Views from the Pyramid Hill parkrun. Photo: Bill Conroy.
Statistics from the run show that more than 60 per cent of participants have come from outside the Loddon region, including as far afield as England, France and New Zealand.
Data from Spendmapp for the area shows at least a five per cent increase in economic activity compared to the previous year, according to Loddon Shire Council.
Pyramid Hill Coffee Bank owner Janine Worth, who has run the business for around one year, said the weekly run had boosted trade.
“We always get some people from out of town in for their coffee and breakfast after the parkrun, and the volunteers call in as well,” she said.
“I’ve had to put on more staff on a Saturday morning, and it certainly has made our business busier.”
Victoria Hotel publican and Pyramid Hill Caravan Park co-owner Paul Carter is also seeing benefits to his businesses, as well as the town.
“We see (the tourists) before the event in people that decide to stay here the Friday night,” he said.
“They stay here (the pub) or the caravan park, have a meal and a drink, and the next morning they go off to the parkrun.”
Mr Carter said trade generally slowed during winter as there were fewer agricultural workers in town needing accommodation.
Aside from the economic boon, he said the run catered for a wide range of ages, and provides consistent social benefits to attendees.
“There are also runners whose whole holidays are based on parkrun because they’ll know they’ll meet people there — it’s quite a subculture,” he said.
“It’s been really good for the town, and it’s not going anywhere.”
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