Lake District Parkrunner Celebrates 500th Event At Fell Foot
A Lake District parkrunner has celebrated reaching a major milestone after completing her 500th event at Fell Foot parkrun, marking years of participation and volunteering within the local running community.
Eileen Jones reached the milestone at the Fell Foot event at Newby Bridge, where she also celebrated completing 200 volunteering stints. Her achievement was recognised during the event with a traditional milestone tiara presented by run director Andy Letheren.
Ms Jones was part of the original core team that helped establish Fell Foot parkrun on the shores of Windermere in 2014. Her involvement has continued since the event began, making her a long standing member of the local parkrun community.
She is the first member of that original team to reach the 500 run milestone. The achievement reflects more than a decade of involvement with parkrun and the development of the Fell Foot event since its launch.
Ms Jones has also travelled extensively to take part in parkrun events. She has completed more than 200 different events across the UK and Europe, adding considerable variety to her running experiences.
Her involvement with parkrun extends beyond taking part in the weekly events. She has completed 200 volunteering stints, contributing to the organisation and smooth running of events alongside her own participation.
Ms Jones has also written two books about parkrun, further reflecting her involvement with the running community. Her experience has given her a long term connection with the event and its wider community.
The Fell Foot event attracted 354 runners and walkers over the bank holiday weekend. They were supported by 41 volunteers who helped organise and deliver the event.
The event brought together participants of different abilities, with runners and walkers completing the course alongside volunteers supporting activities around the event. Fell Foot’s location on the shore of Windermere provides a distinctive setting for the weekly gathering.
Peter Stock was the first finisher at the event, completing the course in 16 minutes and 43 seconds. His performance placed him at the front of a field involving hundreds of runners and walkers.
Hannah Russell was the first woman to finish, coming third overall. She recorded a new personal best of 17 minutes and 59 seconds during her run.
The competitive performances were accompanied by the celebration of Ms Jones’s personal milestone. Her 500th event provided one of the highlights of a gathering that also demonstrated the scale of participation at Fell Foot.
Reaching 500 parkrun events represents a significant commitment to regular participation, particularly when combined with 200 volunteering appearances. Ms Jones’s involvement also stretches back to the earliest days of Fell Foot parkrun.
Her milestone comes as the Fell Foot event continues to attract hundreds of participants and dozens of volunteers. The combination of running, walking and volunteering remains central to the weekly parkrun format.
The 500th event also marks another chapter in Ms Jones’s long association with the Fell Foot community. From helping establish the event in 2014 to becoming its first original team member to reach 500 runs, she has remained closely involved with the event’s development.
Got a news story or tip to share? Contact our editorial team by emailing news@lakelandpost.co.uk or call us directly on 0333 090 2080.