Orient Beach parkrun is rapidly establishing itself as one of the Eastern Cape’s biggest and most popular weekly running events, with the Quigney beachfront setting attracting thousands of participants since its launch.
This past weekend, the event recorded 2,883 finishers, making it one of the biggest parkruns in the Eastern Cape.
This Saturday also marked the 20th running of Orient Beach parkrun, which has already made an impressive impact.
Run director Hugh Thomas said the first Orient Beach parkrun attracted 901 participants, placing it among the top 10 inaugural parkrun events in the world at the time.
Since then, the event has continued to attract runners, walkers and volunteers from across the country, with close to 3,000 unique participants having completed the course at least once.
Thomas said the influx of visitors has been welcomed by the organisers, with the beachfront location proving a major attraction.
“It’s great and people love it here because we are freindly and we motivate each other,” Thomas said.
The event takes place every Saturday at 8am at the Orient Beach Complex and consists of three laps around the venue.
Orient Beach has also become a destination for parkrun tourists – participants who travel to different events around the country and the world to experience new courses.
Thomas said the event has attracted visitors interested in completing their parkrun alphabet, with Orient Beach providing the coveted “O” event.
The tourist appeal is expected to continue, with parkrunners from outside the province already planning visits.
Thomas said participants from Paarl in the Western Cape are expected to attend this Saturday, while volunteers and runners from other parts of the country have also made their way to Orient Beach.
Among them is Johannesburg-based tail walker John Collin, who has completed an impressive 580 parkruns. For organisers, however, the growing numbers are about more than statistics.
Orient Beach parkrun provides a free weekly opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to get active, socialise and enjoy the outdoors.
Whether participants run, jog or walk the 5km course, the event has created a growing Saturday morning community around the Quigney beachfront.
With 2,883 finishers recorded to date, Orient Beach parkrun is already becoming a regular fixture on the local running calendar and its growing reputation suggests the numbers could continue to rise.
