ON THE RUN…The runners get underway at the Forum on the 5km Park Run
A world wide programme of exercise is taking off in Fermanagh.
Park Run, which happens at 9.30 am across the world every Saturday takes place at the Lakeland Forum and is attracting good participation.
Still in its infancy the programme organised by Fermanagh District Council sees runners, joggers and walkers take part in a 5K event around the grounds of the Lakeland Forum.
It coincided with a Park Runs happening throughout the world at the same time every week.
Keith Collen, Recreation Officer for Fermanagh Council explained, “At present we are organising the weekly event and we have had a good response so far. It’s a 5K walk or run around the grounds, including the track, along the river bank and around the path at the playing fields.
“Participants each have a bar code which generates their time for the distance. Later they can go on like to check.”
He said that the council was trying to give people the opportunity to do a regular 5K every Saturday morning and maybe even help them to work towards their 10K run on June 29.
He emphasised that this is purely a fun event and everyone was welcome.
On the first morning of the Park Run a visitor from New Zealand, who runs the Park run regularly, joined in. He was on vacation in Dublin and drove to Enniskillen when he heard about it. Another came from Belfast to run.
Caroline McCaffrey from Maguiresbridge, has done all four so far.
“I like it because it is not a race against each other. In fact you are racing against yourself. Every time you go out you try to better your time and you get to go at your own pace. It’s for all different levels, elite, leisure runners and walkers. It’s just a great mix.”
She says Saturday morning is a great time to do the run.
“It gets you up and it doesn’t take very long. It’s very enjoyable. It’s a challenge for me every week.”
Sinead Maguire from Lisnaskea did her first Park Run on Saturday and has no doubt she will be back.
“It’s very good and I definitely enjoyed it. I have no doubt I will go back and do it regularly.
“There is a lot of variety there, joggers, runners and walkers, all doing the same thing.”
She joined in with her sister in law Clones runner Denise Toner. We ran quite well, but it was for everybody, including children and walkers,” she said.