In January, an Australian couple took time out of their three-week vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, to fly to Wichita for a weekend so they could participate in the Exploration Place parkrun. At the end of June, a Chicago-area couple drove from Illinois to run in the weekly event that takes participants on a 3.1-mile route along the Arkansas River. Both couples said they likely wouldn’t have traveled to Wichita if not for the lure of completing one of the newest parkruns in the U.S. A parkrun is a free, weekly 5K that is open to walkers, runners, volunteers, spectators and even leashed dogs accompanied by their owners. The concept started in 2004 in west London when a small group of runners wanted to provide a free-for-all timed event to encourage inclusiveness and wellbeing. Their lofty goal was to create a healthier, happier planet by encouraging people to get involved on a regular basis, either as a volunteer or a participant.
Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle
