GALLERY: Residents pound pavement to run for Ron
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EARLY mornings are no easy feat but almost 50 runners braved the chill and fog on Saturday morning to hit the pavement for parkrun number 90 at Queens Park.
The weekly event is held each Saturday at 7am in parks around the world, and the event this weekend was renamed parkRon, in honour of Australian Olympian Ron Clarke, who passed away last week at the age of 78.
Clarke was mayor of the Gold Coast from 2004 to 2012 and was a notable middle and long distance runner during the 1960s, having set 17 world records.
"The idea behind parkrun is all about people being able to achieve at their own level and everyone celebrates that achievement," said running director on duty Tara Behrmann.
Clarke was credited for his involvement in this social fitness event, having said "to me, happiness is running in the hills with my mates around me".
"The runs all across Australia have held a one minute silence for him this morning," Ms Behrmann.
"Ron was a real advocate for parkrun - it's a fun way of getting involved in fitness," she said.
"We have little running communities in town now and people connecting with others with the same fitness goals."
Ms Behrmann said she was grateful to everyone who participated and volunteered in the special parkrun tribute.
To get involved in parkrun as a volunteer or runner, email warwickoffice@parkrun.com.
