Run for your life

Why do more than 350,000 people aged four to 100+ forgo their lie-in every Saturday morning? Quite simply, because they are all eager participants in parkrun, which, from a tiny base in 2004, has grown into the world’s largest series of free runs. The concept is deceptively simple and straightforward – all you need to do is register online and turn up. Everybody is welcome regardless of age, running ability or level of fitness.

The history of its founder gives a vital clue that helps explain the success of parkrun. Paul Sinton-Hewitt is not afraid to let it be known that he was suffering from depression in 2004 and felt that getting together with some mates for a regular Saturday run would help bring order back into his life and have some therapeutic value for him. From its humble beginnings, parkrun has mushroomed into a global phenomenon and is held at more than 2,000 locations in 22 countries across six continents, with over five million runners registered worldwide.

From its origins solely in parks, events are now held in a wide range of locations, including beaches (some glorious ones in South Africa and Australia), stately homes, beside rivers and lakes and even in prisons. The best parkrun courses ideally have parking, public toilets and a nearby cafe.

Designed to be about inclusivity, community and accessibility, parkrun takes place over five kilometres, or 2K for the junior version, and is held on a Saturday. The 5K distance has been carefully selected as still worthwhile and beneficial to serious runners, but also accessible and achievable for novices. parkrun is about empowerment, as every event is created, staged and organised by a set of local volunteers, who bring in additional helpers to take on all necessary roles such as marshalling, scanning and timing.

"The 5K distance is beneficial to serious runners, but also accessible and achievable for novices"

No pressure

There is absolutely no pressure to perform at parkrun. Yes, if you register – and you don’t have to – your times are recorded and fed back to you shortly afterwards. However, the mantra is that parkrun is a run and not a race – although it’s actually a lot more than that as it doesn’t matter if you sprint, run or walk. And there is always a tail walker bringing up the rear to ensure that nobody is left behind, so you need never suffer any perceived stigma by finishing last. Turn up once and you immediately become part of the local community, with the opportunity to become involved and even more ingrained as a volunteer. You can also join your new friends for a cup of coffee and breakfast afterwards at a local cafe.

Milestones are also celebrated, and those participating or volunteering for the 25th, 50th, 100th, 250th and 500th time are often celebrated with cake.

The parkrun practice initiative was launched five years ago by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and parkrun UK to promote the social prescribing of physical activity through participation in parkrun events. Nearly 20% of practices in the UK have registered to become a parkrun practice.

Our readers could consider parkrun as a presurgical rehab for patients, given the recognised physical and mental therapeutic benefits of such an activity. You should try it out for yourselves as well as recommending it to others.

Exercise for free

Philippa Cockman, GP, St Stephen’s Health Centre, Bow
Emma Radcliffe, GP, The Aberfeldy Practice, East London

As GPs in East London, we are keen to encourage others into any kind of outdoor activity given their known mental and physical health benefits. The London borough of Tower Hamlets where we work has significant deprivation, high levels of inactivity, marked health inequalities and high rates of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and mental health problems. In a cost-of-living crisis, the chance to exercise for free should not be underestimated. We are working with the council to try to make sure all patients and residents in Tower Hamlets are aware of this opportunity.

Tower Hamlets general practices were among the first to sign up to the RCGP parkrun practice initiative when it was launched in 2018. There are now 14 practices linked to Mile End parkrun. We have a network of more than 30 multi-professional colleagues and we try to attend at least once a month.

We view this informal group as a sociable opportunity for colleagues, who help motivate each other to be active. We also recognise there is an opportunity as health professionals to be role models and be part of a community event. And as people actually attending parkrun ourselves, we are much more likely to recommend it to others.

Philippa Cockman: GP, St Stephen’s Health Centre, Bow. Emma Radcliffe: GP, The Aberfeldy Practice, East London

Greville Waterman: Magistrate, writer

Life-changing pursuit

I used to love my regular Saturday morning routine – a long leisurely lie-in, with breakfast in bed and the morning papers. I had played a lot of football, cricket and tennis as a young man, but exercise had played an ever-diminishing part of my life for many years. As for running, beyond fading memories of hated enforced cross-country runs at school, the nearest I had come to strenuous exercise was the odd gasping, wheezing trot for the bus. No wonder that I was a stone overweight with burgeoning back problems.

Everything changed for me in February 2021 when my comfortable existence was shattered by the sudden death of my wife from COVID-19. Everything turned upside down. My physical and mental health deteriorated rapidly, but salvation came when a friend introduced me to parkrun.

After initial misgivings due to the impossibility of running for more than three minutes, I persevered and discovered a wonderful new world of exercise and companionship.

I have nearly completed 100 parkruns and volunteer regularly, my routine and lifestyle having changed totally for the better. I am fitter and far healthier; parkrun has played an immensely crucial and important role in my recovery from despair.

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