5 years on: The Park Run organiser who's 'allergic to exercise'
The Invercargill Park Run is about to celebrate its fifth birthday. Its first event was held on February 10, 2018 and 217 Park Runs later it is a Queens Park institution.
On the face of it, the story of Invercargill Park Run’s dedicated organiser Liz Henry is a strange one.
But it’s a story laced with community spirit, along with an example of making the most of a challenging situation.
See, Henry is “allergic to exercise”.
Yes, she’s actually allergic to exercise. There’s an actual diagnosis, not simply a dislike of exercise followed by a self-diagnosed.
If Henry eats wheat and then gets her heart rate up while exercising, she can go into anaphylactic shock.
“I had to give up wheat, rather than exercise, which is a bit rough.”
When Henry now exercises, she has to do so around other people and she carries an EpiPen as a precaution.
“That’s why I’ve always got an amazing bum bag with me,” she jokes.
Henry was diagnosed soon before a trip to Australia in 2016 to see her sister. It was during that visit that her sister encouraged her to have a go at the local Park Run.
On January 2, 2016, Henry discovered Park Run for the first time; a global movement that began in 2004 at Bushy Park in London, England.
“To be fair I came in just before the tail walker,” Henry says of her Australian debut.
“But when I finished, I crossed the finish line with about 300 people waiting to clap me through, which was equally embarrassing but also quite lovely.
“I thought at the time this is really amazing and my sister was telling me it was a global thing.”
It triggered a thought.
If Henry could start an Invercargill Park Run it would mean each Saturday morning, she would have a group of people to exercise with.
The planning for the first Invercargill Park Run started soon after that trip to Australia in 2016. However, it took a while to work through compliance requirements, and the council at the time was also doing some upgrades to Queens Park, which took out the planned start point.
Then came February 10, 2018 - the first-ever Invercargill Park Run.
“It was a bit like organising a party and going, ‘oh my god, is anyone going to show up’.”
Plenty did turn up; 115 to be precise. Twelve of them were volunteers and the rest were participants.
It was more than the 60 Henry had circled as a figure she thought would be a success.
Included were 30 participants from throughout New Zealand who travelled to take part in the first Invercargill Park Run, which that day became the southernmost Park Run in the world.
Five years on and it has amassed 217 events. Close to 3000 people have taken part during that time with an average of 104 finishes per event.
The most participants on one day to date were 218. The hope is 219 or more might show up for its fifth birthday bash on Saturday morning to break that attendance record.
On top of that, there are the true stars. The volunteers.
“It totally relies on volunteers, and we are so grateful that 490 people over the last five years have volunteered.”
About 18 volunteers each week take part, and it’s the reason why there is no cost barrier for people wanting to have a go.
Craig Iverson is the quickest male to complete the 5km circuit, finishing in 16min 05sec in December Kimberley Iverson is the quickest female with her time of 18min 28sec.
But the reality is there’s not a huge amount of focus put on that. Some of the best stories are littered throughout the field.
“I probably get a thrill from those that a finishing in the later part of the field than at the front. Not to say that I don’t get excited about all the PBs.”
Henry concedes the name “Park Run” isn’t a true reflection of what goes on.
“When it was first set up [in Bushy Park, London] it was a group of people going for a run and meeting up for a coffee afterwards.
“But overtime they’ve realised it’s really important to have the walkers in the community. Particularly in New Zealand, there’s been a big motivation in getting those walkers coming along.”
To peel it back further, Park Run is as much about mental well-being and connecting people as it is physical exercise.
“The idea is we are here every week. It’s not going to suit everyone every week but we’re here when you need us,” Henry says.
“Park Run, in general, has this philosophy of a happier and healthy world. And that’s about creating a community. People seem to do things better when you’ve got positivity around you,” Henry says.
“There was an article in the UK published in relation to Park Run being the new Church, but we are not judgemental. We want to be positive and inclusive.
“There’s no time limit, no one comes last, you’re welcome to walk, jog, volunteer or just come and watch.”
The Invercargill lawyer has become emersed in Park Run. She has volunteered at 182 events and participated in 51 Park Runs across 10 different locations.
“It’s my life, right?”
“Look, I love it. It’s how I fill my bucket after sometimes dealing with some pretty rough stuff over the week.
“I love the stories of people who say they’ve been dragged along but they keep coming back. When you’ve done your third event, we know we’ve got you.”
There are now also Park Run events held in Te Anau and in Gore.
For those who want to give the Invercargill Park Run a try and haven’t, its fifth birthday event on Saturday is probably a good start.
First-timers are asked to show up just outside at the Queens Park Cricket Pavilion at 7.50am for a briefing, before the full briefing at 7.55am. The runners, joggers, walkers then set off at 8am.
Just want to volunteer? Head along and make yourself known.
Henry says there will be special elements added for its 5th birthday event on Saturday, including a “spread” at the finish for people to enjoy and some spot prizes donated by local businesses.