A colourful guide to the global phenomenon that is Parkrun, the free, weekly timed 5k run for communities all over the world.

1. An Unofficial Intro To Parkrun
More than just a run in the park

2. Structure
What Is Parkrun? - the event, the mission, the process, your stats, the milestones, pacers
Background & Growth
Reasons For Success
Statistics – inc. record holders
Social Success Stories
Video / End

3. What Is Parkrun?
Free weekly timed 5k runs, around the world
every Saturday (9am England & Wales), for
everyone, forever!

4. Organized by volunteers for every community that
wants one

5. 450+ Parkrun courses in the UK
Set in public areas of open space from city
parks, to stately homes, beaches, lakes and
more…

6. Also Junior Parkrun (2k distance) held on Sundays 9am (ages 4 - 14)

7. What’s Their
Mission?
“A healthier and happier planet”
To positively impact the health and
happiness of communities
Empower people who wouldn’t normally
take part
Breakdown barriers to exercise (vs sports
brands focusing on body image etc.)

8. How Does It Work?
Register online to create your profile & unique barcode
Print your barcode and take it to every parkrun
Find your chosen or nearest parkrun course web page for
all details
Check your event’s Facebook page the night before to
check it’s on!

9. How Does It Work?
Arrive in time for a warm up and first timers briefing
normally 8.50am
Everyone assembles at the start just before 9am for
a run director intro, news and milestones…then it’s
3,2,1 go!

10. How Does It Work?
Cross the finish line; a volunteer timer logs
your time
Stay in order and you’ll be handed a finish
token with your finish position on it
A volunteer will scan your own barcode, plus
the finish token barcode (which you then
give back)

11. Now you’ll
appear in
the results

12. Celebrated
Milestones

13. Pacer Week

14. Background &
Growth

15. Started in October 2004 at Bushy Park
Teddington with just 13 runners
Founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt who at the
time was unable to participate in a
marathon due to injury at the same time as
loosing his job suffering from depression
A way to continue spending time with
running friends

16. Now has a CBE for services to “grassroots sport”
By October 2018 1.6m ran, jogged or walked a
parkrun worldwide and 250k volunteered – the
largest running event on the plant
323 new events started in 2018

17. It’s A Global Thing

18. Reasons For
Success

19. Inclusivity - from beginners to Olympians
You’ll see dogs, pensioners, young, families, running buggies,
walkers, the whole community
It’s free - there are no terms and conditions, it can be what you
want it to be
No pressure – there are no prizes for coming first, you can walk,
jog or run
Winning combination of social interaction, giving back, sense of
achievement and being with nature

20. Breaks down barriers for physical activity and
volunteering
Doesn’t intrude on weekend / get’s it off on the right
note
Cookie-cutter approach with technology allows
expansion
Helps tourism and local businesses (cafes, car parks,
hotels etc.)
The spirit is human kindness

21. Statistics

22. Average run time (UK) is 28m
30secs and getting slower
Clear sign more people taking
first step towards active
lifestyle

23. Record Holders
15.50 Charlotte Arter at Cardiff Parkrun in Jan 2019
13.48 Andrew Baddeley at Bushy Park in 2012

24. Social Success Stories

25. Social
Success
Stories

26. Social
Success
Stories

27. Social
Success
Stories

28. Shall We End On A Music Video?

29. END

30. About Me
April 2019
Firstly, thank you for reading this. This unofficial guide to Parkrun was intended to help present and
promote it to colleagues and friends in line with Parkrun’s mission to expand the chances for everyone
to have access to one.
I discovered Parkrun in 2016 through a friend and had no idea it existed previously. Like many I was
hooked from the first one onwards (helped by it being a stunning summers day in Black Park Parkrun).
“Parkrun can be what you want it to be” is so true. For me I’ve got quite into running as a result and it’s
given me fitness well above anything I was getting from coasting along at the gym. I also want to
volunteer this year to experience Parkrun from another equally rewarding perspective.
I’m a Marketing professional by trade and live in Buckinghamshire. My passion for Parkrun compelled
me to produce this. I’ve always loved the spirit of people who support and participate in running
events and now it’s available every week to all abilities thanks to the volunteers, sponsors and founder
Paul Sinton-Hewitt.
Simon Hart
LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/simonhart7
Parkrun ID - A2719189