What a wonderful year 2019 was for our little club.
We kicked off the year with the 26th Australia Day Fun Run, an invigorating way to start the day! Encouraging families and individuals to walk or run 5km or 10km around the Leschenault Inlet.
April is the month for the HBF Three Waters Running Festival, inclusive of a 5km, 10km, Half Marathon, Marathon and 50km Ultra events. The club has a long standing relationship with Setagaya in Japan, hosting runners to complete the full or half marathon and show them the culture and sights of Bunbury and surrounds.
The 13th Vestrum Women’s Fun Run and Walk was enjoyed by around 400 women! The event has a focus on participation with girls and women achieving their own personal goals.
The Fathers Day Fun Run is held in September and is ‘All about the Blokes’. It encourages everyone to be involved. We all have a brother, son, father, grandfather or male friend. The course is 1 or 2 laps around the Big Swamp.
In November club members Lorrie, Brenda, Claire, Karen and Hannah flew to Japan to run the 246 Setagaya Half Marathon. The ladies had a wonderful time learning about Japanese culture and being warmly welcomed by the City of Setagaya.
The Junior program runs on a Thursday night on the oval when the seniors run. Thanks to Darren, Chris and Erica for supporting the children to build skills, have fun and love running, as much as we do.
Tuesday morning sprint sessions are every week from 6 – 7am, on the Recreation Oval attached to the Bunbury Runners Club. Thank you to Dom and Keith who have led these with enthusiasm and growing numbers.
Trailblazers, expertly led by “Sherpa” Allan Whitfield continues to be a fabulous way to explore the trails every second Saturday of the month. Every month is a trail not previous run that year. Refueling and rehydrating amongst the wonderful Australian bush, sharing a run story or two.
Our dedicated club members participated in many events across the state and beyond, including the Australia Day Ultra, Busselton Half Marathon and fun run, Perth Running Festival, SWAS Fun Run, Trails N Ales, Pemby Trail Fest, Margaret River Ultra, HBF Run for a Reason, Elleker Half Marathon, Bilboa Marathon and Half Marathon in Spain, Perth City to Surf, WTF 100 Mile, Perth Marathon, Bravehearts 777 Marathon, Bunbury Surf to Surf, Mighty Jarrah Trail Run, Fremantle Half Marathon, Rottnest Marathon and the Sandman beach run.
The Bunbury Runners Club appreciate the sponsorship received from various businesses. With the main sponsors being HBF, Vestrum, RSM, Koombana Physiotherapy, F45, The Athletes Foot, Work Clobber, Neverfail, Bendigo Bank, Australind Travel & Cruise Centre, Rugrats Carpet Cleaning, SouthWest Hospital Pharmacy, Harcourts APG, Fleay Gardiner & associates.
The Club supports a number of charities by giving money or items to South West Refuge, Waratah, Clontarf Academy, Cystic Fibrosis South West and Men’s Shed.
The club is fortunate to have many enthusiastic volunteer members who make the events happen and dedicate their time and skill across all aspects of the ‘business’ of the club. The last 3 years have seen Keith Yardley as president with numerous new initiatives introduced.
It’s almost hard to believe one club could do so much in a year. We are certainly expecting positive things and new running goals in 2020. We welcome you to our club and running family. Keep checking back here for more Adventures of the Bunbury Runners Club!