Lalor Parkrun founder Melissa Flentjar credits the weekly community run with keeping her fit and healthy.
What suburb do you live in and for how long?
I’m originally from Fawkner, but settled in Epping almost 10 years ago. We built in Horizons [estate] and remember when that area was still vacant land with cows and kangaroos on it. We are now a family of four that work and attend school locally.
What do you love about your community?
We have a wonderful community full of rich cultures and diversity. I love that we have access to education, goods and services, open spaces and beautiful parklands. We have shopping centres and restaurants nearby and we are not far from the city, beaches or the mountains. I love how easy it is for us to embrace suburban life with cafes, access to facilities etc, but also to easily escape to the country.
What, if anything, would you change about your community?
Apart from improvements to the traffic, I would love to see more people out and about being active. In Thomastown, Lalor and Campbellfield in Melbourne’s north,
71 per cent of people are overweight or obese, putting them at risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. Having weighed 148 kilos at my heaviest and making a lifelong lifestyle change, I believe parkrun is an opportunity for everyone to join in and be active in a friendly, supportive and safe environment!
How long has the Lalor parkrun been operating? How did it come about?
With thanks to City of Whittlesea and Victorian Aboriginal Health Services Healthy Lifestyle Team, Lalor parkrun launched on April 16. Since then, we have seen over 500 people register. We have a weekly attendance of between 50 to 70 people. The total distance covered so far is 8880 kilometres. I wanted to bring parkrun to Lalor after I lost over 40 kilos by attending a parkrun regularly in another suburb. I walked my first time and many times after that, but it wasn’t long before I started to jog and then ran the entire five-kilometre course. I had greatly improved my physical and mental health and was even able to come off blood pressure medication. Since starting parkrun, I have run nine half-marathons and one marathon.
What do you enjoy about parkrun?
I love that parkrun is free and all-inclusive. You can walk, run, bring your kids – and your dogs can join in as well. It’s a timed five-kilometre walk or run every Saturday at Whittlesea Public Gardens, Barry Road Lalor.
How do you like to spend your spare time?
My children go to school in Epping and they enjoy regular activities such as ballet, tennis, golf and swimming, so that keeps me busy. In my spare time, I enjoy weight training at YMCA Leisure City and I also train with Diamond Creek Running Club. I love spending our spare time as a family at local parks, swimming or riding our bikes along the many paths and tracks that we have in our area.
Details: www.parkrun.com.au/register
