THERE was beautiful weather and a bumper turnout for the first official Kerang parkrun on Saturday, with 170 people making their way around the 5km track.
They included babies, children and dogs, serious runners and plenty of leisurely walkers.
Despite the emphasis on participation, there was a murmur of approval from onlookers when local boy Josh Kelly came in first, with a time of 19.02 minutes.
Mr Kelly, a hobby runner, said his performance had involved a bit of effort.
“I definitely hit fifth gear,” he said.
Now living in Swan Hill, he said he expected to be down in Kerang fairly often for the event.
“It’s good to support these new things,” he said.
“Congratulations to the organisers. It’s good to see so many members of the community, whether it’s people walking or mums pushing prams.”
From the initiates there was praise for the course, which follows the river then the levee bank for 2.5km, and involves returning the same way.
“It’s easy. No hills,” Trish Whitlock said.
“It’s an absolutely wonderful course,” an Echuca participant said.
Organiser Annette Kelly described the crowd at the inaugural event as “astounding” and hoped it would help people appreciate the natural surrounds.
“It’s an absolutely gorgeous morning,” she said.
“And, I think it’s opened people’s eyes to what’s down there.”
The local social exercise event, which follows the guidelines set down by an international parkrun movement, has been more than a year in the planning and involved the efforts of many volunteers and the support of the Gannawarra Shire Council.
Now it is up and running it will be held, rain, hail or shine, at 8am every week.
