Saturday 14th March saw the 600th parkrun at Pegwell Bay, and was the occasion for our Couch to 5k graduates to run their first ever 5k.
They’ve been a fantastic group, described as our best ever, and so it was fitting that their day coincided with a visit from double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes to Pegwell Bay parkrun.
She started with a welcoming speech to the attendees about what running and parkrun mean to her, ran the course with us, smiled through endless selfies and then presented over 20 Couch to 5k completion medals to our new athletes.
Dame Kelly specialised in the 800 and 1500 metres events and won gold medals for both distances at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. She set British records in numerous events and still holds the records over the 600, and 1000 metre distances. She held the British 800 metre record until 2021.
It was lovely to see a running legend giving back to grass roots running and inspiring others! Thank you Dame Kelly.
In Kelly’s words: “DAY 74 – SINCE INJURY AND I JOGGED
Can’t believe I literally jogged the WHOLE PARKRUN today! First time in 73 days since I tore my ITB.
I am not sure if I should of BUT after 30secs I was like ‘this is feeling good and if I keep it easy – let me see ‘ my niece did it with me so happy days (nephew flew round) Did under 30mins so I am WELL HAPPY – still got a bit of a cold but my concoction and lemsips have helped
I am so happy mainly because I didn’t feel any issues. It was also fab to be able to run with lots of other Parkrunners and talk to the Parkwalkers, before and after.
Pegwell Bay parkrun was so nice, the route is flat and on tarmac and gravel. Very friendly and celebrated number 600 well done Ad Smith and Nat. They even had a big group from Thanet Road Runners who had fantastically achieved their Couch to 5K and I had the honour of presenting the medals, I even got given one!”
