Weekly run is celebrating one year on

Boston parkrun, which meets on a Saturday morning at Witham Way Country Park, began last October.

The weekly timed run takes place at 9am and begins and ends at the park.

Boston parkrun was set up by a group of friends, including doctors and health professionals from the area, to combat reports of the town topping the tables in health issues such as obesity.

It has seen 1,028 people use the initiative, running a combined distance of 22,656km since it began.

One organiser Ben Moore said: “We get on average about 90 people each week doing the run and have had 173 people volunteer with us.

“We have approximately 50 runners registered who are under the age of 10, and a similar number over the age of 55.

“The great thing about the run is that it’s open to anyone of any age or ability.

“Lots of people have done their first 5km run with us and we have helped many people reach their goals of activity and weight loss.

“We have had one family reach a combined total of 1,000 parkruns between them. All in all it is a very positive project, providing activity and positivity to all those who participate as either a runner or a volunteer.”

Fellow organiser Andy Welch said: “It is a great community event that relies on volunteers to make sure it goes ahead.”

The run is used by a number of local clubs, including Skegness and District Running Club, Skegness Coasters and Sleaford Striders.

It even sees participants from all over the country and further afield, known as Tourists, visiting the town to take part.

Some of those taking part are planning to enter other events such as the London Marathon.

Those who join up to parkrun are given a member’s barcode, which they use to sign in to the event and gives them an online record of their times.

This barcode can be used at any of the parkruns around the country.

For more information visit www.parkrun.org.uk/boston