Warrnambool parkrun returns, Timboon parkrun not far away

Whitehead participated in Warrnambool parkrun's return event on Saturday morning at Lake Pertobe.

It was the first Warrnambool parkrun since March 14, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE:

The popular free five-kilometre run/walk event attracted 217 people with 49 first-timers.

Timboon parkrun hasn't been on since March 14 either.

"We've just had a bit of a change over," Whitehead said.

"Donna (Ellis) was the event director for the past just under four years, she started up parkrun in Timboon."

He said the Timboon parkrun team was busily preparing itself for all the COVID-19 protocols to run a safe event.

Whitehead said the event usually attracted numerous juniors from the Timboon Demons Football Netball Club.

But he said parkrun drew in more than just youngsters.

"We're really well supported by the older generations and they like to walk it along the rail trail and quite often spot the koalas and everything on the way down," he said.

He invited anyone wishing to help out to get in touch.

"If any volunteers could contact me through the web page or through email that would be great," he said.

Jarrod Mast said the Warrnambool parkrun return event was a raging success.

"I've had people tell me the course is longer," he said.

"That's good, we're on the alternate course and it's meant to be long so happy with that.

"The turnout was massive, people were here before 7.30am, so I hadn't even finished setting up the course."

He said it was great to so many smiles and familiar faces as well as plenty of newcomers.

"I think it's the stuff people have been wanting to do for ages," he said.

"Even someone said 'I haven't seen this many people in one area doing something for ages', so even that's a bit of a shock to the system, I suppose.

"It was good to see everyone do their bit to try and stay (socially) distanced."

Port Fairy parkrun and Hamilton parkrun returned on January 16.