Riverside Reserve parkrun

📸 SATURDAY MORNING MAGIC AT RIVERSIDE RESERVE! 🌿🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

There’s just something about parkrun photos… 😂

One minute you’re running like you’ve got somewhere very important to be…

The next minute you spot the camera and suddenly it’s:
“LOOK LIKE YOU’RE ENJOYING IT!” 😁📸

And honestly, we LOVE it! ❤️

These are the moments that make Riverside Reserve special — the smiles, the determination, the high-fives, the friendships and all those little moments you might miss while you’re busy getting yourself to that finish line.

217 people crossed the finish line at #53, and every single one has a story.

So have a scroll through the photos, find yourself, tag your friends and share the smiles! 📸💚

And remember…

You don’t have to be fast.
You don’t have to be a runner.
You just have to show up. 🌱

See you next Saturday! 👋

🌿🏃 RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #53 🏃‍♀️🌿
22 August 2026

Well… THAT escalated quickly! 😂

217 finishers!
42 PBs! 🔥
23 first timers! 🌱
11 hi-vis heroes! 💗

That’s another Saturday morning packed with running, walking, chatting, cheering, smiling and probably a few people wondering why they agreed to the hills! 😂

🌟 FIRST FINISHERS

🏃‍♂️ Wiehann Mohlen — 18:20
🏃‍♀️ Mieke Pauer — 23:33

And Wiehann wasn’t finished there… he also celebrated his 200th parkrun! 🎉👏

🏆 MILESTONES

25 parkruns:
👏 Karina Pauer

50 parkruns:
🎉 Pierre Eloff

200 parkruns:
🔥 Wiehann Mohlen

What a way to celebrate!

🌱 WELCOME, FIRST TIMERS!

A massive Riverside Reserve welcome to our 23 first timers!

And our 7 first timers at parkrun:

Mieke Pauer
Thuso Mokwa
Claudine Mynhardt
Brielle Kabuya
Junaid Nomani
Tasneem Hassen
Desiree Pretorius

We hope this is the beginning of many Saturday mornings with us! 💚

🔥 42 PERSONAL BESTS!

The PB bell was definitely earning its keep this week! 🔔😂

Congratulations to:

Wiehann Mohlen
Christiaan Visser
Anashe Goronga
Andrea Parker
Sisa Ndlovu
Liezel Pienaar
Stanton Mouton
Johan Van Wyk
Cherie Mukendi
Lesly Meiring
Adele Kotze
Daniel Van Niekerk
Henning Venter
Ryan Vermeulen
Thea Maritz
Michelle Marx
Mukendi Kabuya
Maureen Ngwenya
Charlene Vorster
Thembi Mathumbu
Sandra Hogg
Amy Eloff
Lisa Venter
Steyn Jurie
Liv Scorgie
Ivy Maduna
Elize Viljoen
Willie Bester
Nikita Van Heerden
Molelekwa Rachidi
Susan Labuschagne
Jan Labuschagne
Willemien Du Plooy
Nyasha Muzemba
Antoinette Van Deventer
Sandra Jacobs
Namisile Ndlovu
Leon Van Tubbergh
Mpho Morabe
Thokozile Morabe
Iminathi Gama
Simphiwe Lukhele

👏👏👏 WELL DONE!

💗 OUR HI-VIS HEROES

Rod Mackinnon
Hugo Weideman
Wendy Williams
Koos Kriel
Graeme Gibbs
Paul Overgoor
Clarissa Kaltwasser
Thanduxolo (Thando) Lubanga
Gabriella Mason
Karen Bam
Marais Bam

11 heroes who gave up their Saturday morning to make sure 217 people could enjoy theirs! 🙌

We appreciate every one of you! 💗

🌟 VOLUNTEER MILESTONES

First-time volunteers:
Karen Bam
Marais Bam 🌱

And our volunteer legends with the most credits:

🥇 Wendy Williams — 155
🥈 Quinton Christie — 99
🥉 Zyta Dietz — 97

That is some serious volunteer dedication! 👏👏

📊 RIVERSIDE RESERVE — THE BIG NUMBERS

Since we started on 23 August 2025:

🏃 2,172 participants have completed
🏅 10,899 parkruns
👟 54,495 km covered
🔥 1,810 new Personal Bests
🙌 187 individuals have volunteered
💗 576 volunteer credits
📈 Average attendance: 206

54,495 km!

That’s a LOT of Saturday morning kilometres! 🌍😂

To every runner, walker, volunteer, photographer, supporter, cheerleader and person who dragged themselves out of bed and showed up…

THANK YOU! ❤️

Riverside Reserve is not just about the numbers. It’s the people, the laughs, the encouragement, the friendships and that feeling of crossing the finish line knowing you did it.

See you next Saturday! 🌿🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

On Sunday the 23rd of August Riverside Reserve celebrate their 1st anniversary.

Congratulations and thank you to Stephen, Quinton, Rod, Mike and Mariska and the rest of the team for making the event possible every weekend.

📸 A spontaneous little shout-out to Mara! 💕

Thank you so much for capturing these beautiful moments at Riverside Reserve parkrun! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️📸

While we’re busy running, walking, chatting and trying to look like we’re enjoying the hills 😂… you’re there behind the camera catching all the smiles, high-fives and special moments!

We appreciate you more than you know! 🥰

Thank you, Mara, for helping us remember the magic of Saturday mornings! 💚🌿📸

🌿🏃‍♀️ RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #52 — WHAT A MORNING! 🏃‍♂️🌿

157 finishers. 28 PBs. 9 first timers. 9 incredible volunteers. 💚💗

And plenty of smiles, sweat and “I’m never doing this again… see you next Saturday!” 😂

A HUGE Riverside Reserve shout-out to everyone who made #52 another brilliant parkrun!

🌟 WELCOME TO YOUR FIRST FINISH!

Congratulations to our first finishers:

🏃‍♂️ Wiehann Mohlen — 21:19
🏃‍♀️ Mieke Moolman — 25:41

And welcome to our 9 first timers! We’re so happy you found us! 🌱

🍃 FIRST TIMERS AT PARKRUN

A special welcome to:
Grietjie Van Zijl & Nyasha Muzemba 🎉

🔥 28 PERSONAL BESTS! 🔥

The PB bell was working overtime! 🔔👏

Congratulations to:

Mieke Moolman, Sven Ruthven, Anashe Goronga, Yolandi Stander, Mazi Scibbe, Aiden Bates, Brandon Piner, Christi Jackson, Khanya Khoza, Danielle Russell, Cherie Mukendi, Christine Camper, Henning Venter, Mukendi Kabuya, Charlene Vorster, Jennifer Smith, Pamela Zita, Kevin Pather, Steyn Jurie, Julie Brand, Abigail Botha, Jeanette Oberholzer, Liv Scorgie, Gomolemo Maunye, Lisa Venter, Willie Bester, Lizanne Roos & Thandolwethu Carol Cele! 🎉🏅

🏆 PARKRUN MILESTONES

👏 10: Jennifer Smith
👏 25: Gys Van Der Merwe, Kirabo Gumede & Thandolwethu Carol Cele
👏 100: Marlyn Beukes

Keep collecting those little milestone shirts! 👕💚

🙌 VOLUNTEER MILESTONES

Congratulations to our unofficial volunteer milestones:

🌱 First volunteer: Renusha Naidoo
⭐ 10 volunteer credits: Sanjay Singh

And our volunteer legends with the most credits:

🥇 Jane Mackinnon — 114
🥈 Mike Baynes — 107
🥉 Johan Van Putten — 101

💗 OUR AMAZING #52 VOLUNTEERS 💗

This event simply doesn't happen without you!

👏 Mike Baynes
👏 Jane Mackinnon
👏 Paul Overgoor
👏 Heleen Horne
👏 Sanjay Singh
👏 Henning Venter
👏 Nazia Adam-Kabir
👏 Renusha Naidoo
👏 Mara Strydom

You gave up your Saturday morning so everyone else could run, walk, jog, volunteer, cheer and occasionally question their life choices on the hills. 😂❤️

📊 RIVERSIDE RESERVE SINCE 23 AUGUST 2025

We’ve now had:

🏃 2,149 participants complete
🏃‍♀️ 10,682 parkruns
👟 53,410 km covered
🌟 1,768 personal bests
🙌 184 individuals have volunteered
💗 565 volunteer credits
📈 Average attendance: 205 participants

That is a LOT of kilometres, PBs, friendships, muddy shoes and Saturday-morning memories! 🥹💚

Thank you, Riverside Reserve family, for continuing to show up and make this little parkrun something special.

Same place. Same Saturday magic. See you at the start line! 🌿🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

📸💜 **RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #51 — THE CAMERA SAW EVERYTHING! 😂**

The running.
The walking.
The smiling.
The suffering.
The *“I definitely look faster than I feel”* moments. 😜

Our Event #51 photo album is here! 📸🎉

From the first nervous steps to the final sprint, there were **176 finishers**, **27 PB celebrations**, **37 first-timers**, plenty of high-fives and, of course, some absolutely priceless facial expressions! 😂

So go find yourself in the photos, **tag your parkrun buddies**, and share your favourite shots.

And remember… if you didn't get a photo looking like an Olympic athlete, don't worry. We have plenty of evidence that you were at least having fun! 🤣🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

A huge thank you to everyone who made Event #51 another brilliant Saturday morning at Riverside Reserve. 💗

**Run. Walk. Smile. Get photographed. Repeat.** 📸💜

🏃‍♀️😂 **RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN #51 — 176 PEOPLE, 27 PBs & ONLY 9 HI-VIS HEROES!** 💗🦺

Saturday morning at Riverside Reserve: where some people arrive to **run 5km**, some arrive to **walk 5km**, and some arrive wondering why they agreed to this before their first coffee. ☕😂

But once again, you all showed up — and what a morning it was!

🎉 **EVENT #51 STATS**

🏃‍♂️ **176 finishers**
• 70 male
• 91 female
• 15 unknown — your barcode is not optional, friends! 😜

🌱 **11 first timers**
Welcome to the Riverside family:
Bernhard Richard Herrmann, Owen Scorgie, Liane Venter, Abigail Botha, Esli Faber, Willie Bester, Joshua Ngwenya, Vasti Van Den Berg, Sebastian Faber, Amori Faber & Paballo Mokhobo.

We hope your legs have forgiven you by now! 😂

🔥 **27 PERSONAL BESTS!**

A massive congratulations to:
Charles Russell, Adrian Dietz, Tumelo Machogo, Yolandi Stander, Ayanda Dlamini, Liezel Pienaar, Walter Buna, Carla Coetzee, Jacobus Moolman, Cherie Mukendi, Maureen Ngwenya, Thea Maritz, Thembi Mathumbu, Hekkie Wasserman, Allet Kinnear, Louwrens Coetzer, Liv Scorgie, Susan Van Den Berg, Adriaan Van Den Berg, Marna Bester, Gomolemo Maunye, Mafa Mogakane, Willemien Du Plooy, Nazia Adam-Kabir, Ethan Wakefield, Jonty Wakefield & Basetsana Mokghele.

👏 **27 reasons to celebrate!**

🏆 **FIRST FINISHERS**

🥇 Wiehann Mohlen — **20:46**
🥇 Annelie Dollenberg — **24:59**

Fast feet, strong coffee, questionable Saturday decisions. Whatever works! 😂☕

📊 **HIGHEST AGE GRADE**

🏆 Richard Herrmann — **69.17%**
🏆 Zanike Henning — **67.95%**

Proof once again that age is just a number… but the stopwatch is brutally honest! 😜

👟 **MOST PARKRUNS**

👏 Jan Van Der Merwe — **455 parkruns**
👏 Annelize Kirsten — **413 parkruns**

At this point, we suspect Jan and Annelize may have their own parking spots. 😂

💗 **MOST VOLUNTEER CREDITS**

🦺 Stephen Mallory — **247**
🦺 Wendy Williams — **153**
🦺 Jane Mackinnon — **113**

These legends have given up countless Saturday mornings so that the rest of us can run, walk, chat, laugh and pretend we're only here for the socialising. ❤️

🏅 **PARKRUN MILESTONES**

🎉 **25 parkruns:** Yolandi Stander
🎉 **50 parkruns:** Nazia Adam-Kabir

Congratulations! Your Saturday mornings are officially under new management. 😂👏

💗 **AND THEN THERE WERE OUR 9 HI-VIS HEROES!**

A huge THANK YOU to:

Quinton Christie
Stephen Mallory
Johan Van Putten
Wilma Kasa
Jane Mackinnon
Henning Venter
Heleen Horne
Ria Nel
Mara Strydom

You are the reason Event #51 happened safely and smoothly. 💗🦺

🌍 **RIVERSIDE RESERVE — THE BIGGER PICTURE**

Since Riverside Reserve parkrun started on **23 August 2025**:

🏃 **2,140 participants** have completed
🏃 **10,525 parkruns**
👟 Covering **52,625 km**
🔥 **1,740 Personal Bests**
🦺 **182 individuals** have volunteered
👏 Volunteers have given **555 volunteer credits**
📈 Average attendance: **206 participants**

And just think… we're only getting started! 🚀💜

So whether you smashed a PB, completed your first ever parkrun, volunteered, walked with friends, chased your kids around the course, or spent the entire 5km wondering why you didn't stay in bed…

**YOU ARE PART OF RIVERSIDE RESERVE PARKRUN.** 💜

See you Saturday! Same place. Same 5km. New excuses. 😂🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

💙 Young people. Big hearts. Real impact.

Today, on International Youth Day, we’re celebrating the incredible young people who bring energy, enthusiasm and fresh ideas to our parkrun communities. 🙌

But why just participate when you can make a difference too? 💙

Volunteering at parkrun is a wonderful way to get involved, meet new people, build confidence and empower your community. And the best part? Your parkrun volunteering hours can contribute towards your school’s community service requirements. 🎓✨

Whether you’re scanning barcodes, handing out finish tokens, marshalling, tail walking or simply helping wherever you’re needed, every contribution counts.

So, South African youth, this one’s for you! 🇿🇦
Come along, lend a hand, make some friends and discover just how rewarding volunteering can be.

Your time. Your community. Your impact. 💙

🩷🦺 **Meet the Hi-Vis Heroes Behind Event #50!** 🦺🩷

While everyone else was chasing PBs, enjoying the scenery, or catching their breath, these amazing people were making sure every finish token, barcode scan, cheer, and smile happened exactly when it was needed.

A heartfelt **THANK YOU** to our incredible volunteers for making **Riverside Reserve parkrun #50** such a success:

💜 Mariska Van Wyk
💜 Stephen Mallory
💜 Graeme Gibbs
💜 Hugo Weideman
💜 Anette Venter *(First-time volunteer! 🎉)*
💜 Namisile Ndlovu *(10 volunteer credits! 👏)*
💜 Lisa Venter
💜 Heleen Horne
💜 Mara Strydom
💜 Carmen Savva
💜 Wilma Bridger
💜 Wendy Williams

Every timer clicked, every finish token found its owner, every barcode was scanned, and every participant was welcomed because of your time and dedication.

Thinking, *"I'd like to help one Saturday"*? We'd love to have you! Most volunteer roles are easy to learn, full training is provided, and you'll still have plenty of time for coffee and conversations afterwards. ☕💜

Drop us a message or comment below if you'd like to wear one of our famous pink hi-vis vests.

**Because parkrun doesn't happen by magic... it happens because of volunteers.** 🩷