A NEAR record number of participants took part in the 500th running of the Harlow parkrun.

The Harlow parkrun is a 5k run, walk, shuffle, wheel around Harlow Town Park on a Saturday morning.

Harlow is one of 1,348 across the United Kingdom.

The first Harlow run took place on November 2014.

Saturday’s theme was Blue as all runners who individually run 500 parkruns, get a blue T-shirt. There are just a handful of Harlow runners who achieved that (Jon Waight, Catherine Penketh and Theresa Strickland).

The parkrun would simply not exist without the volunteers and marshals who make it what it is.

On a Saturday morning, they arrive at just after 7am to get the course ready. any do not leave until after midday, when the results are published.

One of the special efforts on Saturday was a fantastic display of photographs taken over the last 499 runs.

There have been marriage proposals, children in prams who are now running round and many friendships nurtured. There have also been hesitant walks who have gone onto be very good runners.

We also pay tribute to those who are no longer with us.

Well done to all involved and we look forward to the next 500!