People of all ages are invited to attend the inaugural Bathurst parkrun, a weekly timed event that encourages participants to walk or run a five kilometre course and then try to improve on their time.

Event director Jennifer Arnold said the purpose of the event is to improve fitness and have fun.

“It is a really fun and all inclusive way of getting out and exercising,” she said.

The parkrun course takes people through Bicentennial Park, across flat land and predominately along the concrete paths that run beside the Macquarie River.

Participants will receive an email with their time shortly after they complete the course.

“There is some really dedicated runners in Bathurst who will potentially use parkrun as a training event for their races,” Ms Arnold said.

“For lots of people, 5km at a walk is quite achievable.”

Organisers of parkrun have been trying to bring the event to fruition since February.

They were able to get it up and running after being given the green light from Bathurst Regional Council and receiving support from sponsors Dedicated to Fitness (D2F), Bathurst Physiotherapy and Sports Injuries Centre, Marathon Health, Bathurst RSL Club 10km and Half Marathon, Body FX Exercise Physiology and Steele and Co Solicitors.

The event is run entirely by volunteers, who assist with marshaling, time keeping, scanning barcodes and being tail runners.

Ms Arnold said they can always use more volunteers to help parkrun go smoothly each week.

“In lots of other parkrun events they have people who just volunteer and don’t want to run at all,” she said.

This Saturday’s parkrun will get underway at 8am by Denison Bridge.

“For a lot of people, going on a 5km run or walk can be daunting, but knowing that it is such a fun, social event makes it easier,” Ms Arnold said.

People who would like to participate need to register online at www.parkrun.com.au/register and print out their barcode.

This barcode must be brought along to each parkrun event.