After 12 months of getting Seymour citizens off their couches and becoming the healthiest versions of themselves, the Goulburn River Trail parkrun is getting set to celebrate its first birthday.
Despite some initial slip-ups, event directors Lucy Linton and Peter Nunn have successfully operated weekly events in the Goulburn Valley, which park runners from all corners of Victoria, interstate and all over the world, including runners from England and Washington D.C, have attended.
In the past 12 months, the Seymour run has had an average of 35 runners each week, for a total of 1500 participants attending at least once.
They are among the 65,000 participants across Australia in 2024 who meet at 8am each Saturday in up to 487 different locations to run.
The participants are diverse, with runners as young as five and as old as 84.
Dunn and Linton said the event was only possible thanks to the tireless work of the volunteers who ensured the safety of all involved.
“In the last 12 months, we have had 405 champions who have helped us. Without their work, these events could not happen”, Dunn said.
During the group's first year, 45 parkrun events were completed, with only two cancelled due to volunteer shortages and five cancelled due to weather and safety concerns.
To Dunn, the group offers so much more than solely exercise.
“I love how everyone supports everyone and the friendships that form because of the positive, caring environment that exists,” Dunn said.
Those wanting to find out more can visit the group's Facebook page.