I
t’s a sunny Saturday morning, and in parks across
the country, people of all ages and abilities have
started to assemble beneath the trees and beside
the benches. Some are complete newcomers to
exercise, some have a dog or their kids in tow,
while others are decked out in the latest running gear
and have clearly done this before! Surrounded and
supported by enthusiastic volunteers from the local
community, all these people have one key thing in
common – whatever their fitness level – they’ve
shown up to soak in the welcoming and friendly
atmosphere. This is Parkrun, a fun, free 5K event
that’s enjoyed by more than 150,000 people in
nearly 600 parks every single week and it could
put a smile on your face, too!
If you’re just starting your fitness journey, 5K can
sound a really long way. So there’s something you might
like to know. Despite the name, you don’t actually have
to run at Parkrun – you can walk, jog or run, or even
do a bit of all three. To take part, all you have to do
is register online at parkrun.org.uk and that’s it – done.
You’ll receive a registration email with your uniqueLet’s move
Parkrun is a fun, free
and family-friendly way
to get active outdoors,
where beginners are
welcomed – and
everyone gets a cheer!
Here’s everything you
need to know
Words: Helen Fostermember barcode, then you’re all set to take part in
your local course, or join any Parkrun in the UK –
or the rest of the world!
On the day itself, bring a printout of your barcode if
you want to be sent a record of your time. There’s a quick
briefing, then you gather at the start point, and off you
go. There are kids, there are dogs on leads, there are
mums and dads with pushchairs and people with walking
poles, and some courses are suitable for wheelchairs, so
everyone can join in. It might sound a bit like a race, but
that’s really not the idea. Yes, there will be some people
who will speed off into the distance, looking to improve
their times, but Parkrun is all about the taking part.
Dr Jacquie Lavin, Slimming World’s head of nutrition
and research, is a keen parkrunner herself, and also
volunteers at her local event. ‘You’re only comparing
your result with your previous time,’ says Jacquie, ‘so it’s
not at all competitive or intimidating.’ Like all moderate
intensity activity, you can count it towards your Body
Magic awards at Slimming World. The Body Magic
programme encourages you to gradually build up your
weekly activity, so you can use the timing system at96 SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE