Please forgive me. I see lots ...

[Kippinsimpson]

Please forgive me. I see lots of very inspiring runners on here discussing “park runs” I have absolutely no idea what this means. Please can someone explain. Many thanks 🙏 😊😊😊

[J9_54 Graduate]

Park Runs are organised events all over the world. They are run by volunteers and provide timed 5k weekly runs for all abilities.

Look at parkrun.org.uk

Enjoy

[Kippinsimpson in reply to J9_54]

Thank you- sounds like great fun.

[trevorjl Graduate]

Park Runs are 5k runs that are held all over the country every Saturday morning. They're free to enter, and once you've registered you can just turn up and take part.

Google 'park run' to find their site, where you can search for one near you.

[Kippinsimpson in reply to trevorjl]

That’s great- 😊 thank you

[ejvcruns Graduate]

None where I live in Sweden -- they seem mostly to be UK...

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to ejvcruns]

Parkruns are in many many countries.

I will be running parkrun Sydney and Melbourne Australia next month . So exciting, 8 am start there though 👍🏼

[Kippinsimpson in reply to Millsie-J]

Wow that sounds amazing!!! You’re very lucky- I get excited by running on the prom!! Lol.

[KatyKaycd Graduate in reply to Millsie-J]

I am hoping to do one south of Melbourne in November. Currently on W8 so want to graduate before I go although I have done a few in the UK in the past. Wonder if they will ask how far people have travelled like they do over here!

[Kippinsimpson in reply to ejvcruns]

What a shame- they souls like great fun too. Perhaps you should start one in your area?

[Razouski]

Once you've registered you get a barcode which you can print off. You take the bar code to the run and when you cross the finish line someone gives you another barcode with your finish time on it. You then take both barcodes to another volunteer who scans them both. Then later on in the day you get your results emailed to you. Not only does it tell you your time it also tells you your position across all runners, but what I liked was it told you your position against other people in your gender/age bracket. Then if you do subsequent runs at the same park it compares your times with your previous times.

They are run by volunteers who are really friendly and encouraging. Some people walk the course and others do a mixture of walking and running (depending on where they are in the C25K journey), there are also runners with dogs, children and even buggy runners. There's a nice atmosphere, and often there is a chance to meet afterwards for a cuppa.

I waited until I had completed week 9 before I joined up but other people use Parkrun for one of their C25K runs with walking.

[Kippinsimpson in reply to Razouski]

It sounds great!! Thank you. How do you register? Is it online?

[Kippinsimpson in reply to Kippinsimpson]

Lol I have found it- thank you again for your help

[Millsie-J Graduate in reply to Kippinsimpson]

Just register once, then you can run any parkrun anywhere in the world, and get your time etc.

Parkrun tourism is great 👍🏼

[Kippinsimpson in reply to Millsie-J]

Thank you 😊

[Hidden in reply to Razouski]

Thanks for the details Razouski, I haven't done one yet, and didn't realise exactly how it works xz

[Razouski]

parkrun.org.uk

You can also buy little chips (the size of a key fob Tesco Clubcard which is so much easier than taking a printed piece of paper with you. Once you've had a go, if you think you'll be doing several then it's worth getting them. Or you can just print your barcode and get it laminated. I like the plastic fob as it has a hole punched in it and I can tie it to my shoe lace or pin it on my waist band, or put it on a keyring.

parkrun-barcode.org.uk/park...

They also do credit card sized ones too.

parkrun-barcode.org.uk/park...

[vlmiller1225 Graduate]

I'm so glad someone asked... I have been wondering! Haha!!

I wish we had those in America... looks like I need to take me a trip to the UK (If only that could be afforded)!