Tamborine Mountain transformed into a sea of pink, pirates and Winnie the Pooh’s on Saturday morning as locals and visitors gathered at the Long Road Sports Complex to celebrate the 500th edition of Tamborine Mountain parkrun.
Event Director Jim O’Reilly said the milestone marked a decade of community, consistency and early Saturday morning starts.
“Normally we’d hit 500 a bit sooner as we do about 50 events a year, but COVID shut us down for six months,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“So to finally reach it, it’s awesome.”
Participants were encouraged to dress in costumes beginning with the letter “P” for a Parkrunner Party theme – resulting in plenty of playful outfits and plenty of laughs across the scenic 5km course.
The event, which launched on 31 January 2015, weaves through grass, gravel and concrete paths around the complex, including loops past cricket nets and bush trails. While it typically sees 30 to 40 participants each week, the 500th attracted an even bigger crowd, including a runner from Dalby and a group who made the climb from Yarrabilba to join the celebration.
“We’re not the biggest parkrun, but we’ve got a loyal bunch and a pretty special spot,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“It’s great seeing people from other communities coming to celebrate with us.”
Mr O’Reilly, who has been involved as a volunteer and runner at Tamborine Mountain Parkrun since 2015, said the event’s staying power is all about fun and connection.
“You’ve got to keep it going,” he said.
“It’s about turning up, having a laugh, and being part of something positive every week.”
Tamborine Mountain Parkrun takes place every Saturday morning at 7am.
Visit Tamborine Mountain Parkrun on Facebook for more information.
