PARKRUNNERS were joined by a special guest on Saturday as Olympic rower Jessica Eddie swapped the water for the road as part of a national campaign to say thank you to her supporters.

The silver medallist took brought up the rear at Sedgefield Parkrun, at Hardwick Park, Sedgefield as she took on the role of tail walker as part of UK Sport’s #teamparkrun event which sees athletes who have been supported through National Lottery funding, giving something back.

Parkrun is a nationwide network of free, 5km timed runs that take place every Saturday and encourage anyone to get active.

The 32-year-old, who was supported by the funding for a decade, joined fellow tail walker and Sedgefield Parkrun volunteer, Lisa Ridley, for the task of making sure none of the 250 runners came last.

She said: “I loved it. I have done a couple before and they have blown me away by how inclusive they are and it just shows how sport is for everyone and just really good fun.

“To be able to come and be the tail walker was just really special and to come home too as I’m from Durham originally.”

And Eddie was not the only Lottery-funded athlete to put on her running shoes, as Team GB boxer Kiaran Macdonald took part in the Sunderland parkrun while rising taekwondo star, Simone Abley, also joined those at Durham parkrun.

For more information, visit teamparkrun.com