Humid conditions failed to deter 70 participants when the starter’s gun sounded for Weipa parkrun 351 on Saturday morning. Photo: Facebook (Weipa parkrun).
Weipa parkrun participants have covered the staggering equivalent of one-and-a-half times around the equator since the weekly community event launched in July 2016.
The national parkrun movement offers those competing the opportunity to walk, jog or run a five-kilometre course around their town each Saturday morning.
In the past seven-and-a-half years in Weipa, 1,710 participants have completed 13,037 parkruns, burning some serious rubber on their shoes – and thongs – to notch up a total distance of 65,185km.
To put that into context, the circumference of the equator is a touch over 40,000km.
In a statistic reflective of Weipa’s community-focused mindset, 449 individuals have volunteered 2,354 times to ensure the starter’s gun fires every week.
70 participants took to the course on 3 February, 2024 for parkrun 351, with nine maiden runners celebrated and three personal bests recorded.
For those pondering whether they can set a record for the course, the Damien Messmer set a blistering pace of 16 minutes, 46 seconds for the five kilometres at parkrun 235 in October 2021.
Lizzy Bagnall is the reigning women’s record holder, with a personal best of 18 minutes, 41 seconds set in April 2023 at parkrun 266.
An impressive 1,710 participants have laced up their shoes for the Weipa parkrun since the community event launched in July 2016. Photo: Facebook (Weipa parkrun).
