FOR many of the 300 people taking part, it was probably just another Parkrun.

But three of those involved in the latest race to be held at the Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley Abbey were left celebrating after notching up personal milestones.

It was Chris Brooks’s 50th Parkrun, Anna Smith-James’s 100th and Geoff Collins’s 200th.

The trio, all members of Hedge End Running Club, marked their individual achievements by handing out cakes to fellow runners.

Geoff, a 56-year-old taxi driver from Bursledon, is hoping to complete 500 Parkruns before he retires from the sport.

He said: “I do the Netley one most of the time but like to take a break now and again by competing in similar events in Southampton, Lee-on-Solent and Bushy Park in London, where it all began.

“I’ve already notched up 600 miles but intend to carry on until I see someone walking faster than I’m running.”

Chris Brooks, a 42-year-old financial adviser from Hedge End, said: “An old schoolfriend got me into Parkruns at the start of last year.

“He came down from London and dragged me round the Southampton course for what seemed like an age. But it was such a good atmosphere I’ve been doing it ever since.”

Chris has been taking part in the Netley Parkrun since April last year.

He said: “A fantastic set of people go there week in, week out and everyone seems to know each other.

"I go there whether I’m running or not.”

The five-kilometre event is one of hundreds of Parkruns held across the UK every Saturday at 9am.

Anna Smith-James, a 27-year-old software test engineer from Hedge End, said: “A collection of people running each Saturday is a dream.

“Netley is my ‘home’ Parkrun. It’s the one all my friends do.

"It’s very friendly and welcoming – not scary like a real race.”