Man who brought Parkrun to Shepparton hails community spirit after 500th race

Every Saturday morning, early risers across approximately 2000 locations around the world don their runners for a five kilometre walk, jog or run.

After its founding at Bushy Park in London, Parkrun now boasts a staggering 10,0000 members globally, with locations in 23 countries across five continents.

Having taken part in Parkrun at Melbourne’s Albert Park over a decade ago, Connolly soon became eager to ensure that Shepparton would not be missing out on all the fun.

Until January 2014, the nearest Parkrun club to the city was in Craigieburn meaning that would-be joggers were forced to make the 154 km journey in order to take part.

After some prompting from his wife, the community pillar eventually set the ball in motion for Shepparton to become the newest home of timed 5km running events in September 2013 - with the first event having been staged in January 2014.

He recalled that period in his life with great fondness as he reflected on over 12 years of fun at the helm of the operation.

“In August 2013, a good friend of mine introduced me to Parkrun and I went to my first run at Albert Park in Melbourne,” he said.

“We got together again at another Parkrun the next month but the nearest one to Shepparton was at Highlands in Craigieburn back then.

“So we met down there and I took my wife with me - it was only a small Parkrun down there and she was talking to all the ladies there who told her that we should set up a Parkrun in Shepparton.

“So we talked about that on the way home but we said ‘it’ll be too much like hard work’.

“But I went to Highland Park the next week and it was Grand Final Day so everyone was all dressed up - it was a really fun day and I really enjoyed it.

“Afterwards I came straight back and told my wife ‘yep, I think we will set that Parkrun up!’ so I always credit her for the suggestion.”

From there, Connolly and his fellow runners have not looked back and the former has now tallied up 368 races in Shepparton and 500 in total.

The city’s Parkrun founder has also taken part in races in an estimated 109 locations around the globe, including two trips to Singapore, alongside visits to London and Edinburgh in the United Kingdom.

Connolly, who was events director for the program for nine years and over 400 races, expressed his gratitude for the opportunities that his involvement in Parkrun has granted him since 2014.

“To have the opportunity of travelling and to do Parkruns at various places across Australia and overseas has been incredible,” he said.

“My friend who introduced me to Parkrun (Brendan Peel) has done 397 different locations and they’re all in Australia and started the thing of doing a race in every state, which me and my wife have both taken part in.

“On my travels through Australia, I’ve gone to so many places and bumped into people from Parkrun which is an amazing thing.

“The magic of Parkrun is that you meet so many people along the way through taking part.

“With the social atmosphere afterwards, you always get to meet a lot of people.

“From day one, I’ve always been reminded by people that it was me and my wife who brought Parkrun to Shepparton and they always say ‘its the best way to start the weekend.”

Such is his standing among his running peers, that Connolly received a guard of honour from those present when became only the fifth person in the group to take part in a 500th race earlier this month.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he said, as he recalled reaching his half-millennium milestone on March 7.

“It was a much bigger day than I’d expected but the 500th meant that they made a big deal of it for me - it was an emotional and extremely happy day.

“It’s been fitting and 12 years in the making.”