We thought we’d share the story of parkrun.
Why now? Well, we do have some time on our hands!
But we also think it tells us an important lesson about perseverance and humanity.
Let us take you on a journey 👇
Why now? Well, we do have some time on our hands!
But we also think it tells us an important lesson about perseverance and humanity.
Let us take you on a journey 👇
Back in 2004, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, who was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in South Africa, had the idea for a time trial in Bushy Park.
What it really needed was a catchy, sophisticated, inspirational name.
What did he call it? The Bushy Park Time Trial.
What it really needed was a catchy, sophisticated, inspirational name.
What did he call it? The Bushy Park Time Trial.
But did he have explicit permission from the park to do it?
It depends what you mean by permission. Let’s not focus on those minor details…
It depends what you mean by permission. Let’s not focus on those minor details…
On Saturday 2 October, it all started with these 13 runners and five volunteers.
Check out those white trainers, what ever happened to those?
Check out those white trainers, what ever happened to those?
That year Christmas Day fell on a Saturday. Did it stop parkrun? Of course not. More on that later.
Over the next couple of years as word spread, Paul noticed it was starting to get a little bit busy in Bushy Park
Over the next couple of years as word spread, Paul noticed it was starting to get a little bit busy in Bushy Park
In 2007, the second event started in Wimbledon.
From then on it was lift-off 🚀
From then on it was lift-off 🚀
As it grew around the UK, we let parkruns in Scotland & Northern Ireland start at 9:30am
Some say it was because the cafe didn’t open until 10. Others say it was for extra daylight.
To be honest we’re still not quite sure why 🤷♂️
Some say it was because the cafe didn’t open until 10. Others say it was for extra daylight.
To be honest we’re still not quite sure why 🤷♂️
We also allowed dogs on short leads and people with buggies to take part.
What could possibly go wrong?
What could possibly go wrong?
The name got changed to parkrun. All one word, lowercase p
We thought it would make it easier for people to spell...
We thought it would make it easier for people to spell...
parkrun went international, launching in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Then in 2010, we introduced both barcodes AND junior parkrun
We don’t like to brag, but we absolutely smashed it that year 🔥
Surely we’d never top that?
Then in 2010, we introduced both barcodes AND junior parkrun
We don’t like to brag, but we absolutely smashed it that year 🔥
Surely we’d never top that?
We did. Two huge Southern Hemisphere nations fancied a bit of parkrun
South Africa got involved and the Aussies threw a free weekly 5k on the barbie.
South Africa got involved and the Aussies threw a free weekly 5k on the barbie.
In other news, William and Kate got married
2012 was the year of the London Olympics.
Meanwhile, fresh barcodes were getting scanned in the USA, Ireland and New Zealand.
A year later Frozen hit the big screens around the world and we still can’t let it go
Meanwhile, fresh barcodes were getting scanned in the USA, Ireland and New Zealand.
A year later Frozen hit the big screens around the world and we still can’t let it go
Speaking of Frozen, we also launched parkrun in Russia
This is parkrun Якутск Дохсун in East Siberia. One Saturday parkrun morning it was -42°C 😳
Don't forget your brrrrrcode
This is parkrun Якутск Дохсун in East Siberia. One Saturday parkrun morning it was -42°C 😳
Don't forget your brrrrrcode
As it grew and grew (and grew), people everywhere were loving parkrun.
Well, nearly everywhere...
In 2016 Stoke Gifford Parish Council decided parkrun wasn’t for them.
They wanted to charge Little Stoke parkrunners £1 each per week.
We said no.
Well, nearly everywhere...
In 2016 Stoke Gifford Parish Council decided parkrun wasn’t for them.
They wanted to charge Little Stoke parkrunners £1 each per week.
We said no.
You thought they had a bad year?
That summer England men got knocked out of the Euros by Iceland
That summer England men got knocked out of the Euros by Iceland
Literally hundreds of communities around the world didn’t have a parkrun until they did.
From Germany to Canada, Malaysia to Sweden, the list goes on.
Now they love it. That seems to happen to us a lot.
From Germany to Canada, Malaysia to Sweden, the list goes on.
Now they love it. That seems to happen to us a lot.
Just before our temporary hiatus due to the coronavirus, parkrun was taking place in over 2,100 locations across five continents.
More than 300,000 people were taking part every weekend.
For context, that’s almost the entire population of Iceland (them again)
More than 300,000 people were taking part every weekend.
For context, that’s almost the entire population of Iceland (them again)
So that’s the story of how a little time trial with a catchy name hit the big time.
But you must be wondering why did we need to share this story?
And what does this have to do with the current situation?
Deep down people are good. Let us explain 👇
But you must be wondering why did we need to share this story?
And what does this have to do with the current situation?
Deep down people are good. Let us explain 👇
The park rangers could’ve told Paul to stop what he was doing in 2004, or asked him to pay.
parkrun might have ended there and then. But they didn’t.
They let it go (pun intended)
parkrun might have ended there and then. But they didn’t.
They let it go (pun intended)
Plenty of other people said it would never work 🙄
“Nobody wants to run on Saturdays” they said.
The start time is “too early” they said.
parkrun became the biggest running event in the world
“Nobody wants to run on Saturdays” they said.
The start time is “too early” they said.
parkrun became the biggest running event in the world
They said nobody would “give up their time” to volunteer
More than 500,000 people have volunteered at parkrun
People experienced all the personal benefits of volunteering, from improving wellbeing to making a positive impact on the local community and being part of a movement
More than 500,000 people have volunteered at parkrun
People experienced all the personal benefits of volunteering, from improving wellbeing to making a positive impact on the local community and being part of a movement
We did have our fair share of ups and downs though.
parkrun didn’t work out in Zimbabwe or Iceland (they were obviously too busy playing football)
But just like a family, we rallied together, took the positive from every situation and tried again.
parkrun didn’t work out in Zimbabwe or Iceland (they were obviously too busy playing football)
But just like a family, we rallied together, took the positive from every situation and tried again.
For his part in all this, Paul was awarded a CBE in 2014.
Some say it was for services to coffee, others say it was for services to lycra and fancy dress.
One thing we do know: we’ve all got a new Christmas Day tradition
Some say it was for services to coffee, others say it was for services to lycra and fancy dress.
One thing we do know: we’ve all got a new Christmas Day tradition
Across 22 countries and five continents, people turn up on Saturday mornings in all different climates, languages and cultures to be part of their local community.
They could just go for a run on their own, but they choose to do it together.
They could just go for a run on their own, but they choose to do it together.
What all of this really tells us, is that people ARE good.
We might not be able to parkrun at the moment, but communities are still coming together.
We’re still seeing the very best of people.
We might not be able to parkrun at the moment, but communities are still coming together.
We’re still seeing the very best of people.
We’ve come a long way. If we stick together, stay positive, and persevere we’ll get through this.
And we WILL be back 🧡 #staysafe #loveparkrun
And we WILL be back 🧡 #staysafe #loveparkrun
