Dame Kelly Holmes was among the 226 finishers at Guernsey parkrun on Saturday.
Speaking to Express after her run, she said it has “a nice vibe”, she liked the terrain across L’ancresse Common and the views, and she encouraged other people to give it a go too.
The retired Olympian was in the island as a guest of charity Only Fools and Donkeys.
She visited Le Rondin School on Friday before attending a fundraising dinner that evening.
Dame Kelly and her partner enjoyed a summer solstice yoga session and a gym workout before heading to Pembroke for the 424th parkrun in Guernsey.
“Taking it easy” today, she completed the two-lap undulating course in 27:15.
Despite taking part in a personal capacity, Dame Kelly posed for photos with other runners and gave tips and advice to some of the younger athletes she met.
“I love coming to parkrun,” she said.
“The purpose of parkrun is just to get people out, for fitness, wellbeing, mental health, all different age groups, and I just like getting involved.
“Sometimes I come when I’m feeling really fit and want to get a good run in, and today was more just a jog around and finish it.”
Dame Kelly and her partner Louise Cullen travel to different parkruns regularly, having already completed the ‘alphabet’ challenge and others.
“This my 58th location today so it’s been really cool as I like doing that more than anything, just going to different places. I mean, look at this – look at the view, it’s really, really lovely,” she said gesturing towards L’ancresse Bay.
Guernsey’s parkrun course is 2.5km. It starts and finishes near Pembroke car park, with participants heading towards the L’ancresse Kiosk before following the coastal path towards ‘stone crusher’. The course then loops inland slightly towards Bunker Hill and back to the start line. Those who do two-laps get a finish token and a recorded time.
“It’s good, it is what it is – it’s a bit cross country – but every parkrun is so different and that’s what’s really nice about going around to be honest,” said Dame Kelly.
“I think it’s conducive too for those that want to go out and run and those that don’t and they just want to take part with a nice vibe, different terrains, different views. So it’s really good.”
After completing their run, Dame Kelly and her partner waited to meet the volunteers who staged this week’s parkrun after they’d all finished their duties.
In the meantime Dame Kelly was kept busy with photo requests.
“It’s really nice to meet the youngsters here,” she said.
“For some of them it’s their first parkrun and some of them clearly run a lot or they’ve taken part in youth games. But it’s for all different ages, it’s not just about the young people it’s older people as well.”
This weekend’s Guernsey parkrunners ranged in age from under 10 years old to late 70s.
There were 39 first timers (including Dame Kelly and Ms Cullen who had not run in Guernsey before) and 22 people got PBs.
For Dame Kelly, it’s all about the overall feel good factor.
“Sometimes it’s a social event in their calendar and they’re getting to know people, meet people, feel good. No one is ever last and so why wouldn’t you want to turn up?” she said.
Dame Kelly was invited to Guernsey by ‘Only Fools and Donkeys’, which she supports.
The charity is about to launch a new cycling challenge which raises money for other good causes including Le Rondin School.
Guernsey parkrun takes place every Saturday at 09:00. For more information visit the website HERE.