Whether you’re lacing up for the first time, returning to the sport after an extended break or an experienced runner looking to level up your Saturday morning runs, parkrun will almost certainly have entered your thinking at some stage.
The free weekly community event is held at over 1,450 locations around the country, in addition to many more around the globe. So, if you’re looking to join the fun, there will almost certainly be an event near you.
If you’ve been putting it off for weeks, I totally understand. In fact, it took me seven years to return after my first parkrun event in 2017. But it’s one of the best things you’ll ever do as a runner. Here’s why:
#1. The Community
Running solo is great, but throwing yourself into the community will change your life for the better. With an estimated weekly attendance of over 350,000 parkrunners, this is one of the best outlets to embrace everything that the running family has to offer.
Even if you are a shy and reserved person (I’ll point you towards my seven years of putting it off once more), you will quickly fall in love with the atmosphere. There are very few environments in modern society where everyone is there for a good time and eager to support each other but parkrun is one of them.
And that leads us onto point #2.
#2. Inclusivity
You will still feel the community atmosphere at races, but parkrun certainly boasts its unique vibe. Ultimately, that’s because it’s not a race. It’s a timed run that’s open to all.
The thought of signing up for races can be a little daunting, but parkrun truly welcomes all paces. Many people walk it or jeff it while the tail walkers ensure that you’ll never be last to the finish funnel. It is the ideal place to test yourself with a first 5k or to test yourself after coming back from injury. Crucially, you will not be made to feel as though you’re being judged. As a first timer, that makes a huge difference.
And speaking of first timers, a pre-event briefing will make you feel welcome even before the 9am start.
#3. Guilt-Free Weekends
The weekends are meant to be enjoyed. However, you’ll feel far less guilty about those pizza slices and glasses of wine after you’ve cracked out a 5km run on Saturday morning.
Personally, it wasn’t even on my agenda when first signing up for parkrun. Yet, it is now one of the main reasons I love it. Life is about balance. Five kilometers equals five pints, right?
#4. Timed Results
Parkrun isn’t a race, but you do get an official time. Moreover, you’re joined by lots of other athletes. So, this naturally lends itself to healthy competition, creating an environment where you can strive for real progress over the weeks to come.
I’m usually quite near the front of my local parkruns. When the really quick runners aren’t there, there’s an opportunity to see if I can win. And when they are there, the challenge is to see if I can finish a little closer to them than I did a few weeks before. For mid-pack or tail end runners, the goal may be to place in the top X amount of runners.
Even if you’re not bothered about other runners, improving your individual time and age grade rating provides an ongoing source of motivation. And when you’re genuinely motivated to better yourself, you will.
#5. Human Connections
The community aspect of parkrun is undoubtedly brilliant, but it’s not just the overall atmosphere that’s a winner. It’s a place where you will build personal connections, especially if you become a regular at your local event(s).
From people who run at a similar pace to the volunteers, you quickly start to recognise familiar faces. And it’s hard not to get chatting with someone at the finish funnel as you’ll have the post-parkrun buzz. As someone who does most of his runs alone, those interactions are another aspect I look forward to.
Aside from being surrounded by positive vibes and likeminded people, there’s always more experienced runners around. So, if you’re looking to pick up a tip or two, get talking.
#6. Exploration
As well as meeting new people, parkrun offers the chance to see new places. At any given event, there will almost always be at least one ‘parkrun tourist’, who is trying a new location. Whether appreciating nearby towns or incorporating parkrun into weekends away, it’s a great way to create memories.
Whether you travel solo or explore places with friends and family, parkrun actively encourages you to take action. That can only be a positive outcome.
#7. Routine
Whether you’re a new or experienced runner, consistency is the key to improved performance and increased joy. Adding parkrun to your schedule can only aid your cause.
Many parkrunners attend every week without fail, often for years. For others, it might be a fortnightly or monthly feature. Either way, it is something you’ll look forward to while it can also be used as a barometer to track your fitness. Perfect.
I’ve found that staying consistent with weekly mileage has become a lot easier since being in the mindset of running parkruns on a Saturday morning too.
#8. Photos
You aren’t guaranteed to get photos at parkrun but a good number of events will have someone taking photos, although you can request not to have them posted if you wish.
Word of warning: there will inevitably be some terrible facial expressions in there. But you will probably get some of your favourite photos too. Besides, a little self-deprecation never hurt anyone.
*An, no, I won’t be posting any of my running face photos today.
#9. Confidence
Exercise isn’t only great for your physical health, it’s fantastic for your mental wellness. Parkrun delivers a boost of self-confidence and esteem in a special way as those rewards come from multiple angles.
Naturally, you’ll gain confidence as your fitness improves. Whether that means you can run a little longer before needing a walk break or knocking a few seconds off of your PB doesn’t matter. The knowledge that your physical health is moving in the right direction will only leave you feeling stronger and more confident.
The words of positivity coming from volunteers and other runners will gee you up further. And if you’re really looking to increase your confidence, signing up to volunteer at a future event is the perfect way to do it.
#10. It’s Free
Finally, you get all of those benefits without paying a penny! Or at least you don’t have to.
In reality, you’ll probably treat yourself to some parkrun merchandise once you’ve hit the milestones. But there’s no expectation for you to do this. So, if you’re looking to get in a weekly fitness class without the costs (or need to pre-book), parkrun is the one for you.
