Thetford parkrun sees record numbers to celebrate 300

The 300th Thetford parkrun took place on Saturday with some runners dressing up for the special occasion.

The 5km timed event had its highest ever attendance – 321 people – after an appeal to the community to get involved.

Melanie Sturman, run director, said: “It was amazing and seeing it grow over these six years from day one to the 300th event is just great.”

The previous record was 299 on New Year’s Day this year and Mel said it showed the continuing appeal of the event.

She said: “It is people coming together, supporting a positive thing and with the new houses being built just out of town too, our event will keep on growing.”

The range of people on the day varied from 79-year-old David Blatcher to mothers with their babies in pushchairs.

Mel said: “That is what means the most to me about parkrun, watching different people doing it with a smile and achieving their targets.”

The parkrun group has raised £1,300 of a £3,000 target to start a junior parkrun as well as in the very early stages of a possible military parkrun at RAF Lakenheath.

Mel said: “People have asked if I will retire from it now but I want to still be doing it when we hit 500.”

For more details on Thetford parkrun, go to www.parkrun.org.uk/thetford