What is a park run?

lorrpb
lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
edited November 21 in Fitness and Exercise
I see it mentioned often and don't really know what it is. Is this a European creation?

Replies

  • senor_jeff
    senor_jeff Posts: 47 Member
    Parkrun is a volunteer based world-wide social running group. Where I am it's a 5km run held weekly at 7am on Saturdays. Its not competitive, in fact many go for walkers, but their website allows you to track your progress.
    To see what countries have it, see here parkrun.com/countries/

    There's heaps of Parkrun's in my city, so you have a lot of choices. Once you complete 50 runs and 100 runs you get a free high quality running shirt. In my closest parkrun there is anywhere from 100-400 people attending, just to give you an idea of the numbers.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Cool. I just learned something new. None in my city yet.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    Interesting. Doesn't look like it has caught on too much in the US yet. Just a few cities and no where near me. Bummer. Not that I am very good at getting up to be anywhere at 7am on Saturday anyway. :) looks fun though.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Ready2Rock206 wrote: »
    Interesting. Doesn't look like it has caught on too much in the US yet. Just a few cities and no where near me. Bummer. Not that I am very good at getting up to be anywhere at 7am on Saturday anyway. :) looks fun though.

    its 9 or 9.30 in the UK :smiley:
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    I love parkrun, and that's as someone with Aspergers who hates socialising. There does seem to be a social aspect but if you want to left alone (like I do) then they'll leave you alone. I go whenever there isn't bootcamp on a Saturday morning and when he turns 4 next month my littlest boy will be joining me and we'll be going the first Saturday of each month.
  • Madwife2009
    Madwife2009 Posts: 1,369 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    Cool. I just learned something new. None in my city yet.
    Ready2Rock206 wrote: »
    Interesting. Doesn't look like it has caught on too much in the US yet. Just a few cities and no where near me. Bummer. Not that I am very good at getting up to be anywhere at 7am on Saturday anyway. :) looks fun though.

    Why not see if you can set one up? They are all run by volunteers anyway (my entire family volunteer every Saturday and Sunday if we're not running - Sundays are Junior ParkRun for 4-14 year olds).

    The run doesn't have to start at 7am, my local ones (UK) start at around 9am.

    It's great fun, both running and volunteering. Everyone is really supportive (well, locally they are, I haven't been anywhere else yet) - the runners who finish quickly are usually waiting towards the end of the course to cheer the slower runners on, and everyone gets a massive cheer when they finish, whether it takes them 20 minutes or an hour. I'll be running my 8th ParkRun this weekend with my son, and running with my daughter for her 6th ParkRun on Sunday. Can't wait!

  • richardpkennedy1
    richardpkennedy1 Posts: 1,890 Member
    Free group run in the park
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    I see it mentioned often and don't really know what it is. Is this a European creation?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkrun

    My local one is twice round a local park, but I visited another one last week that was through forestry, really lovely run.
  • jesspen91
    jesspen91 Posts: 1,383 Member
    I am doing my 2nd Parkrun this weekend. I loved my first and managed to knock almost 5 minutes off my solo running personal best. I'm glad that it starts at 9am where I live though. I don't think I'd manage 7am on a weekend.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,701 Member
    There are quite a number of them here in Australia. I haven't tried one, but they do kind of look tempting.
  • lucylou1977
    lucylou1977 Posts: 25 Member
    Love Parkrun! They're free 5k runs organised by volunteers. I believe they started in the UK but they hold them all over the world. In the UK they're usually on Saturdays at 9am. They're not races but you do get an official time and you can track your progress on their website. They're really inclusive and welcome runners, walkers, people with dogs, buggies/strollers (where course is suitable) and children aged 4 plus.

    There's also junior Parkrun for kids aged 4-14, a 2k run, held on Sundays at 9am. Adults can run with the kids, but only the kids get a time. I do that one with my 6-year-old - she's 3 runs off getting a free half marathon wristband!
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