Chapter 121: Parkrun

Politicians are waking up to parkrun. In Launceston at 9:00 am on Saturday morning the 2^nd February, Senator McKenzie gave $1.8 million dollars to parkrun.

At the same time six hundred people ran in park runs in Southern Tasmania. 177 on the Queens domain; 241 at Bellerive; 140 at Montrose; 41 at Risdon Brook. Geeveston was cancelled because parkrun is an integral part of its local community.  At present there are 13 parkruns in Tasmania.

Parkrun is a 5km run around a local course. Open to everybody. Everybody runs or walks 5 kms.  Everybody does the same thing.  And everybody is different.  Everybody has a different story about why they are there.  There were people there who had had hip replacements, medical problems, mental health problems, intellectual handicaps. People were there who were losing weight, stopping smoking or ceasing some drug habit.  Every story is unique. What they share is an ambition to run or walk 5 kms. Everybody who finishes wins.  

Parkrun is free.  Every parkrun starts without frantic searching of pockets or cars for loose change. There is no searching for a trestle table and no filling out and signing of entry forms.

It is free because there are a few sponsors and most people take it in turns to volunteer. The initial sponsors can’t believe their luck. They have gone along for the journey. The wakening of a giant. They are associated with health and goodness. They win.

Normally before running in parkrun people register electronically. Once you become part of their data base you can enter and run any parkrun anywhere and automatically receive your time a few hours after running.  Parkrun makes the best use of modern technology. When you register you are given an individual bar code which you have to print out. This bar code is scanned when you finish. Your result in then uploaded. You can see your result and compare it to your previous runs and other runners around the world. 

When you turn up at a parkrun you will encounter volunteers. The volunteers will tell newcomers about the course; highlight the course, marshaling the course and recording the times of all the finishers and often taking photos.  The volunteers get more than they give. To have a course full of people who take it in turns to volunteer creates this unbelievable community feeling. A feeling that we are in this together.

Parkrun is physical activity. Everybody runs or walks five kms. It is physical exercise for everybody. For a lot of the people it is a small part of weekly physical activates. It precipitates and encourages other activity. Many people go to the gym, or swim or run during the week in order to improve their parkrun time.  People also do parkrun in order to improve their other sport.

Dogs are common. Some people run or walk with their dog. Both dog and owner win.  Other people push a pusher around the course replete with baby. With more winners.

Parkrun has incredible social benefits. I have done parkruns with my wife, my children and grandchildren. I have also done parkruns with people I used to work with. I have also done parkruns with a guy who now spends his week with my old air-conditioner and my old view. I have also done a parkrun with the lady who’s chooks I hear.

I have also done parkruns with my brother-in-law in South Africa and son-in-law in England.  We have bonded over sweat; breathing deeply and the drink afterwards.

Which leads me to parkrun and tourism. Our local parkrun, Queens Domain, always has visitors. We welcome them and talk to them about Tasmania and what to see and where to go. Though on a Saturday they are all off to Salamanca market. A lot of tourists to Tasmania make our local parkrun a part of their Tasmanian holiday. At present there are about 345 parkruns in Australia.

I have found that doing the local parkrun is often a better tourism experience than visiting the local landmark. At present there are about 1740 parkruns globally in about twenty countries around the world. Parkruns around the world are run with the same basic format with local variations. You meet the locals and experience a bit of the local culture.  As in Tasmania your result will be up in the clouds hours after your run. You can then view all your times and so can others.