Each week in almost 500 communities across Australia people come together to run (or walk) a five-kilometre course.
The events are known as Parkrun, and one of the most remote groups meets each week in the Bass Strait, on Flinders Island.
Locals catch up and keep fit, enjoying scenic views of the beach.
Rodney Pitchford has completed nearly 200 Parkruns. Source: Supplied
Rodney Pitchford has been attending the Flinders Island Parkrun for almost five years — completing around 180 Parkruns since then.
As the group sets off down the track, Rodney follows along near the end of the pack.
“I had a couple of knee reconstructions, and the physio at the gym recommended that I go on this park walk. So they said, ‘Oh, it’s a park run’. I said, ‘Well, I don’t run'”.
Walking is pretty common at this Parkrun. The average time of the event at Whitemark Wharf on Flinders Island is around 43 minutes, 10 minutes slower than the national average.
It’s getting slower each year as peopls from all walks of life join in.
Flinders Island GP Lynne Davies helps organise the event along with the local physio — and she says they’re proud of the slower average time.
“It doesn’t matter. We don’t care if people don’t do the whole thing, we don’t care what speed people go, we’re really proud of our Parkrun, that we’ve got a very slow average finish time, and that reflects that we are inclusive of people walking at whatever speed — they’re very welcome”.
Davies said the benefits of Parkrun are well-proven.
“It’s not just exercise, it improves social isolation and mental health”.
“The beauty of Parkrun is it’s free, it’s equitable, anybody can access it. You don’t need special gear and you don’t need to commit”.
Flinders Island GP Lynne Davies says there are many proven benefits of Parkrun. Source: Supplied
Around six million people participate in the global phenomenon that is Parkrun.
It started in London two decades ago and spread to 23 countries.
Most weeks Flinders Island’s Parkrun is attended by between 20 and 30 people — a good crowd for an island with a population of around 900.
For local farmer Tracey Stackhouse, the weekly event represents an opportunity to connect with her community.
“I found we were farming seven days a week, and there was no change, and I just said to my husband one morning, ‘I might do Parkrun, saw it advertised on Facebook'” she said.
“We’ve been coming ever since, and that’s great now, coffee, cake, chat with a little bit of exercise thrown in on the side”.
On top of the social benefits, Davies says the local physiotherapist sometimes uses Parkrun as part of a treatment plan for his patients, to build up strength before surgery, or for rehab afterwards.
“I’d encourage anyone, go and find out where your local Parkrun is and go along and if you walk slowly or if you run, that’s fine, and you’re going to be healthier your mental well-being will be better as well.”
