Love your local parkrun all year round

If you’ve not heard of parkrun, firstly, where have you been? And secondly, it’s a great way of getting active and experiencing what local green spaces have to offer. parkrun hold 5K events across the globe every Saturday which are run by volunteers and which are completely free to take part in. You might think we’re mad talking about doing exercise outside as temperatures drop, but parkrun is for all year round, not just for summer. If your New Years’ resolution is to get active, this is a really fun and social way to go about it!

Once you’re registered, you can run at any parkrun event around the world by presenting your own unique bar code, and you will be given a time once you’ve crossed the finish line.

The really excellent thing about them, is that they’re for absolutely everyone and you don’t have to run! It doesn’t matter whether you can run 5K in under 20 minutes, or it takes you an hour’s stroll. It’s all about getting outside and getting some exercise, whatever your age, gender, or speed.

If you’re worried about coming last, you don’t need to be. There are tail walkers who bring up the rear each week and it’s their job to make sure no-one gets left behind – they’re always last to cross the finish line.

All you have to do is sign up, and print out your personalised bar code and you can take part in any parkrun event all over the world! Just take your bar code with you on the day, there will be scanners when you’ve completed the course, and once the race is over the run directors will sort through the results and you will receive a text with your time and position. All for no cost at all! It’s a great way of competing with yourself to improve your time, if that’s something that motivates you.

To sign up, go to https://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Our closest event is Wormwood Scrubs parkrun. For more information visit www.parkrun.org.uk/wormwoodscrubs