ParkRun in Surat to be up and running in October

A small South West Queensland township is set to be just the second in the region to boast a ParkRun, thanks to the efforts of local school teachers.

Karen Smith and her partner, Paul Crouchen at ParkRun Roma.

Every weekend, thousands of people around the world don their sneakers, and run or walk 5km as part of ParkRun.

Ten years ago, teacher Karen Smith started parkrunning, and it quickly became something she looked forward to every week.

When she was up for relocation with the Queensland Education, she said: “I’ll go anywhere with a ParkRun.”

She was, however, moved to the township of Surat, where the closest ParkRun was an hour away in Roma.

Ms Smith and her partner Paul Crouchen have now been in Surat for 18 months, in which time they have driven to Roma almost every Saturday morning for their weekly run.

Now, they have received the final approvals they needed from ParkRun and the Maranoa Regional Council to host their own ParkRun in Surat.

She said the first ParkRun was slated for October, to wait until the end of the football season, but once it is up and running, will be a drawcard for the town.

Karen Smith and her partner, Paul Crouchen at ParkRun Inverell.

“There will be people who go here because there’s a ParkRun,” she said.

Ms Smith said that once upon a time, she was concerned about running at speed, and often ran long distances.

“Now it’s my time to help others run,” she said.

“I’m just wanting to finish – whether I walk, whether I run.”

She said she is especially looking forward to it, because the options for exercise in a community setting in the town are currently limited and “sporadic”.

Sometimes council organises activities, but it happens in six-week blocks and at inconvenient times, she said.

Portfolio chair of sport and recreation in the Maranoa Region, councillor Peter Flynn, said the ParkRun in Surat would be the second in the region.

The first ParkRun was Roma, which recently celebrated its 20th anniversary, Mr Flynn said.

“The benefits of the Park Run include not only the direct physical benefit but also the community benefits of like minded people getting together sharing fitness ideas and having fun,” he said.

“Park Run caters for the fitness guru as well as the person just looking to dabble into a fitness routine.

“This will open the way for council to support other communities in liaising with ParkRun Queensland to set up their own group.

“Council are happy to support the Surat group set up their course and we believe the first run in Surat is scheduled for October.”