Greg Leslie and Nicole Harriss say parkrun Mildura is a fantastic way to get active. Picture: Louise Barker
While many of us baulk at the thought of going for a run, a new event in Mildura aims to encourage all locals to get out there and have a go – even if you walk it. NATALIE CAVALLARO caught up with the organisers of parkrun Mildura to find out why it’s set to be the biggest social fitness movement in our region in 2019.
Easy as a run in the park
For mum of five Nicole Harriss, running is an escape from the world that is a necessary time out.
“It’s the only way I keep my mental health together,” she says.
While living near Taree on the mid NSW coast, Nicole discovered parkrun, a worldwide weekly free event which sees five kilometre running courses held in towns and open to anyone to participate in for free.
Giving her an opportunity to commit to her run Nicole says she was able to bring her children along and foster in them the same love of running.
“Once the kids got to a certain age they ended up being able to run faster than me with the pram,” Nicole laughs.
“On a Saturday morning I’d want to stay in bed and they’d be saying, ‘isn’t it parkrun day’”? Since moving to Mildura to be closer to her husband’s family, Nicole missed the community spirit of parkrun so set about trying to get it off the ground, along the riverfront.
Unbeknown to Nicole, Greg Leslie was also trying to get parkrun going in Sunraysia.
“Anyone who would listen to me, I sell the virtues of parkrun to,” Greg says.
“I started making enquiries and was advised there was another group in Mildura looking at putting something together and it was quite advanced in its processes, so we combined efforts.”
Hit the ground running
Fast gathering supporters through social media, Nicole and Greg emphasised that parkrun’s biggest virtues are it’s cost (free), and low commitment, along with its focus on enjoying physical activity, not competition.
“There’s no obligation, you just register once for free and if you wake up on the day and don’t want to do it you’re not letting anyone down if you don’t show up,” Greg says.
“You don’t have to run if you don’t want to, you can walk and bring your kids and the dog if you like,” Nicole adds.
“It will be along the riverfront track so people in wheelchairs can complete the course, and there’s no repercussions if you can’t do the whole five kilometres.
“We just want to encourage people to give it a go.” However Greg says if you’re an avid runner you can also use parkrun to your advantage by keeping up with your training and trying to clock a personal best time.
“I’ve done parkrun in about 11 different places and the discipline can be great because running is often lonely,” he says.
“Some weeks I’ll go to try to beat a PB and others I just go for a jog for fun.
“Doing parkrun helps keep training on track for me.”
Make the most of Mildura
Nicole says she has lived all over Australia and Mildura’s options for outdoor activity were “fantastic”.
“We lived in Kempsey a few years ago and it has a riverfront section but there’s no walking track at all,” she says.
“The riverfront here is great and we love getting down to Apex Park to walk, you feel like you’re out in the bush and going down there with the kids is one of our regular walks.
“”There’s so many places I’ve travelled to where the town is right on the river and there’s no track and it’s not utilised.” Greg says hitting the tracks on foot is one of the best ways to discover our own backyard.
“You don’t have to be fanatical about running but getting out there opens it up to you so much more,” he says.
“I’ve discovered tracks and paths that I didn’t know existed and I’ve lived here for 20 years.
“Running is a great way to get out and see what we have.”
Parkrun Mildura is set to begin February 2019 and will be held every Saturday at 8am beginning at Mildura riverfront.
Cost is free.
For more information you can visit Mildura parkrun’s Facebook page.
