Organisers of Aspatria parkrun were looking for a special turn out to celebrate the 50th event at Bower Park.
The response was outstanding with a record turnout of 76 runners, walkers, pram pushers and dog walkers tackling the 5k circuit at Bower Park, home of Aspatria RUFC.
Geoff Toogood brought the idea to the rugby union club over two years ago.
Volunteers to run the event were recruited and an Allerdale Sports Development Grant was used to put a perimeter track around Bower Park.
The official start was delayed by COVID restrictions but the run has now being going weekly for the past year.
Geoff says: “I first came across the idea of a weekly parkrun when I took part in one while on holiday in Australia. I thought that Bower Park would be an ideal venue to host one when I got home.
“We have been heartened by the level of support from the local community, local Co-op, Aspatria Medical Practice, Allerdale council and also from people outside the area who find the run a great way to start a Saturday whilst on holiday in the area.
“We have a great group of volunteers who now organise the event and the rugby club have been very supportive in providing the venue and its excellent hospitality facilities.
“The run is every Saturday at 9am. The quickest get round in 20 minutes, the rest take a little longer.”
There are a few parkruns in the area – notably Keswick, Whinlatter, Workington, Penrith, Carlisle and Geoff is also trying to get one going at Silloth and he has also mentioned Maryport as a possibility.
One of the regular volunteers at Aspatria is 76-year-old Mike Graham, a keen runner in his younger days who actually took part in the first 23 Great North Runs.
He has had to contend with a number of knee problems in recent years, which have curtailed his running involvement but he was determined to take part in the 50th Aspatria Run.
“I was last getting round but I made it and the big thing as far as I was concerned was that we had over 70 taking part to mark our 50th event. That was great and I’d like to think we can build on that over the next 12 months,” he said.
