Pictures and video: Telford Parkrun goes down a storm for third year

Those were the words of Chris Richards, founder of Telford parkrun, as hundreds of people made an early start on a chilly Saturday morning to celebrate the event's third birthday.

Chris and his fellow organisers have plenty to be proud of. Since setting up the weekly 5k run around Telford Town Park in 2013, 7,000 people have registered. A few weeks ago a record 462 people took part.

Those who have made the parkrun part of their regular Saturday morning routine have praised the atmosphere and camaraderie among those taking part.

For some it's a means of getting fit and staying healthy, while for others the social side of seeing familiar faces is the driving force.

Organisers say it has created a "community or family" of its own.

Fittingly, organisers and volunteers celebrated the occasion with a birthday cake.

Last year also saw organisers launch the junior parkrun, a 2km route for children which now has about 100 participants each Sunday at 10am.

Chris said: "Parkrun needs to be seen to be believed. There are now over 806 parkrun locations worldwide, 383 of which are in the UK.

"Since starting this event with the help of local athlete, now joint event director, Kim Fawke and a fantastic core team of volunteers, the organisers have never grown tired of the success stories we hear and the inspirational people we are surrounded by each week.

"We also have a superb relationship with our local running clubs, who each 'take their turn' to populate the entire volunteer roster.

"The importance of volunteering has now been realised by so many here in Telford and we have managed to help source volunteers to help at several other local events too. Parkrun has helped our community in so many ways. In fact it has created a community or family of its own."

Kim, 40, from Wellington, said: "The first event attracted about 180 runners and it has grown massively from there.

"I think its popularity stems from a lot of things – it is free, it is local for many people, it is a run not a race and it is also inclusive, so anyone can take part.

"We have young kids running with their parents and also people in their seventies taking part.

"We hold the run every Saturday, though we will cancel if it is too icy.

"The Town Park management has been brilliant in helping us put on this event, they do all they can to help."

Janine Felton, 45, from Hadley, has taken part in 96 of the Telford parkruns and is looking forward to being able to wear the T-shirt she can don when she completes her 100th. She said: "It is such a fantastic event.

"The atmosphere is friendly and I have met some great people here.

"Early on Saturday is also a great time to run because you can come here, run and still be back home for 9.45am all set to face the day."

The event has also supported numerous charities, including the Georgia Williams Trust, Cancer Research UK, Race Against Blood Cancer and Alzheimer's UK, raising many thousands of pounds in the process.

Chris said: "It is great that we are able to support local and national charities, with more than two per cent of the Telford & Wrekin population – more than 7,000 people – now registered for our event, it really is a great way of raising awareness."