YOSHNI Naidoo turned a simple smartwatch challenge into a global parkrun adventure, completing her Alphabet Challenge across three continents and inspiring others along the way.

Naidoo’s parkrun challenge began in 2016 at North Beach in Durban.

“It all started with an Apple Watch. I was thrilled to sign up for the ‘free’ smartwatch program with Discovery Health. Being smart with my money, I refused to default on the fitness requirements for the free watch because I did not want to pay for it,” said Naidoo, 46, of Silverglen. 

“My husband was less convinced about my commitment and joked that my fitness journey would not last more than six months,” she said.

Nine years later, Naidoo travelled to Australia to complete parkruns with the alphabets “Y” and “Q”.

“Since South Africa does not have parkruns in areas with the alphabets ‘Y’ and ‘Q’, Australia was the perfect destination. I did parkruns in You Yangs in Melbourne and Queanbeyan in Canberra and Inverloch. This was a special chapter in my parkrun story as I got to complete my Alphabet Challenge. I am officially an Alphabeteer,” said Naidoo.

“The challenge has taken me to 58 beautiful places in South Africa, the United States and Australia. I shared priceless moments with my family and made many friends along the way.”

She said she was not a natural athlete but with this challenge, she discovered a new side to herself and a passion that kept her coming back for more.

“Through the parkruns, I have discovered a love for running and have found a healthy balance in my life. The weekly 5km events on a Saturday motivated me to join a running club and dive deeper into the sport, finding myself signing up for half marathons and even attempting a full marathon.” 

Parkruns have become a family affair for Naidoo.

“The Parkrun are non-negotiable in our home. It has become a way of life for my family. My family and friends usually say I am a parkrun bully or the parkrun police. But I believe I am persuasive and good at making them lace up and join me.”

“My husband, Veldon’s career as a biokineticist is a perfect fit, allowing him to share his passion and knowledge of running with others. We have nicknamed him the ‘over achiever’ at the parkrun because while we stick to the standard 5km, he goes for a double dose,” Naidoo said.

Looking back since she first began, Naidoo said her most memorable parkrun experience was completing her 250th parkrun at a home run at the Durban Point parkrun.

“It was a beautiful day surrounded by my parkrun family. It was a special moment. Parkruns are a blast. You get to meet new people, explore new places, and enjoy the outdoors while getting some exercise. You don’t have to be a seasoned runner to join. It is okay to start slow, walk or jog. The goal is to have fun and improve at your own pace,” she advised.

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