parkrun: A Celebration

Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE, parkrun founder

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parkrun a celebration

“It was all very rudimentary at first, but enough to get that first ‘Bushy Park Time Trial’ underway. We then went to the café and I wrote up the results. There were 13 runners that day. The following week there were 14…”

2/9/15 10:00 AM

Aberdeen Aberystwyth Abingdon Albert Albert Melbou Amager Faelled Amager Strandpark Amanzimtoti Andov Ashford Ashton Court Aveley Aylesbury Ayr Balyang Sanct Barnstaple Barrow Barry Curtis Basildon Basingstoke Belfast Victoria Bere Island Berwick Springs Bexley Big Blue Gum Hills Bognor Regis Bolton Bournemouth Bowral Brighton Brockenhurst Brockwell Bromley Brueton Bry Burnley Bury St Edmunds Bushy Park Санкт Санкт-Петербург Camb Cave Canning River Cannon Hill Canterbury Cardiff Carine Catton ФО Северо-Кавказский ФО Cheadle Hulme Chelmsford Sodbury Cieszyn Citypark Clair Claisebrook Cove Clarisfo Park Colby Colchester Castle Colwick Comber Concord Coventry CranePark Cranleigh Cross Flatts Crystal Pal Park Dartford Darwin Delamere Delta Derry City Dewsbur Durham Durham NC Dusi East Coast Park Eastbourne Ea Enniskillen Esbjerg Exeter Riverside Fælledparken Fal Folkestone Forest of Dean Forest Rec Fountains Abbey Gateshead Gdansk Gdynia George Gibside Ginninderra G Great Lines Great Notley Greenock Greenpoint Greenwich Gunpowder Hackney Marshes Hackworth Hagley Halls Harrogate Harrow Lodge Hartlepool Havant Hazlehead Highlands Hillsborough Hilly Fields Hobart Horsham Inverness Ipswich Kalgoorlie-Boulder Kesgrave Keswick Ki Kingscliff Kingston Klerksdorp Knocknacarra Konstanci

urne Alberts Farm Albury Wodonga Alice Holt Ally Pally ver Antrim Ardgillan Armagh Armidale Arrow Valley tuary Banbury Bangor Banstead Woods Barking Barnsley Bath Skyline Beckton Bedfont Lakes Bedford Beeston Bay Black Park Blackbutt Blackhill Blandford Blickling Brabrand Bradford Bramhall Park Brandon Braunstone yanston Bryn Bach Buckingham Bunbury Burgess Burnage bridge Camp Bastion Campbelltown Camperdown Cannibals Glades Carlisle Carrickfergus Castle Demense Castlebar Central Cheltenham Chichester Chippenham Chipping rd Cleethorpes Clermont Waterfront Clonakilty Clumber Congleton Conkers Corby Cornwall Park Country Park lace Cuerden Valley Curl Curl Darley Darlington South ry Diamond Creek Doncaster Druridge Bay Dulwich Dunedin astleigh Ebotse Ecos Edinburgh Eglinton Ellesmere Port lkirk Falls Fell Foot Fingal Bay Finsbury Park Fish Hoek Frimley Lodge Fritton Lake Frog Hollow Fulham Palace ladstone Gorleston Grahamstown Graves Great Cornard Griffeen Grovelands Guildford Gungahlin Gunnersbury Hamilton Lake Hampstead Heath Hanley Harcourt Hill Heaton Park Heirisson Island Hereford Highbury Fields Huddersfield Hull Humber Bridge Huntingdon Inverloch idds Beach Kilkenny Killerton Kings Lynn Kingsbury Water in-Jeziorna Krakow Lake Joondalup Lake Mac…

a celebration

parkrun press

Published in Great Britain by parkrun press 200 Strand London WC2R 1DJ Copyright © 2014 parkrun press.

All images (except those listed on page 120) copyright © Paul Duke and © Julian Ward.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

A catalogue version of this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN 978-0-9931485-0-7 Sold to support the worldwide growth of parkrun.

Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions.

Neither is any liability assumed for damages resulting from the use of this information contained herein.

Thank you for buying this book which has been created entirely by volunteers to help promote and fund the growth of parkrun and junior parkrun.

FOReWoRD “I got involved with parkrun around four years ago. I was finding that as I was getting older my running time was getting slower!

I went along to my local parkrun in Coventry on a Saturday morning.

I don’t recall exactly what I was expecting. I think any expectations have long since been overshadowed by the reality of what parkrun is and what it does. That first morning was very impressive, being with the runners and the volunteers, people of all ages and all abilities who’d come together not just to run, but to be part of this warm and friendly experience. I’ve since run at a number of venues though a crocked knee means I’ve attended more than I’ve run. It’s a great credit to the runners and to the mass of volunteers who join in to help marshal and administrate parkrun that it has become such a hugely successful community event in Britain and far beyond.

Being a part of the community uniting Belfast Waterworks parkrun is alongside my time at the London 2012 Olympics as the two most powerful experiences I have had in athletics.”

David Moorcroft October 2014 Great Britain former 5,000 metres world record holder and former Chief Executive of UK Athletics

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introducTION The first Bushy Park Time Trial, as parkrun officially began life, took place on October 2nd 2004 with just 13 pioneer runners and five volunteers. Since then the simple idea of a free-to-enter, volunteer-led 5k around a park has caught on somewhat. To date over half a million runners have taken part in the UK alone, at over 300 venues—which have hosted more than 36,000 events following that first run around Bushy Park.

Almost 37 million kilometres have been covered by parkrunners since 2004 and there are runs now established in Russia, USA, UK, Poland, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, South Africa, Singapore and New Zealand.

There have also been parkrun events in Zimbabwe, Iceland and at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and more countries look set to join the parkrun family in the near future.

For the individual, parkrun provides an opportunity—through a unique athlete number and identification barcode—to record personal best times on a 5k course. Each course provides its own challenges.

But more than anything else parkrun has enabled people from across communities, of all ages, races, nationalities and backgrounds to come together. parkrun is an experience that combines running euphoria and achievement with social cohesion and camaraderie— and not a little suffering sometimes!

This book has been created by volunteers to commemorate the first 10 years of parkrun and to honour and celebrate all of the volunteers, organisers, marshals and runners who, every weekend, get up, get out and make it happen.

To find your nearest parkrun visit www.parkrun.com

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Making it happen “You could lie in bed on a Saturday morning reading your newspaper, thinking the world’s a terrible place, or you could go along to your local parkrun and get your faith in human kindness restored,” says Chas NewkeyBurden, a runner from Datchet, near Windsor and also one of the approximately 6,000 volunteers on an average weekend who make parkrun happen. From the people guiding runners around the course or into the finishing funnels to the people taking the photos, compiling the run reports, organising new runs, distributing and collecting tokens, scanning barcodes, uploading finish times or providing words of encouragement, the role of those volunteering in this weekly local community gathering is as vital to the lifeblood of parkrun as those running the course.

Their value, in providing the capacity for a parkrun to accommodate its participants and in adding to the feelings of community

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cohesion as well as giving those words of support that can lift you at the point when you need it most, is immeasurable. The volunteers will tell you too that the feeling of pride and sense of connection they get from being part of this evolving, successful phenomenon is something you can’t put a figure on either.

“Sometimes it is a refreshing change not to be chasing a PB, but instead to soak up the atmosphere by volunteering,” says Margaret Connarty, 41, who runs in Shrewsbury and Telford. “Volunteering has brought so many positive benefits to me—I love cheering other runners round the course. I am now on the core team at Shrewsbury parkrun and now I see people having similar insecurities that I did when I first started—I try and encourage them a little and it also reminds me of how far I have come in a year.”

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Steve Rowland Simon Lawrence James Russell

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Julie Drummond

Peter wright

Tanya Wolken

John Kipps

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Kilometre 1 making it happen

parkrun event directors

Paul & Gill Tremere Paul age 71 | Gill age 67 | Hull

PAUL

GILL

“I help Gill with the organisation. I do the run announcements as I’m a good talker! I also help with emails and admin and we work well as a team. I’d never been especially athletic.

I like sports and watch them all, in the pub!

I did do the London Marathon, though, but it was more for bragging reasons at the bar than anything else. I’ve got osteoarthritis and some thought it was a daft idea when I said I wanted to continue to do parkruns after my hip replacement. But I knew it was a common operation, 140,000 people a year have it, and it’s got a high success rate. OK I admit I did walk all the way around my first parkrun after the operation but it hasn’t deterred me. I’ve since had the second hip replaced but I was back on the course again in May 2014.

“In 2009 our daughter told us about parkrun.

No one in Hull had really heard of it. I knew that nearby East Park would be a great venue as it’s close to the local Harriers club, it’s quite flat and it’s easy for everyone to get to. The Harriers’ committee were a little sceptical about it, but I persuaded some runners and friends to ‘join me for a run on Saturday morning’. Our first parkrun was on April 3rd 2010 and there were 19 runners.

The next week we had 30, I think. As I’m retired I can devote time through the week to the administration. I really admire those who organise parkrun whilst juggling fulltime jobs and families. I said at the start that my aim was to ‘get all Hull running’. We now average 250–300 a week at Hull parkrun.

Recently we had 778 runners turn up, many of them were school children and teachers.

They were friends of a local boy who had died and they chose to honour him with a parkrun. We’ve now got two more runs here in Hull and my daughter, who first gave me the idea, said ‘well, if mum can do it, I can.’

So she has set up the parkrun in Sedgefield.

For me it’s been a learning curve. You think that after working all your life, teaching in my case, you can’t learn much more. But parkrun has taught me how to deal with new challenges, it’s opened my mind to new ideas and I’ve discovered more about myself.”

You can have your personal bests and records and that’s grand but for me the moment that sums up what parkrun is about occurred in a bar in Poland. I was there with 13 other Hull parkrunners and loads of locals.

We’d just jumped on a cheap flight from home and done Poznan parkrun. I looked around and thought: ‘Two years ago I didn’t know any of these people—but here we all are, in another country doing this.’ They’re among my closest friends.”

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

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Paul Tremere 148 29:14 Hull parkrun To do a pilgrimage to run Bushy Park

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

Gill Tremere 13 33:07 Hull parkrun I’d like to run a few more parkruns in other places

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Kilometre 1 making it happen

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Kilometre 1 making it happen

PHIL

parkrun volunteer

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LIZ

parkrun volunteer

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Kilometre 1 making it happen

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PAGES 14-15

ABOVE

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Seven of the original parkrun pioneers who lined up on October 2nd 2004 for what was then known as the Bushy Park Time Trial. From left to right: Steve Rowland, Simon Lawrence, James Russell, Peter Wright, Julie Drummond, Tanya Wolken and John Kipps. Not present in the picture but there for the inaugural run were also Andrew Lane, Chris Owens, Karen Weir, Matthew Morgan, Rachel Rowan and Rachel Stanhope. Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Robin Drummond, Joanne Sinton-Hewitt and Duncan Gaskell kept a clipboard at the finish line and distributed numbered washers to the finishers.

The reward for Mike Warren and his fellow volunteers at Ashton Court parkrun was witnessing a beautiful winter sunrise. The course is situated in the Ashton Court Estate just across the River Avon and includes a hilly section commanding fantastic views over Bristol and the surrounding countryside, with the promise of 2.5k downhill to the finish.

After each parkrun, many of the runners and volunteers retreat to the local café to swap stories and cement friendships over a well-earned cuppa or breakfast. Invariably, the last ones to leave are the volunteers who end their morning’s work by uploading the results to the parkrun website.

Heaton parkrun volunteers gather in front of Heaton Hall—the start point for the parkrun which began on June 20th 2009. The scenic course passes the Orangery, crosses tram lines and features a short climb halfway around.

It regularly attracts around 260 runners though its record turnout is 527 and average run time is 27:57.

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parkrun ambassador

ANITA AFONSO Age 32 | Salignac, France

“I was working for Nike in London and playing for Queens Park Rangers Ladies football team. My then boss—who later became my partner—told me about parkrun and that there was a position available working for the organisation. I applied and was interviewed by Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Chris Wright at Wimbledon parkrun—the run was all part of the process! I’ve been working for parkrun since April 1st 2009. When I was playing for QPR, Wormwood Scrubs was our training ground and I thought to myself that it would be a great place to set up a local parkrun. The first one was in June 2011 and it’s grown ever since. I ran while I was pregnant and when my daughter was born on a Friday in Hammersmith Hospital— right next door to Wormwood Scrubs—my partner went and told all the runners the next morning! Today I look after the parkrun

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

Ambassadors programme, helping ‘super’ volunteers with experience of run or event directing to take their volunteering to the next level. I manage new events, from initial interest to activation of the first run, and I also look after the growth and development of parkrun in the UK. Managing the Ambassadors means ensuring that the new teams understand the ethos and become confident event organisers. Launching parkrun in a new country, especially a nonEnglish speaking one, such as France, is challenging and requires a lot of work in the background. Policies and website content all need to be translated and adapted in order to follow the French sport administrations’ requirements. But it’s very exciting and I hope to start the first ever French parkrun event in the Bordeaux area in 2015—so watch this space!”

Anita Afonso 21 23:49 Wormwood Scrubs To establish parkrun in France

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Paul Sinton-hewitt Jakub Fedorowicz Maxim Egorov

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Matt Shields

Tom Williams

Noel De Charmoy Tim Oberg Gill and Bruce Fordyce

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“Lovely to be thanked by runners for our efforts.”

Susan, Richmond parkrun, London

“Pacing (once a month) is awesome! More fun than running flat out.

A deep joyful thing!”

Helen, Colwick parkrun, Nottingham

“Volunteering is just as enjoyable as running the route and makes me feel proud to be involved in such a fantastic community spirit.”

Jodi, Newport parkrun, Wales

“Through my volunteering I have made many acquaintances which have led to friendships.”

Gavin, Marple parkrun, Stockport

“I have been involved—running and volunteering—with parkrun for 10 years now. October 4th 2014 was the best Saturday morning I’ve ever experienced—sheer magic!”

Michael, Bushy parkrun, London

“My ambition is to get Hull up and running on a Saturday morning…”

Gill, Hull parkrun, East Yorkshire

“As a volunteer you see the other side of parkrun and really appreciate all the hard work and organisation that takes place. It also gives a tremendous sense of achievement and feel-good factor.”

Caroline, Cannon Hill parkrun, Birmingham

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family & friends “When I’m away at university in Leeds I’ll run the course near my campus, but when I’m back home we get together as a family and come to Bushy parkrun,” explains Katherine Melotte, aged 19 but already the proud owner of a 100 t-shirt. “It was mum who kept me coming along after that first run. Soon I’d done 10 and then 20 and I was beginning to beat my dad who had always finished ahead of me. My older and younger sisters come along too.”

As Katherine and family celebrate her century at the finish line, nearby Barbara and Jon Tanton take a moment to cool down among a group of friends. “It was Sharon who suggested we do a 5k and my friend Pia and I came along,” says Barbara. “After a few weeks of Barbara and our friends running I tagged along too,” adds Jon. Beyond the finish some friends and families disperse with the promise to “see you next

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time”. But many continue the morning’s journey to the next stop on the course, the parkrunners’ café. There, amidst the laughter and talk of times and running conditions, people tell you about how the event not only provides an opportunity for new friendships to blossom but also for families to partake, compete and connect.

Its inclusive nature enables parents and children to share moments and achievements together within busy lives. Each weekend the run that began when a small group of friends carved out a course in Bushy Park welcomes new editions around the world to its expanding extended family. “I got into parkrun because I was wondering what dad was doing every Saturday morning,” reveals Zac McChesney, 14. “Now I sometimes run next to dad or I run by myself and meet him at the finish with the friends we’ve got to know through parkrun.”

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

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PAGES 22-23

For the first time ever the parkrun country managers meet together at Richmond Park in summer 2014. From left to right: Maxim Egorov, Russia; Matt Shields, Ireland; Tom Williams, UK; Jakub Fedorowicz, Poland; Paul Sinton-Hewitt; Noel De Charmoy, New Zealand; Tim Oberg, Australia; Gill and Bruce Fordyce, South Africa.

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The friends and family of Rajendra Regmi (third from right) are regular runners and volunteers at the Beach Esplanade, home to Aberdeen parkrun.

The numbers of parkrunners from the Nepalese community has risen from a couple to more than 15 on most Saturday mornings.

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

parkrunner

ron adams Age 79 | Birmingham

“My daughter, who was living in Bristol in 2011 told me about parkrun and when I expressed an interest she told me I was too old—which was a challenge.

I’d completed the London Marathon in 1989 —but hadn’t done anything similar since. So I was 75 when I attempted my first parkrun at Cannon Hill Park. I was a little nervous because of my diabetes and my age.

But when I told the organisers, Mary, Matt and Rob about my circumstances they were supportive and encouraging. I always carry glucose tablets in case my blood sugar levels drop. I have met many new friends through parkrun—too many to mention. When I first started there were a little under 100 runners.

Now there are regularly 500!

I find parkrunning can be addictive. Most of my parkruns have been at Cannon Hill but my best time came at Brueton Park, Solihull.

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

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Ron Adams 117 31:57 Cannon Hill parkrun To keep running, hopefully into my eighties

I have completed five runs in South Africa at different locations in Johannesburg and Durban. I’ve also run at Walsall Arboretum and in Eastbourne. Everyone is so friendly.

Some runners are competitive but parkruns are not races—each runner enjoys the participation in a wonderful Saturday morning event.

I enjoy getting up each Saturday morning, meeting the runners, having a chat before the run, completing the run, going home for a shower and cup of coffee with the day just about to begin. Doing parkrun has given me a sense of satisfaction and anticipation throughout the week—I get that from acting as a marshal too.

It’s not just me either. My youngest son (49) has been a smoker since his teens. He has stopped smoking and has completed a number of parkruns. He tells me that parkruns have helped him quit!”

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

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A woman and her best friend run the course of Zary parkrun in the west of Poland. The growth of the parkrun community in Poland has seen it rise from only five runners attending a debut event at Gdynia in October 2011 to thousands of friends and family running today. At present there are 16 parkrun events in Poland including four in Warsaw alone.

parkrun and junior parkrun continue to bring adults and children of all ages, backgrounds and abilities together, as here at Hackney Marshes, providing a means by which friendships are built and a greater sense of community is nurtured.

Sally and daughter, Propella.

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Finn and his dad, Mitch.

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

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On average around 80 runners a week will complete the anti-clockwise, five-lap circuit of the Highbury Fields parkrun in Islington, North London— many of whom then head for a coffee at The White Swan on Highbury Corner.

Rye Meadow, beside the River Thames in Oxfordshire, throws up some challenges for these competitive types taking part in Abingdon parkrun. The first lap of the course features the farm track and a sharp right-hand turn into Rye Meadow.

“My favourite parkruns are usually my slowest because I’m pushing my daughter round in the buggy” revealed the subject of this parkrun picture from Albert Park, in Melbourne.

Simon Greenhill running with his golden retriever Figgy. Simon is wearing his 250 club shirt and is a bit of a Bushy Park legend having clocked up 372 parkruns with a PB of 19:34.

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Where parks allow them dogs are welcome parkrun companions—though runners are required to keep them under close control. Some dogs have become regular “runners”.

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

parkrunners

simon Edgington DANIEL Wren Simon age 16 | Daniel age 38 | Kingston-upon-Thames

SIMON

DANIEL

“I went to parkrun as part of my training for my Duke of Edinburgh course. I remember half-walking, half-running the first time around and that there were so many people, especially during that first opening straight.

That was a couple of years ago and I go as often as I can now, though I also cycle and I devote some weekends to that. The key thing for me is that I go along with my uncle, Dan, who’s visually impaired. Dan’s a very good runner and it’s a struggle for me to keep up with him at times, though I’ve improved my own running a lot too. I’ve even joined a local running club, The Stragglers, and I’m doing 10k runs now. I’ve also found parkrun has improved my confidence. I know a few people who come along from school but there are also some new people I’ve met since joining, plus I’ve run with Dan at Kingston and at Havant.”

“I love running and doing parkrun is something I really enjoy being a part of.

I’ve got a lot of medals for the other runs I’ve done including the Great North Run but I really enjoy parkrun because it’s so friendly. I’m visually impaired and I have some learning difficulties but it doesn’t stop me doing anything that I want to do and I’d really like more people who have visual impairment doing parkrun—even those with guide dogs can come along. I usually run with Simon at Bushy. We were there for the 10th anniversary which was great. There was a big announcement and a celebration before we ran. It’s a flat course although it can have some very big puddles in places.

It starts on soft grass but moves on to a trail for most of the course. At Havant, which I’ve run a few times, the course is all gravelly and there are hills there too. It’s more demanding.

I’d like to run more parkrun courses but my main ambition is to find someone who can run with me for the full 26.2 miles of the London Marathon.”

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

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Simon Edgington 45 24:18 Bushy parkrun To improve my time so I can keep up with Dan!

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

Daniel Wren 64 22:22 Bushy parkrun For more visually impaired people to run

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Kilometre 2 family & friends

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Junior parkrun introduces new young participants to the parkrun family with specific 2k events held for kids from age four up to 14. Many step up to the 5k events and in some cases junior parkrun forms the foundation for much more. Brought to running by parkrun, students Harry, Ben and Sathira now compete as club runners and train at the St Mary’s University sports facilities close to the birthplace of parkrun, Bushy Park in West London.

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“I decided to lose some weight after a recent heart scare so I could watch my grandkids grow up. What better incentive is there?”

Michael, Stewart parkrun, Middlesbrough

“Never give up on your goals. Finishing a run is one of the best feelings in the world and great to share with all your run buds!”

Amanda, Princes parkrun, Liverpool

“Even though it’s friendly and fun, I have come to see parkrun as a weekly challenge, a little personal trial, a mini mountain to climb, ‘the peak of the week’ a parkrunner friend called it, and something that I like to take seriously.”

Matt Holland, Swindon parkrun

“I love the fact that parkrun is inclusive to our four-legged friends!”

Chris, Roundhay parkrun, Leeds

“My aim is to inspire and encourage other young mothers to come along and join in with the friendly and encouraging atmosphere.”

Lianna, Swindon parkrun

“Since starting parkrun, we are all fitter, stronger and closer to each other. It has been a life-changing experience for us.”

The Barrett family, Newbury parkrun

“I have met the best friends through parkrun. I now see them for coffee, chats and of course other run events—parkrun has been the best journey for me!!! Sets a great example for our kids and others.”

Geoff, Minnippi parkrun, Queensland ??

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changing lives Whether it’s for fitness or friendship, as a health kick or just a habit they can’t shake off, the lives of tens of thousands of men, women and children have been bitten by the parkrun bug. For many parkrun has been an introduction to running that has since inspired them to push themselves further. In doing so they raise funds for charities through their endeavours and so scatter those seeds of change. For others parkrun has become a steadfast, reliable comfort in their turbulent lives. Ask the runners themselves and they’ll often refer to parkrun as a turning point. “It was a new thing which my husband Simon and I could do together once the boys had left home” said one interviewee. “What would we be doing now if we hadn’t started going to

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parkrun… I’m not sure I want to know the answer to that,” added another. Today more than a million people are registered with parkrun. As any runner will tell you, such statistics change every week—just check the parkrun home page to confirm that. But the number of lives being influenced by parkrun does increase with every passing weekend.

Far beyond the personal best times, the blossoming friendships and the new-found wellbeing, perhaps the greatest life-changer that parkrun facilitates is the one to which it owes its success. The change from within among those taking part, the runners and helpers who grasp the ethos of being part of a community movement that makes things happen and that inspires other ordinary people to step forward and do the same.

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Kilometre 3 changing lives

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Tim Shieff, from Derby, takes time out to express exactly how parkrun has boosted his fitness levels—to the point where he’s head over heels about it!

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Heaton parkrun, August 2013. Run volunteers and staff from Manchester’s Neurotherapy Centre (MNC) congratulate “Cat” as she completes the full 5k. Struck down with a rare virus in 2005, Cat had been left unable to move but she began a remarkable recovery which culminated in her first parkrun. The MNC director, Lynne Fletcher, is a regular parkrunner and to celebrate 10 years of the centre’s rehabilitation work with the victims of stroke, spinal injuries and other devastating conditions she challenged some of her patients to complete all or part of the parkrun course. Cat is now planning to train for longer distances and has her sights on the London Marathon.

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parkrunners

Gary Wimbledon Peter Butler Gary age 37 | Peter age 41 | London

GARY

PETER

“My brother Steve and me were walking his dog and we came across Richmond parkrun.

Because myself, Steve and a mate of ours, Pete Butler, were on the start of a very serious weight-loss kick we thought we’d give it a go. And we’ve never looked back. I think my first parkrun time was around 34 or 35 minutes. I discovered what it means to put all your effort into something—I remember I could hardly breathe. I was in a lot of pain come to think of it—I can’t remember what attracted me back for my second run!

“Myself, Steve and Gary were all very overweight and wanted to get in shape. On my first parkrun I was seven stone heavier than now and I did it in around 36 minutes.

I felt like I was going to have a heart attack.

I do genuinely remember thinking to myself ‘I don’t know how many of these I will be doing’. But as all the people there were so supportive I carried on—to the point of now, where I would be gutted not to do it anymore. Now I run all over. I’ll do Richmond Park then run along the Thames and back across Wimbledon Common. It’s really made me look forward to Saturdays as it’s a great time and an event that is free and that brings people together.

Richmond is my home run—I’ve done the majority there. I’ve also done Bognor Regis, Wormwood Scrubs and Kingston, but Richmond is for me one of the best runs on the parkrun list. I run with Steve and Pete but we have all made many friends from many different backgrounds at parkrun. There is no class divide—you’re a parkrunner and that’s it. Doing parkrun has made me feel a part of a community. It can be a bit like a runners’ advice bureau and we made such good friends that I invited several parkrunners to my wedding last year. That all said, the most amazing thing for me to come out of it has been the weight loss, that’s been top—I’ve lost around 40kg in all.”

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

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Gary Wimbledon 94 27:27 Richmond parkrun To still be running in 20 years

Personally I reckon this should be promoted and backed by the government to move this forward. Whatever, though, I’m very grateful to the run directors and volunteers who do such a good job and make us feel welcome.”

Name parkruns completed parkrun best Favourite course parkrun ambition

Peter Butler 106 23:39 Richmond parkrun To run under 23 minutes, lol!

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Kilometre 3 changing lives

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ABOVE

Steve Wimbledon, Ross Baker, Peter Butler and Gary Wimbledon pictured at Richmond parkrun—the four friends took up running in a bid to lose weight.

They regularly attend parkruns across South-West London and to date have lost a combined weight of over 100kg.

Against the backdrop of Cramond Island and the Firth of Forth, parkrunners from all backgrounds and of all abilities epitomise the ideal as they come together every Saturday for the Edinburgh parkrun.

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Kilometre 3 changing lives

Jon

Ex Harlequins, Wasps, Bath and England U21 rugby player, now sub 21 minute parkrunner.

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LEFT

Anna Beresford (centre) with her guide runner Fiona Waugh complete Newcastle parkrun. Determined not to let her visual impairment stop her from running, Anna says the support and encouragement provided by the parkrun community has been invaluable.

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parkrunner

pat gravell Age 53 | Bexley, Greater London

“I was diagnosed with bowel cancer and had surgery in June 2012. As a result of the treatment I didn’t want to stray far from home. I was anxious and panicky about being out in public.

visiting my daughter. It goes along the edge of the Thames and is very scenic but is rather muddy and rough underfoot on some sections. None of the other runs are as beautiful as Bexley.

My friend and neighbour Phil mentioned that he’d been to parkrun in Danson Park—less than half a mile away from my home. I used to run before the illness and I wanted to get my fitness back. I had a couple of false starts when I set off to the park. I didn’t even make it to the start and had to come home again.

The chemotherapy ended in January 2013.

After that I started seeing my running times improve week by week. It gave me a massive thrill. Every time I got a new PB I posted my results on Facebook which stimulated loads of praise and encouragement from all my friends.

I started a course of chemotherapy at the beginning of August 2012 and my third attempt at getting to the park wasn’t looking very promising. I remember I’d walked about 30 metres from home when Phil and his friend pulled up alongside and offered me a lift. After they’d managed to get me there I was determined to get round the course.

In October 2013 I was told that nodules in my lung had grown and were probably cancer metastases. I had surgery on October 17th. In the weeks before surgery I’d tried to attend as many parkruns as I could to make sure my lungs were in the best possible condition before the operation.

Completing that first parkrun gave me such a boost of confidence. It felt as though I was getting a little piece of my normal life back.

I felt that I was doing something positive to help prevent the cancer coming back.

I’ve run ‘The longest parkrun’ to mark the longest day and Kingston parkrun when

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Pat Gravell 39 29:14 Bexley parkrun To complete 50 parkruns

I think that doing something positive helped me to stop worrying about the cancer being back and stopped me dwelling too much on what life has in store for me as I knew then that the prognosis was drastically worse. I’ve done 39 parkruns so far and my goal is to complete my 50th parkrun by the end of the year to earn a coveted red t-shirt.”

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“This was my first parkrun and the encouragement I got from everyone was just so overwhelming. I felt like I had found a great place to be me.”

Michelle, Penrith parkrun, New South Wales

“I just love seeing the improvements in my body each week, not to mention the numbers coming down... my time and my weight!!”

Susan, Rocks Riverside parkrun, Queensland

“When we started parkrun, my son Colin was shy and overweight, and Ernie used to spend too much time in the pub. Now nearly two years on, Colin is a marathon and club runner and so much more confident… and Ernie is now a very fast club runner; he won the Selsdon Half Marathon this year.”

Kevin, Banstead Woods parkrun, Surrey

“Parkrun helped me regain my self respect and found the Runner in me again.”

Andy, Brueton parkrun, Solihull

“I really don’t know what else we’d do on a Saturday morning now.”

David, Bognor Regis parkrun

“I only started running in my forties and I’d never been sporty!”

Sam, Bedfont Lakes parkrun, Greater London

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four corners For Jakub Fedorowicz the howl of a chill wind crossing Gdynia Park on a cold Saturday morning is soon interrupted.

The sound changes to that of a warming chatter as runners, marshals and friends meet once more at the parkrun start line.

There are newcomers to welcome and old faces to greet. Jakub, as run organiser, is soon surrounded by the tools of the trade; the high visibility jackets, direction signs, collection buckets, tokens, timers, hot drinks and snacks. As the start time approaches so do more and more of Poland’s parkrunners.

They line up at the beginning of the course that will take them through the shelter of the tree-lined path before exposing all—young and old—to the cold bite of the Baltic Sea on a final straight that takes in a long stretch of the Gdansk Bay waterfront.

As the clock ticks past the start time so the rhythm strikes up. Those park users passing

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by hear runners pounding the path. It’s the beat of a mass, but a mass that moves toward individual goals. There’s the splash of a trainer through a puddle or the wheel of a buggy or the paw of man’s pace-setting best friend. But it’s drowned out by the reverberation of breathing and intermittent “hellos” among passing friends.

The scene is repeated—though the time zones, landscapes and faces are different— every Saturday morning at Fælledparken in Copenhagen and at Mogol Park, close to the border with Botswana, in South Africa and at Livonia Park in Michigan USA and at Hagley in Christchurch, New Zealand. From the 143,725 registered parkrunners in Australia to the 185 in Zimbabwe the parkrun family tree continues to spread its branches further as each season passes and fresh leaves blossom as new runners set off for the first time.

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ABOVE

Bexley parkrun on the north Kent, south London border has taken place in Danson Park since February 2012. The two-lap course passes the Georgian villa, Danson House (pictured) and hugs the side of the lake. Bexley parkrun put together a team to volunteer at the bag drop for the 2014 Virgin London Marathon and were rewarded with a place in the 2015 event.

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Gibside parkrun at Gateshead began in February 2014 and follows an out and back loop which includes a hill climb and trail through the wood, past the shell of 17th-century Gibside Hall with beautiful scenery in the valley below.

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A parkrunner makes his way round Berwick Springs parkrun in Victoria, Australia.

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ShaHeera Huggins Age 34 | Sydney, New South Wales

“My first parkrun, at Lake Mac, in mid-winter with my father-in-law was amazing. So amazing, in fact, that the first thing I did when I got home was email the general manager for parkrun Australia and ask him if I could start one in my local community!

I was so overwhelmed by this free event and by the friendly community that ran it.

It’s a Saturday morning institution in our household now. We don’t know how to start our weekend without it.

Shortly after establishing Berwick Springs parkrun we relocated interstate. Fortunately, I was able to hand over my amazing event to some passionate community members who have kept it thriving in my absence. So much so that it is now Victoria’s biggest parkrun!

Now, my family and I enjoy being parkrun tourists. There are enough parkruns

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throughout New South Wales that we can attend a different one each week. Our favourite so far is Maitland—the course is so much fun.

My six-and eight-year-old daughters have recently discovered the concept of the personal best—they chase that indelible line every Saturday morning. So, I now run with them.

Each week the girls get to decide who will run with mum, and who will run with dad.

Whilst we used to encourage them along the five kilometres, we are now chasing them.

I can’t describe the feeling I get every time a fellow runner shouts out or applauds my daughters along the way. I love the quality time parkrun has enabled me to have with my daughters. There’s no television or toys or tantrums. It’s just me and them and the fresh air. It’s invaluable.”

Shaheera Huggins 31 23:21 at Berwick Springs Maitland parkrun, NSW To one day beat my PB

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The parkrun course at Berwick Springs Promenade, Narre Warren South in the outskirts of Melbourne, features path, grass and wooden bridges as runners complete the 5k by doing two laps around the picturesque lake.

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Albert Park, Melbourne, where the course follows the iconic Albert Park Lake before runners return to the start point—the Coot Picnic Area.

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Russian parkrun volunteer Alina Lvova beside the submarine “Truth”, a museum exhibit on the Northern Tushino parkrun route.

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Two runners reach the u-turn point at the Northern Tushino parkrun, Moscow.

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To combat the heat it’s always a 7am start for those attending the Uppington parkrun, in the north-west corner of South Africa. Dusty, unpaved farm roads form a circuit around the farm land and lead down to the banks of the Orange River before they complete a loop and return to the jeep track they started on.

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Nahoon Point parkrun, East London, South Africa, is set in a nature reserve where the terrain underfoot includes tar, bush paths, sea sand and grass.

It begins at the Footprints Café, eventually leading onto the firm sand of the world renowned Nahoon Beach before reaching a turn-around point between the Lifesavers’ Shack and the Nahoon River Mouth.

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The undulating demands of Whitley Bay parkrun, South Shields, which takes in the edge of The Links that separate the golf course from the North Sea. Every turn of this beautiful route gives you fabulous views of the coastline and bracing seaside conditions.

Exhibition Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, has hosted parkrun since January 2010—the course crosses the Town Moor and passes the perimeter of the Military Vehicle Museum.

Hackney Marshes parkrun in East London with the backdrop of the Olympic complex for London 2012.

This parkrun began in May 2010.

The flat course skirts the famous football pitches and follows part of the River Lea.

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parkrun event director

Astrid van Meeuwen-Dijkgraaf Age 49 | Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand

“My husband George discovered parkrun when he was in the UK. When he got back to Wellington we looked it up online and found a parkrun in Lower Hutt—about 30 kilometres from our home.

I’ve never been much of a runner, but I thought I’d go along to see what it was all about. The first run wasn’t really a run. I walked to the 2k mark and back and didn’t go through the finish chute.

The second parkrun was a jog of sorts, which I managed in some 33 minutes—but I was hooked.

Within a few runs we decided to set up Porirua parkrun to have an event closer to home so that we wouldn’t have to get up quite so early! We spent a couple of months looking around in Porirua and nearby Tawa for a suitable location but couldn’t find anything long enough, capable of coping with 70–100 runners or safe enough for runners and walkers of all levels.

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I mentioned it to somebody at the City Council and they recommended Bothamley Park—in a suburb of Porirua. I’d heard of it, but had never been there. It is the perfect venue. There’s a hard-packed gravel track that is the old road—at least 135 years old.

There’s no traffic at all, it runs beneath and through mature trees and is sheltered from the wind—which is really important in ‘Windy Wellington’.

The council, who wanted to change the park’s rather dark perception, have provided heaps of support including a brilliant parkrun sign at the entrance, distance markers along the whole out-and-back course plus a notice board that features the parkrun map. We have tried to make it a family-friendly and encouraging atmosphere. We cheer even more loudly for the ladies that walk at the back of the field than for the front runners.”

Astrid van Meeuwen-Dijkgraaf 59 25:20 Porirua parkrun To keep running the whole distance without stopping!

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Belfast’s Waterworks had become a no-go area until it was reclaimed by the local community thanks to initiatives including parkrun—it circumnavigates two reservoirs against a backdrop of Cave Hill which rapidly rises from the sea to McArt’s Fort.

Some sections of the course may accumulate mud, leaves and puddles after rain, parkrunners are warned at Malahide Castle grounds in Dublin, Ireland.

Conditions are a little drier fortunately for the parkrunners on the trail paths in the grounds of the Ardgillan Castle course to the north of Dublin.

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“Over 10,000 miles from home and yet less than two from our nearest parkrun…”

Sarah, Bushy parkrun, London

“My new hobby—parkrun tourism! Every new parkrun course I’m running with A head camera and sharing the video with my fellow parkrunners.”

Andis, Conkers parkrun, Leicestershire

“On holiday in Scandinavia, we were in Arhus on this Saturday morning and found the parkrun. Not as many runners as we’re used to in Perth… a friendly bunch though and a testing little course.”

Declan, Claisebrook Cove parkrun, Perth

“What a fantastic feeling to jog to the start line of St Peter’s parkrun (Sydney), to arrive knowing no one and yet feeling firmly part of the family.”

Sarah, St Peter’s parkrun, Sydney

“While holidaying in New Zealand we made sure we could get a parkrun in. It was about zero degrees and windy, and while tempted not to run, runners showed up in large numbers from nowhere just prior to the start. I enjoyed the run and the breakfast afterwards with the local parkrun crew.”

The Russell family, Minnippi parkrun, Queensland

“Whenever I go on holiday or away for business trips I plan my parkruns around these dates.”

Stephan, Delta parkrun, Johannesburg

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Achievements “I finished my first ever parkrun with a fairly creditable time of 32:21,” explains Maria, 49, who runs Marple parkrun in Greater Manchester.

“I’m a bit of a stats nerd, so I love getting the results each week and measuring my progress.”

But measuring the sense of achievement that comes with parkrun isn’t just down to the tangible finishing times that are uploaded to the website and avidly followed and compared. Just as many runners aim to beat personal bests or target a better finish time than the previous week, or to get that coveted milestone t-shirt. So many others find that a sense of accomplishment comes from simply finishing the course—or on some Saturdays, in some conditions, simply getting there in time to start one.

Raising fitness levels, losing weight, spending more time outdoors, meeting new friends, getting off the couch, being with the kids, running for the entire five kilometres—when

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you ask parkrunners what they feel they achieved, the answers are as varied as the runners themselves.

“One role that our parkrun struggled with was that of photographer,” explains Martin Pearce, from Southwick parkrun, in Wiltshire.

“I volunteered to have a go and haven’t looked back—24,000 photos with 750,000 views later and I still get a real buzz from taking the photos.”

And the volunteers, marshals and run organisers also get to see the results of their own efforts at the finish line. They’re etched upon the jubilant, or exhausted, or relieved or frustrated faces of the runners coming through the funnel, clutching their barcodes.

Those same runners who know that they wouldn’t reach their individual goals without the means to do so and the words of encouragement provided by the devoted run supporters.

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parkrunner

Jacqueline Millett Age 61 | London

“I’d always wanted to be a runner. I’d always enjoyed watching athletics on TV and admired the competitors. But I led a very sedentary life, not really doing much exercise and working from home so I didn’t even have a walk to the bus stop as my commute.

sizes, all ages, people with buggies, people with dogs—all very kind and supportive and I just thought ‘yes, this is for me!’ I don’t like aimless runs or walks. Taking part in parkrun gives me a weekly goal. It gives me personal targets and the motivation I need.

A health scare led me to seek out a more active lifestyle. I went to the gym. I hated it. But whilst I was on a treadmill a personal trainer told me that I seemed to have a knack for it and might want to do more running.

As of today I’ve done just over 170 parkruns.

I’ve built up from 5k to 10k and so on. I’ve now run 50 marathons and just completed my second 90km Comrades ultramarathon in South Africa.

I tried jogging alone but didn’t really know what I was doing or where I should run to.

So at the end of October 2009 a friend and I decided to give parkrun a try and headed along to Richmond Park. And my life changed.

My first Comrades was a treat to myself for my 60th birthday. It was extremely tough.

The heat was intense and they had the highest number of drop-outs so far. I fell over and broke my arm, a rib and my toe—but I was oblivious to this until the end. When I completed the race they told me I had to come back to do part two which I did this year along with my daughter. I’ve got all my family and friends into running too.”

That first parkrun in Richmond was incredibly inspirational for me. I remember just turning up and there were people of all shapes and

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Jacqueline Millett 172 22:45 Richmond parkrun To run under 22 minutes

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andrew

First finisher, 16:12

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Bhupindar First timer, 29:04

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Heading for a finish which will guarantee one of the iconic parkrun achievement t-shirts, Sean Price, event director for Southwick, completes his 50th parkrun at the venue’s 150th event.

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The worldwide family of parkrun capture their treasured moments and share them via the weekly updates on their local run’s website and through social media.

Whilst the settings and venues may change, the experience and the effect of the endorphin boost tell a similar story.

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The only race taking place at parkrun is against oneself. Realising personal goals, recording a fastest time or simply adding to the tally of runs completed is something that unites all the barcodeclutching achievers.

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Jubilant arms aloft signalling a glorious finish and possibly a personal best time?

That sense of achievement among those involved in parkrun stretches from the people who help establish and launch each event through to the runners who complete the course and experience the same elation. This could be from any parkrun in any nation. In this case it’s at Ingwenyama Sports Resort, White River in South Africa.

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parkrun PB 27:27

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Steve Way Ron Hill Steve, age 40, Sturminster Marshall, Dorset | Ron, age 76, Stockport

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RON

“For me, parkrun came along at just the right time. I remember my first run, though not for any of the camaraderie and community feel to be honest. I just thought ‘wow a free 5k race in nearby Poole’. It was something I could tie-in with my marathon training.

That was April 2011 and I was running London a week later. I just saw it as a timed tempo run that provided the feel of a race, even though the creators are keen to point out that it isn’t a race. I ran it well, enjoyed the race ‘buzz’ and went on to achieve 2:19 at the London Marathon.

“I just went along to my local run and joined in one morning. I’d not really looked into what it involved but it’s a great speed run for my training. I aim to run once a day. I’ve done that all my adult life. Now, when I fill in my training manual I write my races in red pen and I do the same with my parkrun times as they’ve become an integral part of the training. I do treat them as a race and I aim to beat my best time. I try to do the parkruns wherever and whenever I get the opportunity. I did one in Milton Keynes just recently when I was giving a talk down there. And I did one up in Glasgow too. My only disappointment was that there wasn’t one in Paris when I went there recently to open a new shop. I think a parkrun there would be wonderful, maybe around the Bois de Bologne. It’s amazing that so many people are getting out on a Saturday morning and running and I can see why so many enjoy the social element of it too. I’ve managed to see some lovely places through parkruns, meet some nice people and keep up my training when I’m on the road. I’ve not done as many as I’d like to have so far—I do a lot of 10ks on Sundays too but if I’m at home on a Saturday morning I’ll go along to Marple parkrun or Woodbank parkrun, both in Stockport. I’ve also done Wythenshawe and I ran the old and the new courses at Heaton in Manchester too. I really like Marple parkrun, it’s only around three miles away but it’s a great cross-country course.”

Even now it’s part of my speed training— I hate 5ks, they bloody hurt—but I enjoy the social aspect to it a lot more too. The people at Poole parkrun have taken me under their wing as a bit of a celebrity.

They ask me to do presentations and some even came to Glasgow to see me run in the Commonwealth Games. When I line-up at a parkrun start I have this saying; ‘don’t be shit’. It’s my version of ‘good luck’. When I ran at Glasgow the parkrunners saw me off and they’d all had ‘don’t be shit, Steve’ t-shirts printed! I even spotted them lining the streets of Glasgow. I didn’t come to parkrun for anything more than a functional part of my training. I’ve seen it grow and it’s grown on me. The friendliness is infectious and I hope that 20 years from now I’m still running it and it’s continuing to grow the way it has so far.”

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Steve Way 50 15:01 Poole parkrun To beat 15:01

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Ron Hill Less than 30 Ooo 24 something Marple parkrun To do a Paris parkrun

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A unique meeting of two parkrun devotees at Heaton Park, Manchester, in 2014. Steve Way (left), who broke the British marathon record for men over 40 on his way to victory at the Commonwealth Games is championed by running legend Ron Hill who had set the record (2hr 15m 46s) in 1979.

Barefoot runner Yanni Papastavrou, 44, bares his soles for parkrun in East London, as he does for regular jogs and even marathons. Yanni insists he’s had no injuries since going shoeless three years ago and chooses to clean his feet, post-run, with a Brillo pad.

In the spirit of parkrun, early finishers at Lanhydrock in Bodmin, Cornwall, applaud their fellow runners as they in-turn cross the line. Lanhydrock is regarded as one of the toughest courses in the country—average run time 29:54. Locals say the hills there will add minutes to your average time!

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The starting line-up at Bushy Park on October 4th 2014. A total of 1,705 parkrunners completed the course to mark the 10th anniversary of parkrun at its birthplace. Today official parkruns take place at over 500 locations around the world with approximately 75,000 parkrunners attending the weekly timed 5k runs.

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“My funniest parkrun moment was passing an old running chum and being told to Foxtrot Oscar.”

David, Bushy parkrun, London

“I’ve taken nearly 20 minutes off my starting time... whoop, whoop!…

I will soon do another personal best... love my parkruns…”

Brenda, Nahoon Point parkrun, South Africa

“I was waiting for the start of my first ever parkrun and I was so nervous about the people running and whether I was going to run well or come in completely last… it turns out, I had nothing to worry about really, because although it was a slow time of about 28 minutes, I was still the first lady across the line that day… although I have never been able to replicate that feat since!”

Kim, Riverway parkrun, Queensland

“The dreaded hill at Heaton Parkrun gets to everyone. I pace myself so that when I get to the top I have enough left in the tank to get round the golf course before the final 1.5k.”

Gary, Heaton parkrun, Manchester

“After 41 (gruelling) attempts I finally beat my 24 minute goal I set back in 2013. Just shows if you keep going you’ll eventually make it.”

Russell, Cambridge parkrun

“Celebrating my 100th parkrun with my 20-month-old son, Caleb, was a special moment for me. Parkrun really embodies everything that is important in life.”

Craig, Nahoon Point parkrun, South Africa

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Running with an idea The idea for this book came about over a pint in a Teddington pub one autumn evening in 2013. Friends and parkrunners Paul Duke and Paul Warrington were looking to collaborate on a creative project of some shape or form, and their shared love of running led them to the notion of creating a book to celebrate parkrun, which had started on their doorstep in Bushy Park nine years earlier.

The idea developed after a chance encounter between Paul Duke and another local runner, Andy Anstey, in the funnel at Bushy parkrun; Andy suggested they pitch their idea to parkrun founder Paul SintonHewitt. A meeting was duly set up in early 2014 and the idea of a coffee-table style photo book was agreed. Realising they may have bitten off more than they could chew, they soon recruited photographer Julian Ward and journalist Rob Kemp to the creative team.

All four agreed they wanted to create this book as volunteers—seeing it as an opportunity to combine their creative talents to celebrate and bring to life a concept for which they all shared a passion.

As the months passed, it became apparent that the biggest challenge was going to be how to represent the hundreds of parkruns and tens of thousands of parkrunners around the world within a finite number of pages. Many long evenings were spent around kitchen tables, sorting through hundreds of photographic entries, selecting interviewees and planning trips that took them to places as far apart as Edinburgh in Scotland and Lanhydrock in the South-West of England.

While it has been impossible to feature every individual contribution, the cumulative influence of these has—it is hoped—enabled this book to achieve its main aims, namely, to capture the essence of parkrun and to celebrate its magic.

And now?

As has already been written, the profits from this book will be used to promote the growth of parkrun, so more people than ever can benefit from its capacity to build communities and, just as importantly, to inspire a new generation by developing its sibling, junior parkrun, represented by the portrait opposite.

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Right now there are 34 junior parkrun events across the UK— with another 20 in the pipeline.

Around the world 135,000 children aged 4-14 have taken part in parkruns, actively enjoying the great outdoors, cheered on by families and new friends.

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AFTERWoRD “I was at junior school taking part in something like a sponsored walk.

It began slowly, everyone walking, and I decided for some reason to start running. And I ran. I remember overtaking one person and then the next and I finished first and I thought to myself ‘Wow I’ve achieved something’.

I remember that ‘high’ I felt quite vividly. I see that feeling today, that same look of acknowledgement on the faces of some of the kids who do parkrun, that look of ‘Wow, I’ve done something special’. That run was the first time I felt I could do something better than someone else. I’d spent much of my early childhood in the South African equivalent of a care home—it had been a deeply unhappy time. I’d endured torment and abuse. That feeling I experienced following that run, of being good at something, has stuck with me all this time.

I didn’t run seriously again until my early 20s. I’d watch these two guys I worked with head out at lunch-time. I started training alone and then, when I felt confident and competent enough, I asked to run with them. They’re my closest friends now. Back then they spurred me on to run my first marathon in Johannesburg and I ran it in 3 hours 15 minutes. My next was 2 hours 36 minutes and I set myself a goal of sub 2:30.

I went on to work in Europe and running in parks was often a comfort when I was working away from home. I went through a rough time as my marriage broke down and I lost touch with my children. Whilst my career was taking off and I was developing skills in business development that would serve me well in years to come, my personal life was a mess. Relationships were difficult. I became risk averse and guarded, often ending relationships before they had a chance to develop. One day, after speaking with a therapist, I set myself two aims. To take up paragliding and to get back into my running—which led to me reviving my goal of running sub 2:30.

I spent my weekends in the air and my weekday evenings with my feet on the ground, running around 100 miles a week building up to the London Marathon. I completed the Kingston Marathon in 2:41 and was on track. Then, during a cross-country mob match for the Ranelagh Harriers running club, I took a sharp turn. I was running with 117

my dog which cut across me. I somersaulted over him and kept on running, unaware of what the collision had done to me. I finished the race in pain. The physiotherapist confirmed I’d torn my abdomen along with a hamstring and a gluteal muscle. I completed the Bath Half Marathon in 73 minutes but I was done in. I couldn’t run the marathon and I knew at 43 I’d never get another chance to achieve that goal.

Suddenly I was left unable to run but with a desperate need for the benefits that running was giving me. I realised that I couldn’t go along to the club and hang around not being able to run. So I thought I’d create something where people could come and run but with a social aspect too—going for a coffee after the run meant I’d still get to be around runners.

At first I chose Richmond Park to set up this free, 5k time trial. I was looking at a spot near the golf course by Roehampton Gate. Then, purely for the selfish reason of it being closest to my home, I decided on Bushy Park instead. But that first run took months of planning.

It was only when I was out of work and laid-up injured that it really came into fruition—If I’d still been in full-time employment it may never have happened.

I spoke with some members of the club and some of them came on board. We set upon the date but right up until the actual day I was nervous, worried no one would show for it. I thought we’d go for an 8am start but one of those parkrun pioneers, Andrew Lane, said: ‘You’re not in South Africa now, people won’t show at 8am on a Saturday, make it nine.’

I bought 50 steel washers from Halfords and numbered each one.

Alan Hedger, a friend from Ranelagh, held the timer on the day. I held the clipboard. We’d measured out the route with a surveyor’s wheel—though we later learnt that the very first parkrun course was 80 metres short. When people finished they were instructed to take the ‘token’ to the boot of my car and write down their name and time. It was all very rudimentary but it was enough to get that first ‘Bushy Park Time Trial’ underway. We then went to the café and I wrote up the results. There were 13 runners that day. The following week there were 14…”

Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE October 2014

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parkrun headquarters in the UK

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ORIGINAL CONCEPT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Paul Duke Paul Warrington

It’s been a joy working on this project, which wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of the parkrun community and others to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. This includes:

CREATED BY

Paul Warrington Design and creative production.

Editorial assistance Jonathan Hughes.

Julian Ward Photography and creative production.

parkrun run directors and volunteer teams Bushy, Edinburgh, Hackney Marshes, Heaton, Hull, Lanhydrock and Richmond parkruns.

Paul Duke Photography and creative production.

Picture research Gill Fordyce, David Rowe, Charlotte Warrington.

Rob Kemp Interviews and copy.

Photography We gratefully acknowledge the use of additional photographs provided courtesy of the following: © David Anderson: page 82. © Paul Bisset: page 91. © Gill Fordyce: page 78. © John Harvey: page 39. © Christine Jacobson: page 87. © Laurie Joyce: page 72. © Peter King: page 80. © Rob Kirtley: page 83. © Andy Knight: pages 40, 74. © Valery Lvov: pages 76, 77. © Will Mol: page 88. © Sagar Simkhada: page 28. © Tim Walker: pages 18, 35, 84. © Mike Warren: page 14. © Jessica Vinluan: page 38. © Helen Westerbeke: page 87.

Photographic submissions A big thank you to all those parkrunners and volunteers who submitted photographs via the parkrun website.

These images appear on the front cover and pages 34, 50, 60, 70, 71, 90, 95, 98, 99.

Project steering group Andy Anstey, David Rowe, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Tom Williams.

Special thanks to Paul Sinton-Hewitt for trusting us and providing the space to explore.

Any omissions for copy or credit are unintentional and appropriate credit will be given in future editions if such copyright holders contact the publisher. © 2014 parkrun press.

Printed in the UK by ArbiterDrucken.

ISBN 978-0-9931485-0-7

120

Lakeview Lanhydrock Larne Laudium Launceston Leami Livonia Lloyd Llyn Llech Owain Lódz Lonehill Longrun Mea Maldon Prom Manjimup Mansfield Margate Maribyrno Middelburg Mile End Millwater Milton Keynes МОСКВА Mount Barker Mount Gambier Mt Clarence Mt Penang Mul Naval Hill Netley Abbey Newark Newbury Newcastle New Fields Northampton Norwich Nostell Priory Oak Hill Ormskirk Orpington Osterley Oxford Pakenham Pans Pegwell Bay Pendle Pennington Flash Penrith Penrith La Plymvalley Point Cook Pollok Pomphrey Hill Pontefract P Potchefstroom Poznan Preston Preston Park Princes P Priory Richmond Park Riddlesdown Rietvlei Riverside Rother Valley Rotherham Roundhay Roundshaw Downs R Scunthorpe Secunda Sedgefield Sewerby Sheffield Castle Shongweni Shorne Woods Shrewsbury Singleton Skipton Southsea Southwark Southwick Country Park Springbur St Peters Stewart Strathclyde Stutterheim Summerfield Lakes Tamworth Tees Barrage Telford Temple Newsam Tuggeranong Tymon ЦЕНТРАЛЬНЫЙ ФО Upington Upton C Harbor Victoria Voortrekker Monument Wakefield Thorn Flats Warrington Warszawa-Brodno Warszawa-Praga Warsz Waterworks Westerfolds Westport Weymouth White Ri Estate Winchester Woking Wolverhampton Woodbank Scrubs Worsley Woods Wroclaw Wycombe Rye Wythensh

ington Leeds Leszno Lillydale Lake Lincoln Little Stoke adow Lower Hutt Lyme Park Maidstone Maitland Malahide ng Marlay Marple Mashishing Medina I.O.W. Merimbula Modderfontein Mogol Mornington Peninsula Mosman lbarton Murray Bridge MUSA Cookstow Naas Nahoon Point went Newport Newy Nibe Nonsuch North Beach Northala Oakwell Hall Old Deer Park Oldbridge Oldham Ormeau hanger Parke Parramatta PE Hobie Beach Peckham Rye akes Perth Peter Pan Peterborough Piggly Wiggly Pioneer Pontypool Pontypridd Poole Porirua Porthcawl Portrush Pymmes Queen Elizabeth Queens Reading Redcar Reigate Rockingham Rondebosch Common Roodepoort Root 44 Royal Tunbridge Wells Rushcliffe Rushmoor Sandon Point Sheffield Hallam Shellharbour Shepparton Sheringham South Manchester South Shields Southampton Southend rn St Albans St Andrews St Annes St Francis St Helens ds Sunderland Sunrise-on-Sea Swindon Szczecinek Tamar Thetford Tilgate Tollcross Tonbridge Torrens Tring Court Uvongo Valentines Valley Vejen Vicarstown Victor nes Wallace Walsall Arboretum Walthamstow Wanstead zawa-Ursynow Warszawa-Zoliborz Watergrove Waterstown iver Whitley Bay Whitstable Wimbledon Common Wimpole Woodlands Woodley Worcester Workington Wormwood hawe Yeovil Montacute York Zary

Paul Sinton-Hewitt CBE, parkrun founder

Cover Section final.indd 1

parkrun a celebration

“It was all very rudimentary at first, but enough to get that first ‘Bushy Park Time Trial’ underway. We then went to the café and I wrote up the results. There were 13 runners that day. The following week there were 14…”

2/9/15 10:00 AM