Hamilton Lake parkrun is a free 5km run or walk event that is held every Saturday morning at the Hamilton Lake. Hamilton Lake parkrun is completely run by volunteers who each week facilitate the event. We welcome runners and walkers of any speed. Prams, dogs and children also welcome. In October we will be celebrating our 10th birthday.
Hamilton Lake parkrun started 19th October 2003. Since then we have had 478 events, 76,642 participants and 732 volunteers.
During covid lockdown in 2020 we continued our community connected by having an "Officially Unofficial parkrun" each week. People completed 5km at home
parkrun is a international event, with more than 2,000 evnts in over 22 countries. We have 42 events in New Zealand.
The need for parkrun was identified due to there being no free running event in Hamilton that people could complete regularly. parkrun is as much about the community and connections it creates as it is about the actually running, or walking.
Being an event completely run by volunteers, a large consideration was whether we would have the people to fill all the necessary roles each week. With strong support from our local running clubs a volunteer base has been established. So each week we have an amazing group who "make parkrun happen". Many of these people are runners or walker themselves, so they give up their event so others can participate.
In the past 12 months we have had a focus on 'parkwalking' as many people think that you have to run at parkrun. This has encouraged a lot more walkers to join our event regularly.
Hamilton City Council have given us access to have our event at their Lake Rotorua location. Being a public space we have to each week ensure we are sharing the paths with the public.
Postive outcome was having the beautiful Lake Rotoroa to run and walk around every Saturday. As a shared space we often have to work alongside other groups, but we always make it work.
Continuing to provide a supportive, inviting free event that runners and walkers of all speeds can enjoy. People come to parkrun to give the 5km a go... most stay because of the connections they make and the other events they end up being roped into doing.
parkrun has been a gateway event for many people who have gone on to do much bigger events... half marathons, marathons, triathlons, ultra running events, ironmans. Many of these people did not have these events even on their radar when they started. But the community gets into your vlood.. and before you know it you are signing up for a 10km...
