parkrun organises free weekly 5km timed runs all over the world. Local organiser Paul Wilcock first heard of parkrun when he started running for fitness in 2011 and was disappointed to find there wasn’t a group nearby, so he started one. “I’ve always wanted to do something for my local community. A few months later I’d gathered a few other runners who helped me test out the course and we were ready to go.”
For those who have never run before Paul recommends the Couch to 5K program with parkrun incorporated into the latter stages of the program. “When I first started running, 5km seemed like an impossibility as I was barely able to run for two minutes before gasping for air. As the months went by, the weight dropped off and I was soon running half marathons.”
If half marathons aren’t your idea of fun don’t be deterred. parkrun welcomes runners and joggers of all fitness levels, with kids, dog walkers and pram pushers all welcome. “All you need are two willing legs and a positive attitude,” says Silpa Parmar, a veteran of 43 parkruns. But be warned! “It’s super addictive,” she says. “You’ll be forever chasing your PB [Personal Best] once you set it.”
One of the many benefits of running with a group is the people you meet. parkrun has developed a vibrant community around it during the last year. Silpa admits to getting a bit bored of running on her own. “The social aspect of parkrun has been the absolute highlight,” she says. “Everyone is so friendly and I’ve made some incredible friends through running and volunteering.”
parkrun newbie, Andrew Geeves, agrees. “The whole event has an incredibly friendly, community-oriented vibe. There is something about running with a diverse group of people from the local area that is so inspiring.”
“And you’ll get your daily exercise in before 9am,” adds Silpa.
