Why you need to attend Parkrun and how it will change your life

Picture this: everyone on social media has started running, and you're hit with a massive case of FOMO. You see them in their cute activewear, smiling broadly with flushed cheeks, a post-run coffee in hand, and a screenshot of their impressive 10km Strava activity superimposed over the top.

Okay fine, I’ll start running, I thought to myself.

After all, I’d already been on a bit of a fitness kick, attending group classes at my local Fernwood gym, so why not give running a go?

So, I laced up my weathered gym shoes (which were completely wrong for running and probably caused irreparable damage to my feet, but I digress) and started the world’s slowest run around the block. When I say "slowest", I mean it. People were walking faster than I was running, but hey, we all have to start somewhere.

After nearly two months of running, I hit my first milestone: 5km. It took a whopping thirty-seven minutes, and my heart rate was through the roof, but I did it. Despite not enjoying the process (copious sweating, panting, and shuffling just to finish), the feeling of accomplishment was enough to keep me going.

By the time I managed to run 5km a few times without feeling like I’d die, I noticed my gym had a 6:30am Saturday run club. I was terrified but signed up.

So there I was, 6:30am on a brisk June morning, standing in the gym car park, ready to face the challenge.

It’s 6:35am, and I’m nervously tapping my foot. No one’s here. I check my app – right time, right place. But by 6:40am, I’ve given up. Either no one’s coming, or I’m at the wrong spot. Screw it, I thought. I’d woken up early on a Saturday, so I might as well go for a solo run.

A few hundred metres in, I stumbled upon a gorgeous man-made lake with a circular track around it. I was feeling great, enjoying the view, and proud of myself for going out there. One lap in, I noticed people gathering at the park entrance. By the second lap, there were about 200 people, a marquee was set up, and I had no clue what was going on. Then, mid-lap, I was suddenly surrounded by hundreds of runners of all ages and fitness levels. Some had prams, others had dogs, and a few zoomed past so fast, I assumed they were professionals.

I was baffled.

Was this some massive suburb-wide run club I had no idea about?

By lap three, I took a proper look at the marquee and saw the sign: Parkrun.

Intrigued, I immediately looked it up when I got home and was shocked. Parkrun is a free, weekly community running event that happens every Saturday in parks and trails worldwide. It’s open to everyone, whether you want to walk, jog, or run the 5km course. Volunteers organise the events, and it’s all about participation rather than competition. You just register online, get a unique barcode, and bring it along to the event. The barcode is scanned at the finish, recording your time so you can track your progress.

I was hooked. I signed up straight away, excited but nervous.

The next Saturday, I joined over 200 runners for three laps around the lake – totalling 5km. I wasn’t expecting much, just hoping to find some motivation to keep running regularly. But being surrounded by others doing the same thing was unbelievably encouraging. Without even realising it, I was on track to smash my personal best.

One lap down, I heard a voice cutting in over my music. I hastily paused it and saw a man jogging next to me.

“You’re setting a great pace!” he said.

“Thanks! I’m aiming for just over six minutes per kilometre,” I puffed. Before Parkrun, my best 5km pace had been 6:17/km, which I was really proud of.

He glanced at his high-tech watch. “You’re way under that—5:45 per kilometre.”

That felt unbelievable, but it was the motivation I needed. He stuck with me for the rest of the run, offering tips and encouragement. We even sprinted the last 100 metres to the finish, which was exhausting but exhilarating.

I felt on top of the world.

From that point on, I knew I’d keep coming back. The sense of achievement carried me through the entire weekend. Parkrun had transformed running from something I forced myself to do into something I genuinely enjoyed. The following week, I ran into the same guy, Shaun, and we ran together again. Another personal best. The week after that, I met his wife, and we all chatted after the run.

Soon, I convinced my boyfriend (who typically slept until noon on Saturdays) to join us. After the run, we grabbed coffee together, and my cup was full – both literally and figuratively.

Parkrun quickly became the highlight of my week. I loved trying to beat my personal best, running with my new friends, and challenging myself each week. Some days were tough, and it felt like my lungs would explode if I pushed any harder, but it was worth it.

After a few weeks, Shaun suggested signing up for a 10km charity event. I had never run that far in my life but signed up immediately, even though 10km felt impossible.

What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy the training process. For the first time since childhood, I was training towards something concrete. Improving my breathing, strengthening my legs, stretching to prevent injury – it was so rewarding to work towards a tangible goal.

By the time the 10km race came around, I felt ready. Finishing that race was euphoric. I had never believed in the infamous "runner's high" – I thought it was a myth, a lie told by fit people to make the rest of us feel bad. But it’s real. I felt like I could do anything after that race.

As of writing this, I’ve completed thirteen Parkruns and am preparing for my second 10km race. In a few months, I’ll be running my first half marathon, and I’m excited for the challenge. Parkrun has become an essential part of my weekend, and I can’t imagine starting a Saturday without it.

Looking ahead, I’ve got plans to engage in a little "Parkrun tourism" – travelling to different Parkruns around the country. In just a few months, Parkrun has changed my life, helping me become a more confident runner and smashing goals I once thought impossible.

If you’re considering giving Parkrun a go, I can’t recommend it enough. It’s a fantastic community, and it truly is an event for all levels.