Whether you are a seasoned runner or just bought your first pair of trainers, consider participating in parkrun, a British running tradition. Started in 2004 in Bushy Park, Teddington, UK, parkrun now spans across 20 countries and includes over 3 million runners.
The concept is simple: Every Saturday, run or walk a 5k for free.
History of parkrun
parkrun’s first ever event was a 13 runner time trial founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt. It didn’t expand outside of Bushy for nearly two years, until it grew beyond Bushy to Wimbledon. Initial registration and results were recorded on paper and finish tokens were washers from a local hardware store. However, as parkrun grew in popularity, the official online registration system was established and more and more parkrun locations were founded. Paul Sinton-Hewitt was appointed a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) "for services to Grassroots Sport Participation" in 2014, as well as awarded the Albert Medal (Royal Society of Arts).
Here are 6 reasons why you should participate in a parkrun, no matter your running level or ability:
1: There are an abundance of locations
There are 1,146 weekly parkrun events around the UK to choose from, and if you are abroad, parkrun is also available in 20 countries. And if parkrun does not exist where you live, you can easily start your own. The average parkrunner has finished 15.8 parkruns, so clearly people keep coming back!
2: Find community
parkrun introduces like-minded people to a community of runners with similar interests and goals. Your local parkrun is a great place to find new running buddies or even create a training group! Additionally, parkrun has inspired other community ventures such as the Free, Weekly, Timed podcast, which provides running related news, tips, interviews, and inspiration to its listeners. Hosts Vassos and Helen both love running and are very involved in the parkrun community. While Free, Weekly, Timed is not an official parkrun podcast, it is just one example of the amazing community that parkrun has created. parkrun also has an official blog and YouTube channel sharing inspirational stories from participants
3: Challenge yourself
parkrun provides a regular opportunity to run in a race setting, and encourage yourself to beat your PR. Nothing is more motivating than having a fixed goal to train towards. Also, global results are compiled and published weekly on the parkrun website, so you can aim to improve your finish position not only at your own local race, but around the world!
4: It's fun for the whole family
parkrun runs on volunteers - literally. If you or a family member is unable to race for any reason, consider getting involved as a volunteer. There is also a 2k junior parkrun for kids available at many locations so that the whole family can get involved. Finally, walking is not frowned upon at parkrun, and is a great way to participate without running if suffering from an injury or for any other reason!
5: It's free!
Who doesn’t love free things? Many runners know that road races can oftentimes be pricey, and create an unnecessary obstacle for participation. Therefore, parkrun has eliminated this barrier with its free races and easy registration! Simply register once on their website, and you are set to race at any parkrun location using their barcode system.
6: It supports a good cause
Finally, parkrun uses its large national and global network to support important causes. In the UK, parkrun partners with Alzheimer’s Research UK to spread the importance of a healthy lifestyle and its impact on brain health, along with bringing attention to the organization. parkrun’s “a healthier and happier planet” mission statement similarly encourages the prioritization of a healthy lifestyle and spending time outdoors. Everyone is welcome at parkrun events, not just experienced runners. parkrun UK has also partnered with Royal College of General Practitioners to encourage patients to participate in outdoor activity through parkruns rather than taking unnecessary medications.
What more reasons could you ask for? The Runnea UK team looks forward to hearing about your parkrun experience, let us know what you think in the comments below!
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