A runner from Carshalton has made global parkrun history after becoming the first person ever to complete 1,000 parkruns, as reported by our sister title London Now.
Darren Wood, 43, reached the landmark at Morden parkrun, cheered on by friends, family and fellow members of Sutton Runners.
The milestone moment saw a guard of honour formed at the finish line in Morden as the south London athlete crossed over to complete his 1,000th event, London Now reports, where further details of the achievement can be read.
Mr Wood said: "For me it's a habit, I just rock up every week and I just do it.
"I love getting out and exploring new parkruns and meeting new communities."
He completed his first parkrun in October 2004 and has been a regular participant ever since, running at 119 different events across seven countries and volunteering 415 times at 5k and junior parkruns.
To celebrate his achievement, Mr Wood was presented with a yellow 1,000 parkrun T-shirt, a crown, and a cape, earning him the title “the king of parkrun.”
parkrun began on October 2, 2004, as the Bushy Park Time Trial.
It was organised by runner Paul Sinton-Hewitt during his recovery from injury.
Just 13 people took part in the inaugural event.
Since then, parkrun has grown to 913 locations across 23 countries, with more than four million participants.
Like Mr Sinton-Hewitt, Mr Wood was a member of Ranelagh Harriers in south-west London, but missed the first event, unsure if he was fast enough for a time trial.
Mr Wood is currently 36 parkruns ahead of his nearest rival.
He described the attention surrounding his achievement as "a little bit overwhelming" but said: "It's just a nice celebration.
"I don't want the limelight.
"This is about a celebration of parkrun.
Just because I've been the first person to get there, it could have been anyone."
He added: "This milestone isn't about me, it's about the parkrun community and what parkrun is doing for everyone.
Parkrun is inclusive for everyone.
Everyone is welcome and it will change and save lives if we can get more and more people involved.
I'd love for others who have never been part of a parkrun to just pick up the courage to attend their first event and be there.
Because parkrun has changed and saved my life and it will do that for others, I would almost guarantee that."
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Mr Wood has been open about his struggles with mental health following the breakdown of his marriage.
He said parkrun helped him through some of his darkest moments.
He said: "When I went to parkrun everything felt normal.
"I wasn't judged any more, I could just be me and I could talk to people and explain how I was feeling."
He hopes to use his story to encourage others to seek support.
He said: "I'm doing this to hopefully save a life.
If I can save somebody’s else’s life, that's all I want out of this.
My key message would be that it's important for people to talk and not to feel judged.
I felt hopeless but I came across as being the happiest person around.
We are all very good at hiding how we feel.
If there's one thing, be kind because you never know what somebody else is going through."
Mr Wood encouraged others to try parkrun, regardless of their experience or pace.
He said: "Go and try it, you will not come away disappointed.
Just build up that courage.
Understand that you will not be judged, everyone is welcome, it doesn't matter how fast or slow you are.
There's always a first timers briefing so if you don't know the course, you're going to a new course, you are made to feel welcome.
That's the nice thing about parkrun, you've got the tailwalker so nobody's going to come last.
Register online, get your barcode and just rock up.
It's free, it's for everyone, what's not to like?"
He has no plans to slow down, either.
He said: "I'm going to aim big, I'm aiming for 2,000 in another 20 years.
Aim high, you've got to be positive, you've got to have big dreams."
