94-Year-Old Stays Fit with Growing Trend of Parkrun Groups

The Inspiring Story of Les Brookfield’s 100th Parkrun

Les Brookfield, a spry 94-year-old regular of parkrun events, has completed 100 5-kilometre walks and shows no signs of slowing down on his exercise regimen. A resident of Dubbo, Les has participated in the parkrun course since 2018, a hobby he started thanks to a kind recommendation from a fellow resident in his retirement village.

The Health and Social Benefits of Regular Exercise

The consistent exercise has boosted his health and fitness levels significantly. But it’s not just physical health at play here – the social connections and encouragement from the parkrun community have been immense. Les shares, “The people are fantastic. They would always cheer me on, telling me ‘Good on you, go for it, you’re doing great!'”.

Following a few trips and falls, Les began using a walker for his parkruns. He quickly became fond of the mobility device, saying, “I initially used a walking stick, but after a couple of falls, I absolutely fell in love with using a walker. I take it everywhere – it’s the safest thing.”

The Journey to Completing 100 Parkruns

Les quickly became a local legend in Dubbo, completing 32 parkruns in his first year, and a staggering 49 runs the following year. Though the COVID-19 pandemic caused a brief pause in 2020, it didn’t prevent Les from maintaining his walking routine.

At the start of this year, Les, walker in hand, returned to the Dubbo Run Club with the goal of completing 100 parkruns. Upon reaching this milestone, his fellow participants at the Dubbo parkrun, along with family, friends, and support team from his retirement village, greeted him with a roar of applause and cheer at the finish line.

The Sense of Community Fostered by Run Clubs

With the increasing popularity of parkruns, research points out the strong sense of community and camaraderie run clubs bring to their members. According to Benjamin Peterson, head of course for podiatry at CQ University, people often join parkruns driven by fitness goals as well as the chance for social interaction. He adds, “The available research suggests these benefits are frequently experienced by parkrun participants.”

For Les, this sense of community and encouragement has been a significant part of his parkrun experience. “Everyone was encouraging, everyone who knew me or knew of me was incredibly supportive on my 100th run. It’s just fantastic,” he shared.

Beyond the 100th Parkrun: Staying Active and Recognizing Support

Having completed his 100th parkrun, Les still plans to keep up with his weekly exercise routine. He attributes his success to the constant support he receives from the women in his life, saying, “I’ve had good health all my life, but I credit it largely to all the women in my life.”

Keep Active and Engaged in Your Community

Les’ story is an inspiration to all who wish to stay active and engaged in their communities. Whether it’s walking in your local park or joining a community like a parkrun, regular exercise can have significant benefits on your physical health and social well-being. So why not follow Les’ example and get moving?