THE FOREST of Dean parkrun welcomed 164 runners, joggers and walkers on Saturday, May 30, with one participant marking a special personal milestone at the popular weekly event.

The event, held in the heart of the Forest of Dean, saw a visitor choose the course for their 200th parkrun since first taking part in April 2022. The runner described the event as a memorable occasion, combining their 200th run with a visit to a new parkrun location.

Writing on the event's weekly report, the participant praised the woodland setting and friendly atmosphere, highlighting the shade provided by the forest after recent warm weather.

They also praised the volunteers and marshals who guided runners around the course and provided encouragement throughout the morning.

The Forest of Dean course attracted 73 first-time visitors, including eight people completing their very first parkrun. Seven runners recorded new personal best times.

Leading the field was Lee Davies, who crossed the finish line in 18 minutes and 23 seconds. The first female finisher was first-time visitor Tamsin Barraclough, who completed the course in 22 minutes and 13 seconds.

Representatives from 23 different running clubs took part in the event.

Organisers also paid tribute to the 29 volunteers whose efforts ensured the event ran smoothly. Volunteers carried out a range of roles including marshalling, timekeeping, barcode scanning and funnel management.

Forest of Dean parkrun has become one of the region's most popular community sporting events since it was first launched in April 2010.

Over the past 16 years, 16,540 participants have completed 74,076 parkruns on the course, covering a combined distance of 370,380 kilometres. During that time, runners have recorded 8,898 personal best performances.

The event has also relied on a dedicated volunteer workforce, with 974 individuals contributing a combined 12,941 volunteer credits since the parkrun began.