This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80r3myl990o
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Parkrun: The local jog that became a worldwide hit | Parkrun: The local jog that became a worldwide hit |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Wake up, it's a beautiful morning: Saturdays have never been the same, some say | Wake up, it's a beautiful morning: Saturdays have never been the same, some say |
| When a small group of runners gathered on a chilly autumn morning in London 20 years ago, no-one could have realised they were taking part in something that would become an international hit. | When a small group of runners gathered on a chilly autumn morning in London 20 years ago, no-one could have realised they were taking part in something that would become an international hit. |
| Green Day's album American Idiot had just reached number one, Ben Stiller's Dodgeball was showing in cinemas and the first series of Strictly Come Dancing had just finished. | Green Day's album American Idiot had just reached number one, Ben Stiller's Dodgeball was showing in cinemas and the first series of Strictly Come Dancing had just finished. |
| Organiser Paul Sinton-Hewitt enticed the pioneering 13 runners to turn up to what was then known as the Bushy Park Time Trial on 2 October 2004 after injury prevented him from taking part himself. | Organiser Paul Sinton-Hewitt enticed the pioneering 13 runners to turn up to what was then known as the Bushy Park Time Trial on 2 October 2004 after injury prevented him from taking part himself. |
| "It really affects people's lives so that goodness that exists in a park on a Saturday morning extends to the whole week," he says of an event with millions of weekly participants and volunteers. | "It really affects people's lives so that goodness that exists in a park on a Saturday morning extends to the whole week," he says of an event with millions of weekly participants and volunteers. |
| Founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt (right), leading the first Bushy Park Time Trial - the forerunner to Parkrun - in Richmond, south-west London | Founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt (right), leading the first Bushy Park Time Trial - the forerunner to Parkrun - in Richmond, south-west London |
| For the uninitiated, Parkrun sees people of all ages and abilities gather in an outdoor space at 09:00 or 09:30, depending on the location, on Saturdays and run for 5km - or just over three miles. | |
| Shorter 2km runs for children aged four to 14 and their families take place on Sunday mornings. | Shorter 2km runs for children aged four to 14 and their families take place on Sunday mornings. |
| By Christmas of 2004, the numbers had doubled and by the time of the 2012 Olympics the event had expanded to every London borough. | By Christmas of 2004, the numbers had doubled and by the time of the 2012 Olympics the event had expanded to every London borough. |
| Last month, Lithuania became the latest country to host a Parkrun, taking the overall tally of nations to 23. | Last month, Lithuania became the latest country to host a Parkrun, taking the overall tally of nations to 23. |
| Ireland is the most popular place for Parkrun worldwide - where between 8-9% of the population are registered. | Ireland is the most popular place for Parkrun worldwide - where between 8-9% of the population are registered. |
| In London, where it all began, there are now nearly 750,000 registered parkrunners (including Greater London) and about 100 events each weekend. | In London, where it all began, there are now nearly 750,000 registered parkrunners (including Greater London) and about 100 events each weekend. |
| Born in Zimbabwe but raised in South Africa, Mr Sinton-Hewitt was given a CBE for services to grass-roots sport participation in 2014. | Born in Zimbabwe but raised in South Africa, Mr Sinton-Hewitt was given a CBE for services to grass-roots sport participation in 2014. |
| Now happily living in rural Sussex, he says "you get absorbed by the community, who make you feel special". | Now happily living in rural Sussex, he says "you get absorbed by the community, who make you feel special". |
| He said: "Almost all the people I know have found that it's really welcoming. | He said: "Almost all the people I know have found that it's really welcoming. |
| "It's non-competitive. You can run it as hard as you like. You can be as competitive as you like but you're not really competing with other people. | "It's non-competitive. You can run it as hard as you like. You can be as competitive as you like but you're not really competing with other people. |
| "You're competing against yourself, and as a result, there's this pressure is taken away and it's just fun, right?" | "You're competing against yourself, and as a result, there's this pressure is taken away and it's just fun, right?" |
| Parkrun: In numbers | Parkrun: In numbers |
| 10,000,000: Registered Parkrunners | 10,000,000: Registered Parkrunners |
| 900,000: Volunteers | 900,000: Volunteers |
| 2,500: Parkrun locations | 2,500: Parkrun locations |
| 2,000: GP surgeries linked with Parkrun | 2,000: GP surgeries linked with Parkrun |
| 25: Parkruns in prisons and young offenders institutions | 25: Parkruns in prisons and young offenders institutions |
| 23: Countries where Parkrun takes place | 23: Countries where Parkrun takes place |
| Source: Parkrun | Source: Parkrun |
| Afe Komolafe has been to Parkrun in Sweden | Afe Komolafe has been to Parkrun in Sweden |
| Six years ago, Afe Komolafe was pre-diabetic and started doing Parkrun near her home in Hayes, west London. | Six years ago, Afe Komolafe was pre-diabetic and started doing Parkrun near her home in Hayes, west London. |
| The community engagement officer fell in love the weekly event and, after a brief break due to a knee injury, she now accompanies first-timers and even travels abroad with friends made at events for her Parkrun fix. | The community engagement officer fell in love the weekly event and, after a brief break due to a knee injury, she now accompanies first-timers and even travels abroad with friends made at events for her Parkrun fix. |
| She said: "Parkrun means a whole lot to me. It's community, friendship, health, well-being, fitness. | She said: "Parkrun means a whole lot to me. It's community, friendship, health, well-being, fitness. |
| "It's just special. It's run by volunteers: there are no airs or graces about it. | "It's just special. It's run by volunteers: there are no airs or graces about it. |
| "I've made so many friends through Parkrun." | "I've made so many friends through Parkrun." |
| Nigel Rata, who has a PhD in atmospheric chemistry, has clocked up more than 200 events and tries to "get a Parkrun in wherever I am". | Nigel Rata, who has a PhD in atmospheric chemistry, has clocked up more than 200 events and tries to "get a Parkrun in wherever I am". |
| The south Londoner describes it as a "family". | The south Londoner describes it as a "family". |
| Dr Nigel Rata, left, with founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Nigel's son | Dr Nigel Rata, left, with founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt and Nigel's son |
| He said: "There's no expectation of what you do when you get there. There's no expectation of performance... but fundamentally, it's there for me. | He said: "There's no expectation of what you do when you get there. There's no expectation of performance... but fundamentally, it's there for me. |
| "You'll feel great afterwards, no matter how you feel going into it. | "You'll feel great afterwards, no matter how you feel going into it. |
| "Being with people being in the outdoors and getting fresh air in green spaces just works for me." | "Being with people being in the outdoors and getting fresh air in green spaces just works for me." |
| Some Parkruns take place on beaches | Some Parkruns take place on beaches |
| For the man who started it all, arthritis in his left knee means he "can still make my way around the course, but generally it's walking or I'm back volunteering". | For the man who started it all, arthritis in his left knee means he "can still make my way around the course, but generally it's walking or I'm back volunteering". |
| Mr Sinton-Hewitt said: "It helps me see the joys in life and and sets my my path out for the the rest of the week, so it's a very important part of my existence." | Mr Sinton-Hewitt said: "It helps me see the joys in life and and sets my my path out for the the rest of the week, so it's a very important part of my existence." |
| Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external | Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, external, X, external and Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk, external |