A Caerphilly man is on track to have completed every Parkrun in Wales come the end of the summer.

Fifty-three-year-old father-of-two David Roberts, who is the deputy head teacher at a school in Rhydyfelin, has so far completed 40 of the 44 Parkrun events across the country.

He first set himself the challenge back in 2019 after taking part in the S4C fitness series FFIT Cymru, where he lost three stone and 11 pounds in just seven weeks.

He started taking part in 5k Parkruns on Saturday mornings soon after and never looked back.

Before discovering his love of Parkruns, medics had warned David’s blood pressure was off the scale – and that his risk of a stroke was ‘dangerously high’.

While taking part in FFIT Cymru, David came first in the Parkrun challenge in Newborough, Anglesey.

David said: “I’m hoping to finish them all over the summer. There are another two coming too, so I will complete those two after I finish the 44.

“I did the FFIT Cymru 5k Parkrun challenge in Newborough, and a few weeks later I ran the Pontypridd Parkrun with my friends . After that I ran my local Parkrun in Penallta, and after doing those three I decided, ‘right, I’m going to do the lot’.

“Eleven people have completed every Parkrun in Wales but I’m hoping to join them soon. It’s great to set yourself a target and just go for it. I don’t worry so much about the times any more, it’s more about finishing the run and enjoying it – that’s what’s important to me.”

David continued: “I would not have done a Parkrun if it wasn’t for FFIT Cymru. It’s a bit of a cliché by now, but I truly believe that FFIT Cymru saved my life. I would have had a stroke if it wasn’t for the show, so it transformed everything for me.”

David, who is originally from Llandudno, will be hoping to complete the challenge at the Conwy Parkrun, which is along the same route his grandfather used to regularly walk.

David added: “I like the routes that are flat. I’m not such a big fan of the hilly ones, I’m not great with hills. But the ones I enjoyed the most is probably the first one I did, in Newborough, running through the woods and past Llanddwyn Island.

“There are so many nice ones, we’re so lucky in Wales that there are so many beautiful places to run. It’s a great way of seeing our country.”

Earlier this month, David was elected to Caerphilly Town Council, where he now represents the Cwrt Rawlin ward for Plaid Cymru. He has also been named as Deputy Mayor for Caerphilly Town.