Last Saturday’s Lakes Entrance parkrun, the 290th edition, was the second biggest event ever conducted with 163 people running, jogging and walking the picturesque course.
The last event of 2024 brought a huge influx of tourists, who happily strutted their stuff among the dedicated locals who hit the pavement every Saturday from 8am.
This week there were 66 first timers with 12 athletes recording new personal bests and a remarkable 16 different clubs represented out on the course.
The event was led home by Melbourne athlete Xavier Chapman who usually makes an appearance or two over the holiday break. His winning time was 17 minutes and 27 minutes, a long way off his sizzling personal best of 16 minutes and six seconds.
He finishes ahead of Andrew Crawford (17.27) and Matt Treadwell (17.48), both who posted personal best times.
The first women home was Kate prior in 20 minutes and 54 seconds, in 14th position overall.
Running groups represented in the event were Lakes and District Runners, St Kevins Amateur Athletics Club, Riviera Triathlon Club, Everlasting Fitness, Wynfit, Sydney Striders, Sale and District Runners, Run Like A Girl, The Adventurers, Crosbie Crew, Baw Baw Runners, Knox Triathlon Club, The Leo Wanker Academy of Fitness, Raring2Run, Lalor Running Club and Pakenham Road Runners.
Lakes Entrance parkrun started on February 3, 2018. Since then 3463 participants have completed 13,337 parkruns covering a total distance of 66,685 km, including 1,684 new personal bests, while a total of 261 individuals have volunteered 2055 times.
The Lakes Entrance parkrun will return again this Saturday, departing from the rotunda, if you can’t wait till next Saturday, Bairnsdale parkrun are hosting an event on Wednesday.