parkrun is a worldwide event offering free 5k timed runs every Saturday morning throughout the year. There are currently over 350 locations offering the run and a total of 800,000+ runners have taken part and completed the 5k challenge.

The uniqueness of parkrun is that it’s run by volunteers, is truly open to all abilities, and doesn’t cost anything. Wyre Forest started it’s very own parkrun on 29th August 2015 and has since provided a fantastic run for up to 794 runners, averaging 124 participants for each week, and one week having 186 runners attend.

Wyre Forest would not be able to host a parkrun if it wasn’t for the fantastic team and volunteers from the Cleobury Mortimer Running Club (RunCleobury).

Since WF parkrun has started the team of volunteers has grown to 71 people in total, but it was the work of CMRC (RunCleobury) which was instrumental in getting it off the ground.

In particular it was Andie Ford form the running club that really led on driving this initiative forward. Andie has been fantastic when working in partnership with Wyre Forest District Council and with Richard Ralphs from Worcester parkrun, in order to get this running in August. And you will find her regularly in the role of run director on a Saturday morning with the other members of the volunteer team.

The core team consists of Ade Ford & Chris Simpson who also arrive at 7am to set the course up, plus also Jo Watson, Vicky Honeybourne, and Andy and Lisa Garlick.

But the parkrun could not happen for all the others who also give their time doing jobs ranging from timekeepers to marshal’s to token sorters to tail runners, and all sort of other roles. Sadly there are too many volunteers to mention them all.