockingham parkrun. That’s a total of 271 runners and 23 volunteers across the 2 events. Thanks to Claisebrook Cove Event Director Jon Storey for guiding new Rockingham ED Claudia Wells through her first day on the job, it looked like a wonderful occasion.
Ginninderra parkrun in Canberra celebrated its 1st anniversary on Saturday with unbelievable scenes including, but not limited to, a new attendance record of 188, Marty Dent only 10 seconds off another course and Australian record time, the entire top 10 under 17.05, the entire top 20 under 19.26 and Scott McTaggart laying claim to fastest pram pusher with 17.04! Now we all know that parkrun is a run and not a race, but WOW!!!
I spent Saturday morning at my home event Kirra parkrun where it was Gold Coast Airport Marathon Reunion Day (see article below) and it was great to see so many old GCAM finishers shirts on the course. This Saturday I will be attending the launch of yet another event in Brisbane, this time at Cleveland. This launch is a direct result of the success of Wynnum parkrun down the road and we are expecting another great turnout.
Also happening this Saturday is the ‘Black Arm Band For Jo’ run at Kingscliff parkrun. Joe Kelly was tragically killed during the Brisbane Twilight Run last month and his triathlon club will be running at Kingscliff in his honour. Dawn Courage and her team are looking forward to welcoming them and showing their support at this tough time.
Happy running!
Tim from parkrun Australia (get in touch)

Were you a first timer last weekend, or did you run a personal best? We would love to hear about your experience on email, @parkrun_au or on Facebook.
By The Numbers…
Another big month for parkrun in Australia. Just last month we were celebrating breaking through the 3,000 parkrunners per week level, this week we are knocking on the door of 4,000! A bit of bad weather caused a few glitches along the way but I am sure with 4 new parkruns launching in May we will be over 4,000 very soon.
Last month our friends in Lake Mac asked the Professor to look at “The Region of Runners” or the Hunter to the rest of us. Now the Prof is not really into Rugby League, but he has just about heard of ‘State of Origin’ and thought he would create a few simple ‘parkrun of Origin’ graphs!
The first one looks at parkrun attendance for all State/Territory as a percentage of that State/Territory population. It comes up with an interesting result if you live in the nation’s Capital (another feather in its 100 year old cap).
So at this stage the Prof felt a little sorry for Matt Hutton, guessing NSW’s fourth place was not what he wanted to see? So digging a little deeper (down to ‘Statistical Area Level 2’ data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics) we come up with something that should put a smile on Robbo and Matt’s faces...
So proof positive the ‘Region of Runners’ does exist and looking at it from a % point of view it is way ahead of the rest!
Assuming the Prof does not get lynched in the next few days by a mob of maroons - then next month the Prof will take on Darragh Murray’s request to look at the fastest parkrun course in Australia! If anyone else has some suggestion then please let Tim know.
Professor Alan & Róisín from Wynnum parkrun.
Gold Coast Marathon Reunion Day
On Saturday at Main Beach, Kirra and Coomera parkruns we held the inaugural Gold Coast Airport Marathon Reunion Day. We asked parkrunners to wear a previous GCAM finisher or training shirt to go in the draw to win free entry into a 2013 GCAM race of your choice courtesy of parkrun and Get Active Gold Coast. Well the photos are in and if you are one of the below lucky runners please contact stephen@goldcoastevents.com.au to claim your prize.

For those of you who want to join the parkrun Australia team at this year’s GCAM, please follow the below instructions:
Step 1: Go to www.goldcoastmarathon.com.au
Step 2: Enter -> Enter Now.
Step 3: Read the entry conditions and begin the entry process.
Step 4: Are you entering as part of a team -> ‘I would like to search for an existing team’.
Step 5: Enter ‘parkrun Australia’ and click the green button to search and display the team.
Step 6: After the search, the team name will appear. Click the green button next to the team name.
Step 7: In the password field, enter 'park2013' and click JOIN.
Step 8: Once the team code is accepted, you then progress through the normal entry steps.
Sydney Half Marathon Winners
Congrats to the following parkrunners, who have scored themselves at spot at the Sydney Half Marathon thanks to adidas: Phi Luu, Stuart Legg, Trish Russell, Rochelle Cox and Paul Wilcock. You’ll be representing parkrun at the big event on May 19.
If you are attending the Half Marathon make sure you come past adidas at the expo. Keep an eye out for the #boost banner station, where your loved ones can create personalized boost banners to support you on event day. See your name and personal message as you run past your biggest fans!
adidas also invites all competitors running in adidas into their VIP chill out area at the finish line. Here you can relax after the event, put your feet up and have your photo taken with adidas athletes and ambassadors. So don’t forget to wear adidas on event day for VIP access.

Upcoming Event Launches, Anniversaries & Cancellations
Our 7th launch for the year is coming up this Saturday, May 4, at Cleveland in Brisbane. Other confirmed launch dates include May 11 for Curl Curl in Sydney; May 18 for Varsity Lakes in the Gold Coast; May 25 for Highlands in Melbourne; June 1 for Sandon Point in Wollongong & Canning River in Perth; June 8 for Mitchelton in Brisbane; and June 15 for North Shore in Townsville.
Newy parkrun celebrates its 1st anniversary on June 8 whilst Coomera & Claisebrook Cove turn 1 on August 3.
The Pointy End

Who are you? Lake Mac parkrun women's course record holder and the only woman to beat all comers (i.e. the men) across the line, Steph Auston.
How the hell do you run so fast? I’m not that fast! But I like running hard and pushing myself and have been lucky to never have any injuries.
How many km do you run in an average training week? I only run 60 to 65km a week so not too much really but I do triathlons so also do about 7 to 8hrs on the bike and 24km in the pool... And Pilates when I can!
What type of training do you typically do? I do triathlons so mix it up with intensity and volume. My favorite run set though is 5x1km reps at race pace with 2 minutes rest in between!
How long have you been running and have you always been so damn good? I was really active as a kid always outside running around and doing team sports. I didn't specifically start running until I was about 15.
What is you favourite distance? The 5km parkrun of course!
Do you have a coach and do you train with a squad? I coach myself but do squads sessions under Chris Stevens with the Highlight Triathlon Team in Newcastle doing about 4 to 5 squads a week.
How much faster would you like to go? Short term the goal is a 17.30 for 5k on the track. Long term is somewhere in the 16minutes! (You can dream right?!)
What big events do you want to run? I would love to take triathlon to the next level but later on something extreme like the north face 100, New York Marathon and Hawaii Ironman are all on the bucket list!
Feedback from the field
Kate McMullen - Thanks for a great Wynnum parkrun! I am a St Peters parkrunner and thought your flat course would be a breeze, but it certainly had its own challenges!
Suzzanne Galea - Great morning at Wynnum parkrun. Big thanks to the pace runners. I'm sure they have helped quite a few with PB's. I certainly kept 25 min in my sight.
Kym Wilkinson - I'm yet to get any action photos from parkrun but this is the outcome of my last 2 long runs (14km) with the BOB Ironman Pram. On both runs she fell asleep at about 6km. Before having this pram she was awake for my 12km runs
Katy Gallagher - All the best to everyone at Ginninderra parkrun and congrats for what you have achieved in your first year.
Shane Radnell - Great to get back to @Gindyparkrun this morning. And congrats to @RussJefferys and Jess for Ginninderra parkrun's 1st birthday and record no of runners
Mick Chapman – Seriously, how good was @Gindyparkrun today, never would have guessed it would have grown as big as this in 1 year!
Emily Gearside - Great @Gindyparkrun 1st Bday! I finished 2nd in female points competition. Congrats to Tania (1st) & Sally (3rd).
Marty Dent - Pleased with my award from @Gindyparkrun at our 1st bday. Knocked out 14:52 this morning.
Andrew East - Hey Gindy parkrun, thanks so much for making us feel so welcome today at our first time of many. Look forward to getting to know you guys.
Peter Taylor - Was great fun taking part in today's Ginninderra parkrun but more importantly the birthday celebrations... Happy Birthday!!
Chris Lamb - Three cheers to Russ and Jess as their baby (Ginninderra parkrun) is turning one. Thanks guy's for changing how many of us look at our Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Now bring on the ashes!!!
Mandy Collins - The only problem I see with Rockingham parkrun today is that everyone is sitting on their asses now... Checking out the awesome photos on their computers ha-ha!!!
Drop me an email if you have an interesting parkrun related fact, happening or comment that you would like to share with all parkrunners.
Volunteer Profile

Name: Debbie Hollanby
Age: 53
Home parkrun: Wynnum
Occupation: Teacher Aide
Number of runs: 14
Number of times volunteered: 3
What do you do at parkruns: I have volunteered with registration and numbers and as assistant Run Director.
How has parkrun changed your running: Wynnum parkrun hasn’t changed my running, it has started my running! My son who is a very keen runner encouraged me to go along and I have been participating ever since.
What do you like about parkrun: I love the way it encourages all ages and levels of runner, you feel part of the parkrun family no matter how fast you run/walk.
Most memorable or funniest parkrun moment: My most memorable moment was in my first Wynnum parkrun when my son James, after finishing his run, found me out on the course and ran the last leg with me – and he has done it ever since.