FOUR parkrun groups in the region have topped the national charts with a friendly rivalry, lifting their communities through the latest round of lockdowns.
The free weekly 5km parkrun event has a cult following across Australia, including in Lake Boga, Kerang, Cohuna, and Echuca-Moama.
The four local clubs began healthy competition on the leaderboard of (not)parkrun Australia event running during lockdown.
On Wednesday this week Cohuna was in second place Australia-wide, Lake Boga was third, followed by Echuca-Moama in sixth place and Kerang 14th.
“(Not) parkrun has been around since the start of first lockdown – 18 months ago,” Kerang Regional parkrun director Annette Kelly said.
“It’s an incentive to get people out there, build up the community and have a bit of a competition.
“Australia-wide people have said, ‘what a brilliant idea’.
“Enthusiasts missing their weekly dose of outdoor group social exercise are getting behind ‘(not)parkrun’ the COVID-safe solo substitute that allows you to track your daily exercise.
“Another Kerang parkrun organiser, Amanda Lake, said we should get the (not)parkrun going as a bit more of an incentive.”
Kerang and Lake Boga walkers started (not)parkrun before inviting Cohuna to compete.
“Not long after, one of the Echuca-Moama event directors Rod Cairns suggested they jump on board – so all along the Murray we started this challenge,” Ms Kelly said.
“And it’s really put our local parkruns to the top of the leaderboard.”
Walkers, joggers, runners can track their exercise on the parkrun website or app.
The original parkrun event is back this weekend in Lake Boga, Kerang and Cohuna.
