ALMOST 900 residents across the region slipped on their Christmas clothing to take part in the four Gwent parkruns.

With events taking place in Bryn Bach, Cwmbran, Newport and Pontypool on Christmas Eve, 875 runners put on their running shoes before their family festivities.

Among the many first-timers was Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds, who took part in one of the two events within his constituency in Cwmbran.

“Over the past nine weeks is to train as I wanted to be able to jog it right through and try to get a decent time,” said Mr Thomas-Symonds.

“I’m a bit tired but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

“I came for the anniversary of Parkrun earlier in the year and I promised, which swiftly became a vow, to do the event.”

In addition to completing his first timed 5k run, the MP was raising money for charity.

“I wanted to raise money for a good cause and I chose the charity Bowel Cancer UK,” he said.

“It is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and it is one of those cancers for which the survival rate depends so much on the point at which the cancer is discovered.

“We want of course to get earlier diagnosis and the best treatment possible.

“I’ve managed to already raise hundreds of pounds through this event alone for that cause and I am delighted to be able to that with support fantastic support,” said Mr Thomas-Symonds.

According to his personal timing equipment, he clocked 31 minutes and 22 seconds, but his official time was 33 minutes and 24 seconds, finishing in 136th place of 175 runners.

The MP was pleased with his progress over nine weeks however.

“The first time I actually tried to do 5k nine weeks ago, it took me 48 minutes which is not good and virtually walking pace,” he said.

“You can see the distance that I’ve come in that time. In the new year, perhaps in the early spring around February or March, I will attempt the Pontypool course.”

Having attended events in the past, Mr Thomas-Symonds was able to sample a different view of the free 5k events.

“It was wonderful to run alongside a number of my constituents, even if I was practically running along the constituency border,” he said.

“It seems to me that parkrun is almost like a family and when I’ve been previously and watched rather than participated, I’ve always been struck be the camaraderie of everyone who does it.

“Everyone has been so friendly and encouraging, both at the start and along the course, and the marshals were great as well.”

Event organiser Fiona Cross was glad to see the MP return to take part in the Cwmbran event.

“For him to be so inspired by that event, he actually committed to coming to run and doing it for charity as well – it is amazing and brilliant,” she said.

“Hopefully he’ll continue to be an ambassador for us, telling how wonderful the event is. I’m thrilled that the MP is willing to support the events in his constituency too.

“I’m sure he’ll be the first to admit that he’s not a natural runner and he’s proving to people that you can actually go from nothing to being successful.

“You just have to decide to get up and that’s the thing, you can sit on the sofa and want things to change but until you get up and make things change, you need to make that decision to get out of the door.

“That’s the thing about parkrun, there’s no pressure and it’s not a race. It is just a case of coming along and giving it a go. What you find is along the way, you make friends and start to believe in yourself,” said Ms Cross.

At Bryn Bach, 143 runners attended, with marginally fewer in Pontypool – 115 participants – and Newport had 442 parkunners.