What's a park run

I'm a newbie to running and presumed when you all talked about a park run it was just a run in the park. Can someone explain and how do I find them.

[AdamB Graduate]

Hi - park run is an institution. Every Saturday morning, at 9am over 300 parkruns take place in the UK (and countless others in the rest of the world). It's a timed 5K run round a measured course which is absolutely free to enter. to find out your closest event go to parkrun.org.uk and click on events - it will open up a map where you can scroll round.

You have to register once and print out your barcode (which you need at the end of the run). Once you've registered you can roll up to any run in the world (I've been to the run in Singapore, friends have been to Australia and we still use the same barcode) and just run (well almost any run - the parkrun at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan had a couple of security restrictions, I believe).

Parkrun is incredibly friendly and inclusive. You don't even have to be able to run the full 5K. There will be people taking dogs there and people with kids in pushchairs. As long as you can get round in about 50 minutes, you will be fine.

The one rule that they all stick to is that under 11s must be accompanied. At my local run all unaccompanied children get a free capuccino and are promised a puppy

[misswobble Graduate in reply to AdamB]

There is a Parkrun website which details all you need to know ☺

[Hidden in reply to misswobble]

Thanks so much.

[Hidden in reply to AdamB]

Thank you Adam. I will look online

[Hidden]

parkruns happen all over the place and are great fun. Once you have your barcode you can just turn up at any of them and be welcome. They rely entirely on volunteers and being a volunteer before you run is a great way to meet people and find out what its all about, you will be welcomed with open arms whether as a runner or as a helper. Good luck !

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

and yes -- they ARE "just a run in a park!"