More than 200 runners made the most of the glorious summer sun to attend the first-ever Armley parkrun in Armley Park this morning.
The event is part of the national parkrun movement, which relies on local volunteers to organise free, weekly, 5km timed runs around the world. They are open to everyone, free, and are safe and easy to take part in.
Armley parkrun, which will be held every Saturday at 9am, was hailed by volunteers as a ‘huge success’. It features three laps around Armley Park.
One runner told The Dispatch:
“It’s brilliant something like this is happening in Armley Park. It’s positive for the area, it gets people into the park to see how beautiful it really is – and just look how many people it’s brought together on such a beautiful sunny day!
“Parkruns are friendly and ionformal, anyone can come along and have fun. I’ve come with my kids today and we can’t wait for next week’s run.”
Here are some of the Tweets from the event:
#Armley park run today. 1st one and over 200 people turned up. Well done to all the volunteers pic.twitter.com/1eFj172CMQ
— Cat Chrimes (@CatChrimes) 30 June 2018
Fantastic 1st #parkrun for Armley! Brilliant course & views! Great to see @alison4labour @Alice_Smart @RachelReevesMP @Bramleyparkrun @CatChrimes supporting! Diane and Bill flying the New Wortley flag! @ArmleyGoodStuff @treelufc @BiniHoney @bramleybaths @WLDispatch @YEPWestLeeds pic.twitter.com/QBKTMQuluN
— 'New Wortley CC' (@NewWortleyCC) 30 June 2018
First #armleyparkrun ! Park looks amazing and we’ve got supplies at the ready! @ArmleyGoodStuff pic.twitter.com/t0oIMjblHu
— Jane Zanzottera (@JaneZan) 30 June 2018
Armley #parkrun @Alice_Smart pic.twitter.com/bGzaHQrfTn
— Andrea Mckenna (@Andreamckena60) 30 June 2018
A post-parkrun coffee is held weekly in the Armley Park Bowling Club and Love and Light Cafe.
Armley parkrun is entirely organised by volunteers – e-mail armleyhelpers@parkrun.com to help.
New runners of all ages are welcome, you need to register here before your first parkri=un.
Nearby Bramley parkrun has been running several years in Bramley Park and regularly attracts more than 200 runners.
More events in Armley Park
More details about the Friends of Armley and Gotts Park group, which is aiming to improve the park, can be found here.
They’re helping to organise a teddy bears’ picnic, which will be held in the park on July 8, from 12pm to 3pm:
#Armley #community Teddy Bears picnic coming soon, with added fun activities for kids of all ages. @friendsofarmley pic.twitter.com/1AevUFnaZf
— Cat Chrimes (@CatChrimes) 26 June 2018