Parkland 5km trek initiative gets off to a healthy start

Volunteers, from left, Richard Eggleton, Kerry Bennett, Run Director Andy Welch, Judith Jain, Emma '¨Holland, event director Bob Bailey, front Abigale Eggleton, Erin Bennett, Lilly Holland. SG-020416-100TW
Volunteers before start - back Richard Eggleton, Kerry Bennett, Run Director Andy Welch, Judith Jain, Emma Holland, event director Bob Bailey, front Abigale Eggleton, Erin Bennett, Lilly Holland ANL-160204-132122001Volunteers before start - back Richard Eggleton, Kerry Bennett, Run Director Andy Welch, Judith Jain, Emma Holland, event director Bob Bailey, front Abigale Eggleton, Erin Bennett, Lilly Holland ANL-160204-132122001
Volunteers before start - back Richard Eggleton, Kerry Bennett, Run Director Andy Welch, Judith Jain, Emma Holland, event director Bob Bailey, front Abigale Eggleton, Erin Bennett, Lilly Holland ANL-160204-132122001

Boston parkrun, which is one of 300 free events around the country, has been going for six months now, and has attracted as many as 128 runners.

The weekly timed run takes place on Saturdays at 9am and begins and ends at Witham Way Country Park.

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It even sees participants from all over the country and further afield, known as Tourists, visiting the town to take part in it.

Boston parkrun was set up by a group of friends, including doctors and health professionals from the area, to combat reports of the town topping the tables in health issues such as obesity.

One of the organisers Andy Welch said: “It happens every Saturday morning come rain or shine at Witham Country Park, its free, its inclusive, its a world wide phenomenon and its great.

“It is a free 5km timed run, fully marshalled and carefully managed.”

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He said thegroup wanted to promote health in the area, but that they were not all from athletic or healthy backgrounds.

Since starting, the event has seen more than 500 runners, both local and from futher afield, take part with all ages joining in.

The course is three clockwise laps of the Country Park, starting and finishing in the centre of the park near the path from the parking area.

A post parkrun coffee is also held in the Burton House Brewers Fayre, Wainfleet Road, Boston.

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It is also used by a number of local clubs, including Skegness and District Running Club, Skegness Coasters and Sleaford Striders.

Some of those taking part are planning to enter other events such as the London Marathon.

Mr Welch also plans to be a Tourist himself, and will be heading elsewhere in the future.

Those who join up to parkrun are given a members barcode, which they use to sign in to the event and gives them an online record of their times.

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This barcode can be used at any of the 300 parkruns around the country.

It is asked that those who take part also volunteer as marshalls on a regular basis doing a few weeks running and a few weeks marshalling.

For more information visit www.parkrun.org.uk/boston