Park runs

[Tjcp]

Hi! Can somebody tell me how park runs started? What do you need to do to start one? I have lived in Spain since 1988 and would love to be able to start park runs/beach runs where I live. Any help/advice would be appreciated. Can anyone set one up? Are there any legal/medical requirements...etc? Many thanks.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

If you Google "How to start a parkrun" there is a very detailed information on the Parkrun website.

[Tjcp in reply to AlMorr]

Hi! Thanks.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Tjcp]

It's not cheap either, at least £1000 British Pounds.

[Tjcp in reply to AlMorr]

To set it up? Wow! Do people pay to join?

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Tjcp]

No, parkrun is free to run, jog or walk on a Saturday morning, but if you want a parkrun T Shirt then you will have to pay for that.

[Hidden in reply to AlMorr]

Al, who funds the initial start up? Whoever is setting it up? I presume they must fundraise then or have lots of cash!!

Just curious.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes, it's up to many people to fund and start a parkrun, also permission from the council or land owner as well, a parkrun should have good car parking facilities nearby, residents of streets near a park won't be happy if every Saturday morning there are hundreds of cars parked in their streets due to a nearby parkrun.

[Tjcp in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks! Hadn't thought about all that!

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Tjcp]

Well, now you know, still thinking about starting one up? 😊🏃🏾

[Tjcp in reply to AlMorr]

Maybe we will call it something else! I belong to the local athletes' group so perhaps we can do something with them. Thanks for your advice!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

Yes it’s from local donations but sometimes other charities/ organisations contribute if it meets the aims of the organisation. Usually it’s a group that already do parkrun but see a need for a new one. Waiting with baited breath for our 3rd parkrun in Portsmouth……

[Tjcp in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks for the info!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

£4000 start up in UK Al. It has to be well thought through before going fo a new one. That’s probably a good thing, it’s not something you can do half-heartedly.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thank you for that information Dexy5, wow, £4000 isn't cheap, no wonder there isn't a parkrun in the town where I live, although there are rumours that one might start soon, those rumours have been around for years, I think the price might be putting people off. This morning I ran my 73rd (not) parkrun.

[Cmoi Graduate10]

Hi Tjcp , I know nothing about Parkrun so I've just looked at their website - parkrun.com/about/start-you... - and apparently they're not accepting any new countries at the moment.

Checking Spanish legislation will also be crucial, whether you end up working with Parkrun or deciding to try something independent. Here in France there are very strict rules (runners require medical certificates to take part in events, for example) and it would be a really bad idea, to say the least, to ignore them.

Hope you can work something out - good luck!

[Tjcp in reply to Cmoi]

Thank you!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Cmoi]

I believe Parkrun have got around the medical certificate requirement because it is not a race, and the results don’t come out in time order the way they do in uk. (It can be sorted later though)

I have also been told that France don’t have the same volunteer culture as the UK so it is mainly expats organising and running them. Is that your experience too Cmoi?

[Sybilw Graduate10]

By coincidence I talked to a Spanish man who finished our parkrun (I was a scanner) and he told me there were no parkruns in Spain. When I asked why he said the main reason is that Spaniards don’t volunteer! 🤷‍♀️ He said it’s the same in Italy where there are a few parkruns but all run by ex-pats. Just thought this might influence your decision as it’s not a problem I’d have foreseen.

[Spain5k]

Hi Tjcp,

I am in Spain also (more or less the same amount of time) and also wondered about park runs type of thing here. Only thing is that here things tend to get formal pretty quickly, you know if kids sign up for after school activities they have to be a member of a federation, there aren't many informal kick arounds at a sports centre... Whereabouts are you? I'm in Madrid, but not in the city

[Tjcp in reply to Spain5k]

Hi! We are an hour south of Barcelona on the coast.

[51mc Graduate10]

I live in Spain too and have been told that is impossible to start one up here! Local Catalan friends have tried, but with no success, so if you hear of a way to do it I would like to know!

[Tjcp in reply to 51mc]

I will!