ONLY taking up running four years ago, Ironman Holly Kelleher is a bit of a hero in grassroots sport.

From a complete beginner to completing the gruelling distances Holland's Maastricht Ironman triathlon had to offer is a somewhat remarkable transformation.

And the Prudhoe resident's achievements are being recognised as an upcoming Prudhoe Riverside Parkrun will have a superhero theme.

A group from This Girl Parkruns North East is taking over the event on Saturday, August 26, as part of its weekly tour of parkruns across the region.

The group aims at encouraging women into sport, whatever their ability.

And Holly, who spearheaded the drive to bring parkrun to Prudhoe, is being used as a great example how people can quickly go from somebody who never did any exercise, to a fully fledged member of the growing Ironman fraternity.

She said: "Sport is open to everybody and women can take part, even if they have to walk the distance.

"I never used to exercise at all four years ago, but I was bitten by the bug and I've just completed my first Ironman.

"The parkrun isn't open to just women and men are invited along too, but as a one-off it is a celebration of women in sport. And we're encouraging people to get dressed up as superheroes."

To be dressed as comic hero Iron Man, Holly and Richard Heslop, getting in the spirit by dressing as Super Girl, will be pacers during the event.