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Gillingham: Dee Uzoka does parkrun at at Great Lines before wedding

00:01, 27 April 2017

When it comes to their wedding day, women normally tend to make sure they have the perfect heels to match their special dress, but for one bride, she opted for running shoes.

When Dee Uzoka , 40, married her childhood sweetheart of 20 years, she started her wedding day doing what she loves most – a 5k run at the Great Lines.

The keen volunteer fell in love with running in 2014 and attends every the weekly parkrun event every Saturday.

Dee Uzoka
Dee Uzoka

Her 20-year-old daughter, Jade, ran alongside her while the event team showered her with flowers to celebrate her big day.

The new bride said: “One person remarked that she had never met a bride who had run a parkrun on their wedding day. For those that know me, it would have come as no surprise.”

She added: “Parkrun has been a part of my life since April 2014.

"I had committed that year to start running regularly as I am asthmatic and have a few other health issues.

“There was never any doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t start the day there. It was perfect.”

After completing the run, she got ready for her wedding ceremony at Rochester’s Guildhall.

Dee Uzoka at Great Lines before her wedding
Dee Uzoka at Great Lines before her wedding

She usually runs parkrun with her daughters, Jade, 20, and Rhianna, 19, and her new husband, Harry, 42.

Since she joined, she said she has been overwhelmed by the love and support of the running community in Medway.

Dee regularly volunteers at the 5K runs by processing event results and posting Twitter updates on the parkrun account. Her husband also volunteers by marshalling or barcode scanning on the day.

Event director Dan Gower Smith, said: “It was a brilliant morning, I absolutely enjoyed it, I think it is the fist time we had a pre-wedding run.”

He added they have had anniversary runs and hen parties join before but hopes that pre-wedding runs catch on.

“It’s really good to include the community in their special day.”

  • The Great Lines parkrun takes place at 9am every Saturday. Visit www.parkrun.org.uk/greatlines
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