What is ‘Parkrun’ all about?

There is no cruel billionaire at the heart of ‘Parkrun’. Unlike most things today, it seems, there’s no oil tycoon reaping huge, immoral profits every time someone runs Parkrun, or buys a shirt. Instead, it is the organic outcome of genuine running philanthropy. So, the controversy surrounding Nick Griggs breaking the Parkrun world record with a time of 13:44, is all the more gripping; people are beginning to ask whether records should be released in something which is a run, not a race.

Over 20 years ago now, Paul Sinton-Hewitt organised a run in Bushy Park, London, advertised in newspapers with ideas to go for a coffee afterwards. This concept was already somewhat common in South Africa, and he managed to get thirteen people at the first event.

Fast forward twenty years, and Parkrun has encouraged more than 10 million people to run or volunteer on Saturday mornings, with over 2,500 events worldwide running every weekend.

From its inception Parkrun has been, most proudly, an event for all

From its inception Parkrun has been, most proudly, an event for all. So although it seems strange that Nick Griggs’ Parkrun world record time of 13:44mins in Victoria Park, Belfast, is coming under fire – it’s understandable that people are questioning how far Parkrun is really just a run, and not a race.

Parkrun has fled the term ‘race’ from its very creation, starting out as ‘Bushy Park Time Trial’. This has constantly been a point hammered home, so much so that you can’t help but obtain it through osmosis whenever you take part in Parkrun.

However, this was not always, seemingly, at the expense of admiring record-makers. When I was a 9-year-old starting out with Parkrun, I vividly remember the website’s ‘Sub-17 club’ for men and ‘Sub-20 club’ for women, naively dreaming that one day I’d be on that list.As of February 2024, these have been scrapped, alongside any official recognition of Nick Griggs’ world record.

However, this is not about the Griggs of Parkrun – this is about the average Joe, the median of the 10 million

Look, obviously Griggs won’t be devastated by any stretch. He’s more worried about getting into the Ireland Olympic team for Los Angeles 2028 after missing out on Paris. He knows he has the world record, and that is enough. However, this is not about the Griggs of Parkrun – this is about the average Joe, the median of the 10 million.

I personally have a long, enjoyable experience with Parkrun. I’ve ran 139 Parkruns, admittedly just 10 since COVID. As a young boy who was somewhat part of the furniture – Dad was running, so I ended up at the start line – the most exciting part of the whole Parkrun experience was the results that appear via text an hour or so after the Parkrun has finished. Now, would I have stopped running if I couldn’t have compared myself to the quickest U14 at Bristol that day? Probably not. Although, looking at the results and comparing myself to ‘heroes’ in the Sub-17 club did definitely make my day. It was this that brought me back week after week.

But ultimately, the main point Parkrun make is one all faster runners can get behind in spite of themselves: “While it started as a running event, it has evolved into a health and wellbeing charity.” This has become much bigger than anyone could have dreamed – and its responsibilities must change accordingly.

As Parkrun continues to grow and surge throughout the world – the charitable, all-encompassing spirit of Parkrun may well bring even more people in than before

Furthermore, the Policy Exchange thinktank finding in December 2023 that at least three parkrun female records were held by trans women, suggests that there are bigger things at play. Parkrun have, however, denied the thinktank was a factor in scrapping the records.

Records were a great part of Parkrun, and it is absolutely right to celebrate Griggs magnificent achievement; and selfishly I’m sure lots of ‘Parkrunners’ like me, would love them back. But its removal hasn’t put anyone off – and as Parkrun continues to grow and surge throughout the world – the charitable, all-encompassing spirit of Parkrun may well bring even more people in than before.