WHY WE RUN
03 GROWING, GLOBALLY
I had it in me to run 5km. Well, I’ve done 95 parkruns now! It’s such a social thing – for the dogs as well. My goal for 2014 is for Sam to be the first dog home.”
ANDREW MILLS
BEA DOWNIE “We usually run as a whole family – my two boys, my husband and me. I used to be a serious athlete when I was younger, but hadn’t done any running at all for eight years before I found parkrun. It’s brought me back to sport.”
“I’m a family doctor so doing parkrun is partly about setting a good example. It’s great to get out into the open air on a Saturday morning. Running with friends gives a bit of an edge to it as well. It’s an incentive to push yourself.”
RICHARD “I needed to do something to get fit, and very quickly got hooked. It’s so simple and easy. You get addicted to checking your times every week. I feel terribly guilty now if I ever miss a run.”
SAM, AGE 10 “I come with my friend Albert and our parents. I’ve done 27 parkruns now and Albert has done 14. We both play football and it’s good training. What I enjoy most is trying to beat my time every week. I’m hoping to join an athletics club soon.”
CHARLOTTE , AGE 14 “I come every week with my friends and parents. I needed to lose weight and thanks to parkrun I’ve already lost a stone (6.3kg). I especially want to thank my friend Niamh who runs with me and encourages me.”
NEIL HANKIE “Originally I did it for my dog Sam’s benefit – and also to prove my daughter wrong. She never thought 34
GHOTRA FAMILY “We do everything together. We used to do karate as a family but then we found parkrun and haven’t looked back. Even when we travel, we always try to find a local parkrun. We’ve done Plymouth and Warwick so far. The routes are very different but it’s exactly the same spirit that you find here. It’s such a wonderful initiative to look after people’s health.”
MARIA, MUM “parkrun is my first venture into running. It does get competitive, but it’s only ever about beating your own time. Nobody’s judging you here. I always say it’s the only place I will ever come without makeup!”
SALLY “Today is my 200th parkrun. Five years ago I couldn’t even run around the block! Every person here is an inspiration to me. I have some serious health issues, but I know that every runner is here with their own personal challenge. I always thought sports people were another breed. I never thought I could be one of them. Now, I feel like someone who enjoys their body at last. When I’m actually doing the run, I just love being alive.”
“I ALWAYS THOUGHT SPORTS PEOPLE WERE ANOTHER BREED. I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD BE ONE OF THEM”
KATRIN FROM GERMANY “I used to run alone until my boyfriend introduced me to parkrun. Now it’s become part of my social life. It’s like a huge family. And it’s addictive too. I’m on 98 runs now, and I know that when I reach 100 I will be entitled to a special shirt, so it’s an incentive to come every week. Even when I’m injured I come down to volunteer.”
TIM WOOD “I’m proud to say I’ve clocked up 210 parkruns. I do it every single week. I was camping at the Reading (music) Festival this year and on the Saturday morning, I put on my running shoes and ran all the way from the festival site to the start of the local parkrun.”
RICHARD TAYLOR & KATHRYN WHITE “We found parkrun in 2008 and have been running ever since. We were both getting a bit older and wanted to lose a bit of weight. The appeal of parkrun is the community spirit, and the fact that there’s really no pressure. You can walk the route if you want.”