A parkrun co-founded by a local runner and community event organiser has celebrated its first year of weekly 5km runs.
Thoulstone parkrun, which takes place at Thoulstone Park between Westbury and Warminster, marked its one-year anniversary on Saturday 7th February.
The event was co-founded by Robin-Mark Schols, from Dilton Marsh, alongside Steve Jeffries. Throughout the year, the event has seen around 6,500 runners completing the course.
“It’s been a great first year,” said Robin-Mark and Steve. “Though circumstances sometimes have not always gone our way, these challenges have given us a learning curve we’ve had to overcome, and we have consistently delivered an enjoyable experience to those who come and take part.”
Robin-Mark began running as a hobby in 2009 after undergoing brain surgery to remove a tumour the size of a satsuma. Since then, he has completed multiple marathons and gone on to organise the annual Hilly Helmet race in Westbury, inspired by his experience of having to wear a helmet every day following further brain surgery in 2015.
“We’ve seen the event go from strength to strength, with many lovely comments made by runners both locally and those who have visited from as far away as Australia, which really pay testimony to the hard work put in by all the volunteers that make it happen week in, week out,” he said.
The event is run entirely by volunteers, with around 30 needed each week for the parkrun to safely go ahead.
“As the event has grown, more and more runners are happy to take the odd week off from running to take their turn to help,” said Robin.
“We also have regular help from the Rotary Club of Westbury who supply a number of marshals each week and during our first year we have had regular help from youngsters doing their Duke of Edinburgh award.
“The focus from the event is very much on getting everyone to take a turn in helping keep their local event going.”
“We have thoroughly enjoyed the last year of having the opportunity to put on this event for the thousands of participants,” said Steve and Robin.
“We would like to thank Thoulstone Park for allowing us to use their magnificent facility, the Rotary Club of Westbury and Warminster Town Council for supporting us with set up costs, and all the volunteers who turn up every week in all weathers, who enable our event to take place.”
Robin was first asked to set up the event, having been a regular volunteer at parkrun events in Southwick and Frome.
“After saying yes please, the first thing I did was speak to Steve Jeffries to ask him if he would consider joining me as Co Event Director,” said Robin.
“Together we sought out some good, experienced members of the local running community who we thought would be best placed to assist us in growing a successful event, engaging predominantly with Westbury and Warminster running groups, as both towns would be our target audience we would be catering for.”
Following a lengthy planning process, including route plotting, risk assessments, submissions to parkrun HQ and the recruitment of a core team of 12 volunteers, Steve and Robin secured funding from local bodies, including Warminster Town Council, to cover the costs of running the event.
Ten months after applying to parkrun HQ, the inaugural Thoulstone parkrun took place on Saturday 8th February 2025.
Thoulstone parkrun takes place every Saturday at 9am. To find out more or to register, visit https://www.parkrun.org.uk/thoulstone/
