More than 700 runners descended upon Braywick Park to celebrate Maidenhead parkrun's 500th event.
The popular free event takes place every Saturday morning and saw a total of 771 people run, jog or walk the 5km course, alongside 53 volunteers to celebrate reaching the milestone.
Maidenhead parkrun is one of many parkrun events which take place across the UK and the world.
The town’s first ever event took place on March 15 2015 and attracted less than 200 participants a week during its beginnings.
However, nearly 11 years on, the popular run sees an average of 450 people take on the course per week.
Last March, the team celebrated its 10th anniversary with more than 400 park runners, some decked out in fancy dress as dinosaurs, superheroes and characters from Harry Potter, take part in the celebratory event.
In the parkrun community, reaching 500 events is marked with the colour blue, and ‘many of the runners’ wore something blue at last week’s celebrations.
The event kicked off with ‘lots of applause’ as the volunteers were thanked.
There was also a round of gifts for those who had volunteered the most at Maidenhead.
Some of these volunteers have supported almost every Maidenhead parkrun event.
After the team expressed their thanks and reflected on the event over the years, run director for the day, Abbie Fenn, gave a briefing and the runners set off.
Ed Dimmock, co-event director for Maidenhead parkrun, said: “A huge field of participants, out along the Green Way and round the nature reserve – two laps, 5km and then back.
“All good celebrations need cake, which was in plentiful supply and enjoyed by everyone.
“It was a fantastic morning, filled with smiles and laughs as people of all ages and abilities came together to celebrate and enjoy some fresh air and activity – which is what parkrun is all about.”
Maidenhead parkrun takes places every Saturday morning at 9am at Braywick Park.
“The event is for everyone, whether walking, jogging or running, all are very welcome,” Mr Dimmock added.
For more information, visit: https://www.parkrun.org.uk/maidenhead/
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