What next for Parkrun favourite Neil White?

DURABLE local sportsman Neil White of Inverloch jumped for joy as he completed his 300th local parkrun in eight years and promptly declared its onwards and upwards to the holy grail of the parkrun movement – 500 runs!

Neil started running a long time ago but he joined the Inverloch Parkrun event about a year after it started and he’s been a regular ever since, completing the obligatory volunteer roles of time keeper, token distributor and all the rest but running’s been his go.

“I’m probably running more than I’m riding at the moment,” said Neil as he cooled down after completing the 5km event in a tick over 30 minutes – not bad for a bloke of 69.

“It’s just easy to pop on the runners and go out for a run.

“I usually have a couple of runs during the week, just a jog or two. I think that’s the secret,” he said.

Neil is also a regular with the local Inverloch riding group, on the circuit around Wattlebank, but acknowledges he’s enjoying the running a bit more lately.”

Neil’s best time over the 5km course along the spectacular Inverloch foreshore is 24.44, achieved quite a few years ago.

“I’ll never get back up to that again but it’s always been about the exercise, running with the group and a bit of a chat afterwards.

“Are you still having a run?” said Neil, ever a promoter of keeping fit and being involved in community.

As well as running locally, and in most states of Australia, Neil can count runs in parkruns in Ireland, the UK and Scotland among his 300.

The day also featured the 100th run by another Inverloch local Anne McDonald, who has completed 85 of her runs at Inverloch, and 15 at various places around the state and Australia, including Broken Hill, in the Clare Valley in South Australia and in Tasmania.

“I’ve also been a volunteer 16 times and a special thanks today to the volunteers who made today so memorable.”

Anne completed the run in the 100-run cape and by breaking a 100th banner at the finish line.