How parkrun helped an Aussie settle in a new country

When Sydneysider Megan Clarke (A4095416) took off on a six week overland tour of Africa she never expected it would result in a move to New Zealand.

The 32-year-old finished that trip with a blossoming relationship with a Kiwi traveller.

She and Russell married in Sydney in 2018 and after a Europe honeymoon, Megan uplifted her life to Rotorua, New Zealand. That was June 2018

Russell was already a regular at Puarenga parkrun, but Megan didn’t make it to the Saturday event until June 2019.

“I’d heard about parkrun for quite a while before going along. I decided to join Russell one morning.

“I was pretty intermittent for a while, as Saturday used to be my long run day. But when parkrun resumed in July last year after the Covid-19 break, I decided to run or volunteer at each parkrun until the Rotorua Marathon. That was my first every marathon and was at the end of September.

“This promise to myself was great motivation to get out of bed on those chilly Rotorua mornings and start my run.

“Though the Auckland cluster in August meant I was not able to do what I planned, I had run or volunteered each Saturday that parkrun was on.

“I enjoy being a marshal so that I can encourage everyone to do their best and keep going, even when they think they can’t.”

New habit

“After the marathon, parkrun had become such a good habit. It was a great way to become a part of the local community that I have not stopped coming back.”

Megan and Russell are making their way around the different New Zealand events. Russell is on the Most Events list (for running at 15 different New Zealand parkruns). Megan is well on her way with 12 venues visited.

“When I’m able to go home to Australia I would love to do the Parramatta parkrun. I’m registered to that one, even though I’ve not yet done it,” she said.

“I want to keep doing my best and keep on visiting new parkruns and seeing new parts of Aotearoa.”

parkrun highlights

“parkrun has been a great way for me to meet new people, still being a semi-recent arrival in Rotorua.

“It has given me a great way to start my weekend, and has been an important part of my marathon training programme. I’m planning to do my second Rotorua Marathon in May.

 “I love running through a geothermal landscape – it doesn’t get any more unique or Rotorua than that.

“Highlights for me are visiting Wanaka parkrun and leading a karakia timatanga (opening karakia) for Waitangi Day this year.”

Megan says she is looking forward to visiting Whangarei parkrun and exploring the Bay of Islands as part of their parkrun adventures.