May 4th 2024.
Today, in the beautiful city of Bradford, something out of the ordinary happened during the weekly parkrun. On this special day of ‘May the Fourth’, dog walkers and afternoon strollers were greeted with a sight that they could never have imagined - a group of costumed characters jogging about in the park.
The Lister Parkrun, a 5k community event that takes place every Saturday at 9am, decided to celebrate Star Wars Day by organizing a special edition. As most fans know, May 4 holds a special significance in the Star Wars universe, with its famous catchphrase ‘may the force be with you’. Participants of the parkrun shared their reasons for joining this event with The Agency, and they all seemed to have one thing in common - their love for the Star Wars franchise.
One of the runners, James Williams, who was dressed as a stormtrooper, shared that his team at work regularly participates in the parkrun as a way of team bonding. He also mentioned that he enjoys doing charity events dressed as a stormtrooper and thought it would be fun to combine his passion for running with his love for Star Wars. Faye Booth, another participant who was dressed as an alien, expressed her delight at being able to meet new people and make friends through this event.
Among the runners, there was also a father-son duo, David Gillian and his 10-year-old son Joel, who were dressed as Chewbecca and Obi Wan Kenobi respectively. They both emphasized that the parkrun is a non-competitive event where one can go at their own pace and enjoy the scenic beauty of the park. As Gary Ludwin, one of the organizers who was dressed as Darth Vader, pointed out, the parkrun aims to incorporate themed events throughout the year to make it a fun and inclusive community event.
Another pair who added to the Star Wars spirit were Andy Collins and Carol Speight, dressed as a stormtrooper and Princess Leia respectively. Together, they have completed more than 500 parkruns and believe that dressing up for the occasion only adds to the community feel that the organizers strive for. And as Gary jokingly mentioned, they wouldn't mind if anyone brought along some cake to share.
The parkrun was not only limited to adults, as families also joined in on the fun. Andy Pocock and his son Elias, both dressed as Jedi, were accompanied by Andy's baby Brody, who made an adorable Ewok. This just goes to show how the parkrun brings together people of all ages and backgrounds.
As the event drew to a close, James Knight, who was dressed as a clone trooper, summed it up perfectly, "What a fabulous day for a parkrun to start the Bank Holiday weekend. Plus, a great excuse for fancy dress...not that I need one!" It was indeed a day filled with fun, laughter, and a sense of community, proving that the parkrun is much more than just a weekly run, it's a celebration of life and togetherness.
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