IT takes more than an unprecedented bushfire crisis to stop Taree parkrunners.
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Parkrun started in Taree in May 2015. Since then it's only been cancelled once, in Easter 2016 when there were concerns about the congestion in Endeavour Place because of the Easter Classic powerboats.
"But since then we've worked in with the powerboat people and now we run on a slightly altered course on the Easter Saturday,'' Taree parkrun director Margie Lewis said.
However, she admits the bushfires of the past two weeks almost ended their run with organisers particularly concerned about the heavy smoke that was blanketing Taree.
"If it had been up to me I would have cancelled Saturday's run last Friday because of the smoke,'' Margie said.
However, it was decided to wait to see what the conditions were like on the morning of the run and those taking part were advised on parkrun's Facebook page. This proved to be the correct decision, as air quality had improved markedly by Saturday morning. Parkrun was one of the few sporting events to go ahead.
"We had more than 80 there,'' Margie said.
"I think after the previous few days people were looking for something to do. And the roads were open, so people could get there.''
There were 85 finishers but that doesn't take in those who only do one lap of the 5km course along the Manning foreshore.
Joel Hill was the first runner home, completing the course in 20:30.
Gordon Spence from Mingara was second. Brooke Hosgood was the first woman home and was fifth overall.
But while Taree parkrunners had their weekly fix, those in surrounding areas weren't as lucky.
Port Macquarie, Wauchope and South West Rocks all cancelled their events because of the bushfires.
The previous week, at the height of the bushfire crisis, nearly 50 runners faced the starter at Taree.
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The Taree run will be on again this Saturday starting at 8am at Endeavour Place, Taree, near Manning Rowing Club.
For those with a statistical bent, there have been 237 parkruns in Taree since May 2015.
The average number of runners each week is 113 and the average run time is 34.08. The biggest attendance remains 187.
The total distance run is 133,995km.