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Parkrun beginnings -

When Parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt gathered with 12 other runners on a blustery October 2004 morning in Bushy, southern England, he never imagined they were about to make history.

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Like-minded runners -

As more and more runners turned up to join them for what they called the "Bushy Park 5km Time Trial," the organizers recruited a handful of volunteers, timing the runners to give them an extra incentive—whether they ran, jogged, or walked the five-km course.

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Picking up pace -

In those early Bushy runs, Sinton-Hewitt and his team would record all times on paper, and hand out plastic washers from the local hardware store for all those who crossed the finish line.

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The concept catches on -

The simple concept caught on, and two years later a second "5km Time Trial" event was established in Wimbledon, England.

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Multiple UK locations -

The all-inclusive ethos, and a focus on communities coming together once a week for exercise in the great outdoors, quickly spread, and organizers developed a cookie-cutter approach that helped volunteers set up events in multiple UK parks under the Parkrun banner.

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Parkrun goes international -

The first international Parkrun took place in Zimbabwe in 2007, with Denmark picking up the baton in 2008. A simple one-time online registration made it easy for anybody to take part, and the global running community was eager to get involved.

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Running the world -

Fast forward to 2021, and Parkrun sees some three million runners gathering each week in 20 countries around the world. And it's growing all the time.

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Friendly faces -

The free events are run with the help of enthusiastic volunteers, and are open to all. Organizers say: "Parkrun is all about inclusiveness and wellbeing. We want as many people as possible to feel part of a real local community brought together by our events, as well as our global parkrun family."

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Saturday workout -

For runners who might not have thought about getting up early on a Saturday to run around a park, Parkrun has become a real incentive to lace up and get going.

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Russian running -

Parkrun has become a popular event in Novibirisk, Siberia, where organizers have stated that not even the country's famously harsh winter weather will stop their running!

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All-weather events -

Part of Parkrun's appeal is its encouraging approach to cheering on runners who have laced up in baking hot or bleakly cold weather. On a winter day in Moscow, the encouragement is welcome!

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Family-friendly -

Kids can turn up to Sunday 2km Junior Parkruns, or join adult friends and relatives for the main event.

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Personal bests -

Healthy competition is encouraged. In the UK, finishers who record a personal best time (that includes anybody running Parkrun for the first time) is given the opportunity to ring a giant bell alerting the other runners to their success.

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Spirit of camaraderie -

The spirit of camaraderie is palpable at the events, which attract everybody from serious runners competing to be the fastest, to back-of-the-pack joggers, and walkers.

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Hot summer runs -

While winter runs can involve braving snow and ice, summer running can be just as brutal.

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Australian events -

Australia has been holding Parkrun events since 2011, with runners slogging along hot courses such as this one in Dolls Point, while runners in the Northern Hemisphere battle chilly winter tracks.

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Coastal running -

Although they began life in parks, many Parkrun events now take part in outdoor locations of every kind, such as this beachfront run in Cape Town, South Africa.

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Parkrun tourism -

Pandemic restrictions allowing, 'Parkrun tourism' has become increasingly popular among runners. As registered competitors can take part in any event, the race is on to run in the most scenic spots, whether local or international.

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Food and drink -

Organizers say they went straight to the café after that first, unofficial Bushy run, and post-run food and drink is still an important part of the Parkrun experience. These Russian runners look like they need a hot drink!

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Competitive angle -

Once registered, runners have a bar code which is swiped at the finish line. The list of times is published online, adding a competitive angle to the event for some super-sporty types.

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Special occasion park runs -

British Parkrun enthusiasts will run on Christmas Day, even if it doesn't fall on a Saturday. Parkrun rules allow each country to nominate one 'special run' day per year. The UK's is Christmas Day, the US has Thanksgiving.

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Canine companions -

The "all welcome" rule applies to canine companions, as long as they are on a leash. But the rules do specify that "Dogs should not be registered as Parkrun participants." So Fido can't claim any speed records at this Polish Parkrun!

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It's the taking part that counts -

Many non-athletic types find themselves drawn to Parkrun events because of the spirit of encouragement and enthusiasm. The Parkrun ethos is: "It doesn’t matter how fast you go. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing. What matters is taking part."

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Taking the first step -

For many people new to running, taking the first step can be the hardest part. By providing a staffed route, supportive network, and snobbery-free attitude, Parkrun has created a safe space for many novice runners to find their feet. Here, runners line up on a December day in Poland.

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Valued volunteers -

Parkrun volunteers, referred to by organizers as "our high-vis heroes," are usually running enthusiasts themselves, and dedicate their time to making sure all runs go smoothly.

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"High-vis volunteers" -

Anybody can sign up to volunteer, and it is this team of dedicated, passionate locals that makes every event around the world happen, and keeps it free.

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COVID-19 precautions -

The COVID-19 pandemic brought Parkrun to a standstill in many countries, but the weekly events are now (literally) running again in many locations, with appropriate safety precautions in place.

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"Making the world a healthier and happier place" -

In a 2016 Parkrun blog post, Sinton-Hewitt wrote: "At parkrun our mission is to make the World a healthier and happier place.” As the world emerges from the pandemic, this seems particularly apt!

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A jubilant return -

Restrictions varied around the world, but the UK faced a 16-month Parkrun suspension at the height of the pandemic. Jubilant scenes marked its return to 500 UK parks in July 2021. Welcome back, Parkrun!

Sources: (Parkrun) (Runner's Life) (BBC)

See also: Lesser-known benefits of running

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