The Wolverhampton West Park, Park Run is 500 runs old...Listen to some of the people involved to hear what they get out of it, a purple music legend even got involved...sort of...
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00:00 So who have we got? It's Phil isn't it? Phil yeah. What's your role in all this gathering then Phil?
00:06 I'm the co-event director with a guy called Tim Richardson. Yeah. And I'm also a run director.
00:12 There's a rotor of us. So special event today. 500th running of Parkrun.
00:18 So how long's that took? When was the first one date wise? Oh my god I can't remember.
00:23 A few years isn't it? About 10 or 11 years ago. Yeah. What's the special about Parkrun for people who don't know then?
00:29 Oh it brings people together. It's a real social event. Anyone can do it. Yeah.
00:33 Doesn't matter whether you run, you walk, people do it in wheelchairs. It's really inclusive and it's a great event.
00:44 And a great setting for a Parkrun isn't it West Park? It's a beautiful park. It really is. It's a really nice park.
00:50 And even this time of year on a day like today when we've had snow and sleet and rain. Yeah.
00:56 I think everybody still enjoyed it. Come a bit closer actually Kidder.
01:00 Right so what is it about Parkrun then that you love so much?
01:03 I think they should call it Parkfun because it's a friendly atmosphere that they have at these races.
01:08 I love Parkrun. Getting up on a Saturday morning, half past five, is not the best thing to do but it's worth it when you get here and when you finish.
01:16 And do you, I mean you look fantastic. You're presumably a massive Prince fan. Yes.
01:21 And the Minneapolis sound. Anything to do with Prince I need a Minneapolis sound.
01:24 Are you always dressed up then when you do the Parkrun?
01:26 Yes, most recently since I did Samwell last year. Yeah.
01:30 When they did their 250th I just carried on doing as Prince. That's awesome.
01:35 I was running as normal then I thought, so I did 14 last year as Prince. Yeah.
01:39 Touring and I've done seven so far this year touring as Prince.
01:43 Raising for prostate cancer. Purple run.
01:46 And we've got someone on your back, let's do the full turn.
01:49 Woooo Prince. Well done, thank you sir. No problem at all.
01:53 So we've got, is it the Byrne family? Yes.
01:56 How you doing guys, you're from Wolverhampton. We are, yes.
01:58 And have you done the Parkrun here before? Yes, yes.
02:01 Today's my 25th Parkrun. Is it? Oh nice one.
02:04 That's nice to mark it's a special number on the 500th as well.
02:09 What is it about Parkrun you like so much?
02:11 It's low threat, there's a real community feel, there are a lot of people that turn out for it.
02:18 It's like all abilities, our whole family do it. Yeah.
02:22 So we've got four children and they're not all here today but routinely we come out and run.
02:28 It's a really good atmosphere. Great stuff, thank you guys.
02:31 [Bell ringing]
02:33 Okay, so, oh that does it. Oh, the party.
02:41 [Laughter]
02:43 We're going to fix it, yeah.
02:46 So in honour of Dom, the PC bell has been engraved in his memory.