Residents in and around Seventeen Mile Rocks who feel the need to start and pursue a healthy lifestyle should be happy that there is a free weekly 5km run right in their neighbourhood.
The parkrun happens every Saturday at 7 am at Rocks Riverside Park and participants need not pay to join.
What is Parkrun?
Parkrun is a global movement where local volunteers organise a free weekly run for the community. The runs are timed, so participants are competing against themselves. Parkrun events are set in pleasant parkland surroundings and are open for beginners, walkers and even professional runners.
In Australia, several parkrun events happen each week. The event at Rocks Riverside caters to locals in the Centenary area and nearby suburbs. Participants only need to register once so that their runs can be timed. They can still join the run without registering, but their run will not be timed.
Parkrun runners from other countries do not have to register again if they want to join the parkrun in Seventeen Mile Rocks.
Get more information about registration here.
The Course
The 5km-run in Seventeen Mike Rocks start from the Pavilion near the main playground. It follows a course that turns to the Riverside walkway towards Jindalee Bridge, then returns along the same path.
(Credit: Rocks Riverside Parkrun)
The course is a mix of concrete paths and asphalt paths, with some sections possibly getting mud and puddles after rain. The paths are shared paths so runners are reminded to be courteous to other park users.
Coffee After
The parkrun is not just about exercising and maintaining a healthy habit. The weekly event is also an excellent way to meet new acquaintances in the neighbourhood. After each run, participants enjoy coffee together at as local café.
Run by Volunteers
There is no fee required to join the weekly run as it is made possible by sponsors and volunteers. Anyone can join and volunteer for the parkrun. Each week, there is a different set of volunteers. The Rocks Riverside parkrun is continuously looking for volunteers to help in different aspects of event organisation.
Volunteers take on tasks such as timing the runner, scanning the runner’s barcodes, general marshalling or any other tasks to make sure the event goes smoothly. Interested in getting involved? Head over to the volunteer section of the Riverside Rocks parkrun website to find out more.
