Every Saturday morning at 8am, groups of people gather all over New Zealand to tackle a five-kilometre course. Some walk and talk, some push prams, and others hoof it to the end like they’re taking on the Olympics.
The recurring social event is known as Parkrun, and local man Chris Kemp wants to bring it to Thames as a legacy as he faces a terminal illness.
“This is a beautiful spot. I think this community is just singing out for it,” he said.
“You’re not competing, it’s not a race – although there are people there that want to win it and they want to be first across the line. That’s their goal, that’s their thing. But you get what you want from it.”
Chris already has a course in mind – he plans to begin at Victoria Park, doing a couple of laps of the field before heading along the waterfront to Shortland Wharf and back.
He’s hoping to establish the event in the New Year, but needs a group of around 10 volunteers to help him get started.
Chris, who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease in October, 2023, will eventually need to step down as organiser of Thames’ Parkrun. But he said the ongoing commitment would be minimal.
“You can be someone that just comes and helps out. You can be the person who sits here doing timekeeping [or] who sits at the end giving people a word of encouragement as they turn around halfway.”
Since Parkrun began in 2012, it has seen more than 15,000 people volunteer worldwide. Around 135,000 people have completed a Parkrun in New Zealand.
The events are open to anyone, and participants can walk, run, spectate or volunteer to man the course.
It’s always free, and members are issued a barcode which they can scan each time they participate to see their times.
Chris said Parkrun was his favourite way to start off the weekend.
“I’ve been doing it for over 12 years. When you get up, Parkrun in the morning, it just starts you off… I get out, I’m motivated. And I’ll start the day with a good intention like that,” he said.
“Whenever you finish you always go for a group coffee together. So the idea is to do it here so it’s connected to the markets on a Saturday morning. I’m just trying to get that whole community vibe.”
Chris has done Parkrun all over the world, he said, but having one at home was his dream, especially now his health is beginning to decline.
“I can’t run anymore. My body wants to, but knees say no – I always get beaten by a small child or a pram. [But] I want to do this for the community,” he said.
“As I deteriorate, I want to be able to come here if I’m in a wheelchair. I want to be the [marshal] down here that does the turnaround and get everyone to wave at me. There’s nothing that will motivate you more if you’ve lost that ability, than to know that I was here and I was one of the people that helped set it up.”
DETAILS: Email support@parkrun.com to get involved.
