Love is in the air at South Burnett parkrun weekly 5km event

Early morning and late night runs, a car breakdown in the middle of nowhere and a passion for being active have created a modern day love story in an unexpected place.

When Rikki-Lee Stevenson, 29, first laid eyes on Jay Warry, 24, at her regular Saturday morning parkrun in Wondai, she had no idea that just two and half years later they would be building a life together and on their way to getting married. Photo credit: Ros Heit / Facebook

When Rikki-Lee Stevenson, 29, first laid eyes on Jay Warry, 24, at her regular Saturday morning parkrun in Wondai, she had no idea that just two and half years later they would be building a life together and on their way to getting married.

“I honestly thought that he was a homeless man because he turned up to parkrun … he’s a plumber and he wore a plumbing shirt with holes all through it,” the support worker said.

“His pants had holes all through; you could see his underwear and everything.

“And he came to parkrun and blitzed everyone.”

Pretty soon, the two became friends and were running together regularly.

Jay, a seasoned athlete who regularly takes part in long distance running events, convinced Rikki-Lee to do a marathon at Beerwah. Photo credit: Rikki-Lee Stevenson

Jay, a seasoned athlete who regularly takes part in long distance running events, convinced Rikki-Lee to do a marathon at Beerwah.

She hadn’t done one in a while and agreed to sign up but only on the condition that Jay be her trainer.

“So we’d meet up at the Wondai Forestry around 5pm, and run until like 11pm, all through the forest,” she said.

“It was a really good time for us to chat.”

On the way home from the marathon, their car broke down “in the middle of nowhere” and they were forced to sit in the car and wait for hours until help came.

This was a turning point in their relationship, and soon they were not only running together, but also going to the movies and dinner, and talking for hours.

Throughout it all, Saturday morning park runs remained at the centre of their lives and their connection.

“All our friends are from parkrun,” she said.

“We wouldn’t have met, we wouldn’t have done the Beerwah marathon (without the parkrun).

“We wouldn’t have, I guess, really come together if it wasn’t for running.”

Rikki-Lee (pictured with her fiance Jay) said the weekly running group is a welcoming and encouraging environment, and a great way to meet like-minded people who are usually into health and fitness. Photo credit: Rikki-Lee Stevenson

The free community organised 5km event is held every Saturday morning at 7am, with dozens of people typically attending.

Participants range in age and athletic ability, with some taking the run seriously and working on their PBs and others walking their dogs or riding their bikes.

Rikki-Lee said the weekly running group was a welcoming and encouraging environment, and a great way to meet like-minded people who are usually into health and fitness.

And it might even be where you meet your future romantic partner.

“If you want a good man, parkrun is the place to be,” she said.

“I’ve never met a man at parkrun who is not a decent man.”