After what seems like no time at all, Goulburn parkrun will turn two years old this Saturday.
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Introducing a new athletic pursuit in a town like Goulburn, where sport is a primary pastime, can often be a risky venture.
But co-event director Mick Hookham, who runs the event alongside his wife Ange, said after a nerve-wracking first 12 months, he has loved watching the club continue to grow and thrive.
"We're very excited to have reached two years," Hookham said.
"The first 12 months was a really enormous milestone for us. Although we had confidence it would be long term, for us to have established and kept it running for 12 months was a huge milestone and relief.
"The two-year mark is a celebration of Goulburn parkrun."
One of the aspects of parkrun which has most pleased Hookham in the last two years is the impact it's had on the Goulburn community.
"We had no idea of the effect on the community and the friendships we would make," he said.
"One of the great things that we've seen is people meeting people that they probably passed down the street and didn't have any idea who they were. We've seen friendships established and we've seen strong bonds and friendships grow.
"We've seen and heard stories of mental health benefits, just have that weekly fix of a bit of social outlet which a lot of people don't tend to have ... [and] we've seen lots of people become much healthier and fitter over the last couple of years."
Since its inception, attendance at Goulburn parkrun has grown steadily, and now averages about 90 participants per event.
This includes an average of 50 to 60 runners in the colder months, and as many as 120 throughout spring and summer.
But, Hookham said, the club also has a collection of 40 to 50 "avid stalwarts who show up rain or shine, no matter the weather."
Looking toward the future, Hookham does not have specific goals except the continued growth of the club.
"We're hoping that the participation level will continue to increase," he said. "Average numbers have slowly increased over the last couple of years, so we're looking forward to seeing that continue to increase.
"We're enjoying the really strong volunteer culture we have, and we're looking forward to seeing that continue to grow."
The Goulburn parkrun club will celebrate its second anniversary this Saturday, February 8 at the Marsden Weir Park. It will be a dress-up event, and participants are asked to wear either a tutu or a Hawaiian shirt.
Following completion of the run, there will also be a celebratory cake.
First-time runners are asked to show up early for a 7.45am briefing, and the event is scheduled to begin at 8am.
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