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You are here: Home / Uncategorized / let’s talk about parkrun

let’s talk about parkrun

July 26, 2023      8 Comments

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of joining up with my very first ParkRun. This is something I’ve wanted to do since Renee organized her own group in the Netherlands a few years ago. I loved the concept, the community, and the vibe, and was so glad when the weekly event finally came close to home.

What Is parkrun?

I’m so glad you asked. Parkrun is a free, weekly, timed 5k, run and organized by volunteers, held in a public space (like a park). It’s open to anyone and everyone, so all ages and abilities are welcome to attend. Participants can walk, jog, or run, or they can even volunteer to help with the event, if they are so inclined. It’s a great option for those who want the race experience without actually paying for or running a race.

How Does It Work?

All you have to do is find a parkrun near you and register. There are 63 parkruns in the US at the current moment. As I mentioned, it’s entirely free, but you do have to sign a waiver, and you’ll get a barcode to be scanned each time you complete your 5k. This will keep track of your attendance, your times, and your standings, which is pretty cool. All you do is show up!

What Happens When You Arrive?

When you get to parkrun, you are immediately swept up into the crowd of people, all ready to celebrate the morning. Hop right in! At the appointed time, the Course Marshall rounds everyone up to talk about the event. They welcome newcomers and visitors (once you have a bar code, you are welcome to attend any parkrun you like), and give instructions for the 5K. And when all that is completed, it’s time to go!

About The 5K

At my local parkrun, the course runs through a fairly cool public park. It’s all paved, but there are some out-and-backs where it’s easy to get turned around. Fortunately, there are volunteers on the course, guiding people along (and taking pictures!). I liked that there was some open space, some cuts through a forest area, and some time spent along the disc golf course. It was very different from where I usually run, and I am all about a change of pace.

The Finish Line

After 3.1 miles, it was time to hit the finish line. It was a little anticlimactic, because of the onslaught of rain, and I just wanted to scoot before it got worse. When runners cross the finish line, they receive a little tag, which they then submit to a parkrun volunteer with their barcode. This records your time and attaches it to your parkrun account, along with stats like your standing in that particular event, as well as your overall standing in all the parkruns across the country. So cool.

What Did I Love About parkrun?

I’m a sucker for community and inclusivity, and parkrun had all of these things. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and supportive. No matter if you were an original runner or new that day, all the runners were treated as part of the family, which was just so lovely. The volunteers were super kind and patient, and made the experience so pleasant. I also loved that no runner is left behind in parkrun. One volunteer agrees to walk the course behind everyone else, to make sure everyone gets to the end while feeling all the love.

Parkrun is about an hour away from where I live, making it a tough Saturday morning trip, but I’m glad that it’s an option. I have only attended one so far, but that’s only because of other commitments. I’ll get back to it, soon. After all, I have my bar code, so I’m ready to run!

Do you have a parkrun near you? Do you or would you participate?

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Comments

  1. Catrina says

    July 26, 2023 at 7:26 am

    I love ParkRun!!! We have one in walking distance from our apartment in Cape Town. It has a great vibe with over 500 runners participating.
    I have a running buddy who volunteers at a ParkRun in Germany. It’s a great opportunity to do something for the community, too.
    Glad you enjoyed it!
    Catrina recently posted…The Chaiserstock Hike (a.k.a The Perfect Hiking Day)My Profile

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  2. Lisa @ Mile by Mile says

    July 26, 2023 at 11:23 am

    I’ve heard great things about ParkRun! I am not sure if we have any around here. It’s great that there is a free option for anyone to participate in!
    Lisa @ Mile by Mile recently posted…My Top 10 Tips for Running During PregnancyMy Profile

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  3. Wendy says

    July 26, 2023 at 12:03 pm

    It’s amazing to me that it has taken so long for parkrun to be a thing here in the US. I wonder if it is because there are so many running groups that organize runs? Glad you got to experience it.

    Reply
  4. Jenny says

    July 26, 2023 at 3:25 pm

    i love the idea of this so, so much! It looks like there are four parkruns in Florida, but none in South Florida unfortunately. Well, maybe there will be one here eventually- it seems like it’s really catching on. An hour away is kind of far… but it sounds like something you can do every once in a while.

    Reply
  5. Renée says

    July 27, 2023 at 5:14 pm

    you have no idea how giddy this makes me Jenn!!!

    I’m so so happy that you went and I hope you go again! It’s the best, especially when go travel somewhere and find out there is one near to you!

    I’m going to be the tailwalker this Saturday and that will be parkrun #45 or 46. Close to my 50 milestone!

    Reply
  6. Debbie says

    July 28, 2023 at 1:25 pm

    I need to check into this! I don’t think we have a parkrun close by especially in the summer) but I’m going to find out!

    Reply
  7. Liz Dexter says

    August 6, 2023 at 11:52 am

    This was lovely to read! I’m heavily involved in my most local but one parkrun, Oaklands, in Yardley, Birmingham – I love it because it’s a real community one and we’re hyper inclusive, and that’s easy because we’re pretty small. On any one Saturday we might see some women running in modest clothing including running hijabs, our runner with a visual impairment and their guide, a runner living with a disability who uses the coolest tricycle thing to support her as she runs around, kids with their parents, an over 70 year old who’s got his walk time from 1 hour 20 and stopping on some benches to 56 minutes … I love volunteering and have recently stepped up to a run director, so in charge of a run ever 8 weeks or so, and I am the volunteer coordinator during the week and usually volunteer on the day, too. Hooray for parkrun!

    Reply
    • runswithpugs says

      August 7, 2023 at 11:07 pm

      Hooray indeed! Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience. I hope I am able to attend more frequently.

      Reply

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Welcome to Runs With Pugs. My name is Jenn and this is the story of my love affair with running and finding myself through fitness. From C25K to marathon, from triathlon to SUP, from broken leg to the recovery journey... I'm sharing it all. I'm a wife and mother of one, living in NE Florida, in love with travel, adventure, and food. Oh. We have a grumble of pugs, too. Thank you for joining us! We're glad to have you along for the ride!

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