Andover runner to take part in 500th parkrun

Lance Mitchell will complete his 500th run on Saturday, April 27 at Charlton Lakes and it will also mark his 475th race in Andover.

He told the Advertiser that he has completed parkrun events at eight other venues, including Pegasus in New Zealand, after first starting running them in 2012. 

He said: "It is such a welcoming, inclusive, really wonderful community and then it was just in the UK but now it is worldwide and there are hundreds of runs worldwide. To me, it is just great to turn up to. I have made so many friends, not just here but around the world through this running."

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He said that running at parkruns has kept him going over the years. 

As previously reported by the Advertiser, Lance completed their milestone 250th track at Andover parkrun in 2018.

Lance ran the race dressed as a TV 118-118 character - only to replace the number with 250 to mark the occasion.

He also previously told the Advertiser he joined the Saturday morning track after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and believes taking part has played a big role in him getting fit.

Lance, who was an instructor in the Royal Engineers, said he also got into running to help with fundraising efforts that his sister was arranging. 

"I trained for a marathon, even though I was fit already in the army it was a different kind of stamina.

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"That got me into the longer distance running because to train for the marathon I was running about 90-miles per week.

"I used to run five or six days a week but now I run one day a week and that is the parkrun and it is a delight and a real pleasure. It is fantastic and I have motivated people over the years to get going on it."

Andover parkrun is a a free weekly 5k community event and participants are encouraged to jog, run or walk.