When Warrnambool parkrun event director Jarrod Mast was shopping for treats for the group's Christmas Day event, he didn't expect to fall so dramatically short.
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Mast had catered for about 60 people, like last year's number, but instead 160 showed up for the special event last week.
"It was quite a surprise, there was a huge turnout," Mast said.
But the Christmas Day parkrun frenzy wasn't a one-off.
Warrnambool parkrun, which celebrated its third anniversary in November, had its third-highest attendance on Saturday with 178 participants.
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Only its launch back in 2016 (217) and its seventh event (193) had more people running or walking.
But the soaring numbers in the south-west don't end there.
The weekly five-kilometre fun run held at 8am on Saturdays is drawing big numbers in many locations.
Port Fairy parkrun had its highest ever attendance on Saturday with 154 participants, up 17 on its previous best in 2017.
Timboon parkrun had 60 people turn up for the 8am start while 57 turned up at Hamilton.
Portland's event which started in 2016, had its second-highest attendance with 128 on Saturday.
That's 577 people who took on the challenge in the south-west on the weekend.
Mast realises the recent good weather and summer holidays help boost numbers.
But he said the worldwide parkrun phenomenon was going from strength to strength.
"It's growing year-on-year," he said.
"That's happening with parkun everywhere."
Mast believes its appeal lies in its community spirit.
"I think there's a community aspect and people enjoy the aspect that there's no pressure," he said.
The event director said the Christmas Day parkrun proved an important social event for those who don't have immediate family in the south-west.
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