parkrun – it can be a walk in the park

Despite its name, parkrun isn’t about running.  It’s about social interaction and community.  In fact, it could be described as a community event masquerading as a sports event.  I’ve written before about how participants are welcome to run, jog, walk or volunteer and that every form of participation is equally valuable and equally welcomed.

parkrun turns 18 this month, and to mark its birthday it is running the parkwalk at parkrun campaign to celebrate the value of walking.  For each of the five Saturdays participants will be encouraged to walk and chat their way around the course.  There will even be dedicated “parkwalkers” who will be more than happy to walk with you.

This link gives five reasons to walk at parkrun.

Last Saturday, being the first Saturday of parkwalk month, Mrs Chippy and I decided to forgo our usual run at Eastleigh parkrun to give parkwalk a go.  We invited a couple of non-parkrunning friends to join us, made our way to the back of the starting line-up, and followed our fellow runners and joggers around the course.  We were not alone – worldwide, there were 20,500 walkers at parkrun events, with 3,500 of them walking for the first time.

Speaking as someone who generally completes the course in under 25 minutes, I have to say, it was a most enjoyable experience to slow down to half that speed.  It was lovely to spend more time than usual enjoying an autumn morning in the Fleming Park parkland.  It was a great opportunity to catch up / chew the fat / put the world to rights with our friends, who we had not seen for some time.  We were also able to exchange a cheery greeting with all the other parkrunners.  Usually, you only see those who run close to your pace, plus the few who might lap or be lapped by you (I should point out that the parkrun ethos is that cheery greetings are just as cheery and greetingful whether you are the lapper or the lapped).

Walkers are always welcome at parkrun.  Why not use parkwalk month as a reason to come and join in the fun?  No need to book (but do register and print a barcode at parkrun.org.uk first) – just turn up and join in.  Don’t Forget Your Barcode!

As an added incentive, on 15^th October a team from Southampton University’s Faculty of Medicine will be visiting Eastleigh parkrun to offer free CPR training to all parkrunners, visitors and bystanders.  This is part of the global RestartaHeart initiative the following day.  The team will be outside the Blackbird Café, at Pavilion n the Park, from 8:30 am.

When someone has a cardiac arrest, performing immediate CPR can increase their chance of survival by up to 100%.  This will be an excellent opportunity to learn and practise the skills you might need if someone has collapsed.  No need to book – just turn up and have a go.