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16 September, 2021
Access all ages as Sunnynook steps out
Sunnynook Park is proving the ideal attraction to get locals out of their homes during lockdown. Thanks to an initiative of the Sunnynook Community Association – to encourage residents to complete a marathon distance of 42km in September – many are also quietly achieving fitness goals.
One of the keenest regular walkers is octogenarian John Godfrey. With the month not even half way through, the resident of neighbouring Forrest Hill was already close to finishing his “marathon”. Some days he has completed four laps of the park, a distance of around 4km, so it soon adds up.
On his walks he may be lapped by runners, cyclists, and people on scooters, but Godfrey is an example of slow and steady wins the race. He is one of around 100 people officially participating in the event and recording their distances.
When Alert Level 4 was imposed, the association decided to box on with the long-planned event. People could do it safely in the large park as permitted daily exercise close to home.
One of its driving forces is association committee member Soriya Em. Her own young children and mother join her on the park tracks.
“I’ve never seen so many dogs,” she says. Em said participants were posting photographs of themselves and offering encouragement online. “One of them was new to the community and felt it was a really good event for them to get out and enjoy it.” With two weeks to go to the month’s end, keen exercisers might still be in time to join the fun and achieve a personal milestone.
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