Runners set to make a mark on Cross Flatts Park

Hot on the heels of their 100th run earlier this month, the Cross Flatts parkrunners are celebrating their second anniversary this coming weekend – with cake, yoga, and litter-picking!

Cross Flatts parkrun (image courtesy of Phil Hodgson)
Cross Flatts parkrun (image courtesy of Phil Hodgson)

Cross Flatts parkrun is a free, weekly 5km run – at 9am every Saturday in Cross Flatts Park, in Beeston. Set up by local residents in March 2013, it now regularly sees 100+ people from all walks of life gather to run (or jog, or walk) the 5km course. It’s part of the UK-wide parkrun network, which sees 1o,ooos of participants each week up and down the country.

And this coming week (Saturday 28th March 2015), to mark the second anniversary of the run, the organisers have got some extras in store for those who come along – and are appealing for help to make it all happen.

Before the run, a coach from the new local Sweat Yoga Fit will be leading free stretching exercises. Then after the run, participants will be invited to do an extra lap (at whatever pace they want!) – to help litterpick the park. (Thanks to those at the recent Community Committee workshop on environmental issues, who helped generate this idea.)

Finally, free hot drinks, pastries, and cakes will also be served – and the coordinators are appealing for participants or other locals to bring cake donations along if they can.

Beeston Hill resident Mark Hodgkinson, one of those who helped set up Cross Flatts parkrun, says:

“It’s been a phenomenal couple of years, seeing this simple project take off and become so popular – with such a wide range of people. I think one of the most important things is the friendliness, the sense of community that’s emerged. So there’s lots to celebrate – and we also want to put back, by helping to tidy up this great park that we use every week.”

For more info on Cross Flatts parkrun, click here – or for all the latest news, visit their Facebook page.