Kevin Grogan, Clermont Waterfront parkrun
On May 2, the Clermont Waterfront parkrun once again brought the community together for a vibrant morning along Lake Minneola with 207 finishers taking part in the event.
Leading the field was Daniel Woodforth who crossed the line first in 17:05 while Sue Pierson, competing in the 60 to 64 female age group, was the top female finisher in 22:06.
After the run, we caught up with some of our consistent parkrunners to see what keeps them coming back each week.
Elite time-trial cyclist David Neuman, who knocked out a steady 24 minute parkrun and had this to say, “I love parkrun. It’s about being out here with other like minded people. As for my fitness, my parkrun is basically the foundation that I try to keep through the year. My fitness builds off my ability to run a decent 5k here at parkrun. It keeps my muscles fresh and keeps my blood flow going for my cycling and triathlon events.”
Anne McFarlane volunteered her Saturday giving out finishers timing tokens as she does many parkrun mornings. McFarlane added, “Today was absolutely fabulous. Clermont parkrun has been a huge part of my life for many years. It’s a real family out here; it really is!”
Today was John Hirsch #170th parkrun. Hirsch commented, “Running comrades keep me coming back; it is a sense of team. It definitely gives me structure throughout the week. Say it’s Thursday; I know I am going to be here Saturday so it gives my running focus. Regardless of your performance, you will get support throughout the course.”
And finally Tyson Brogan ran with his mother Yvette. Tyson, racing in the ten and under male age group and pulling off a sub 23 minute personal best 5k had this to say, “My favorite part about parkrun is meeting new people. People like Mr. Hector taking pictures. You meet all sorts of people during your run. It helps pushing each other and that’s why I even give fist bumps to fellow runners out there that might need a push.”
Looking ahead, the momentum continues to build as Clermont Waterfront parkrun moves deeper into May, with growing participation across all age groups and a strong sense of consistency forming among both runners and volunteers. Expect to see new faces mixing in with familiar regulars, continued milestone celebrations on the horizon, and even more community connections being made along the course. With warmer conditions approaching, pacing strategies and hydration will become more important, but the energy and support that define this event should remain a constant. Next week presents another opportunity for personal goals, first timers to take that initial step, and returning participants to keep building their routine within this steadily thriving parkrun community.
