In your parks, get set and run: two years celebrated

Hedland’s weekly fun run celebrated a significant milestone recently when runners blew out the candles on a birthday cake to mark its second year.

The weekly community gathering, which sees competitors complete a timed 5km run along Cemetery Beach starting at the Civic Centre Gardens, began in November 2017.

The birthday, held on November 2, was the 103rd event put on by the parkrun and had 19 energetic participants give their all in search of the ever elusive personal best.

Run director Robin King said the run had brought people in the community together over the last two years.

Mrs King said she saw the benefits of the community event at Perth park runs and became part of the push to get one set up in Port Hedland.

“People have come and gone, and we’ve had people come and seek out the park run from over east as well,” she said.

Dion Monteleone, who came in first with a time of 18:12, said the runs were a great networking opportunity for people in the town.

“It’s a family-friendly activity that improves people’s health but also is a social event with like-minded people who all enjoy running,” he said.

“We talk quite a lot before and after, which is good, and I’ve been using the runs as a platform for my training to see where I’m at.”