parkrun: sustaining physical activity through community-led inclusion

Background and rationale

parkrun is a free 5-kilometre event held in thousands of parks and open spaces around the world, every Saturday morning. Participants are invited to take part by walking, running, volunteering or supporting. Since launching in Australia in 2011 it has grown to 1.3 million participants around the country, including 200,000 volunteers, through a decentralised volunteer-delivered model supported by local councils, health services, and community groups. Designed to reduce barriers to physical activity, parkrun welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds, and fitness levels. Participants register with parkrun once to receive a personal barcode that tracks their participation. They can then attend any parkrun anywhere in the world on any Saturday morning and take part how they choose to.

The model targets those typically excluded from structured exercise and volunteering opportunities, including older adults, people with chronic conditions, and socially isolated individuals, by offering inclusive, flexible, and socially connected opportunities to engage in movement. Research shows it effectively responds to population-level challenges around sedentary behaviour and community disconnection.^1,2

Recent initiatives have extended parkrun’s reach into primary healthcare through the 'parkrun practice’ model in Australia, UK and Ireland, linking GP clinics with local events to improve staff morale and an individual’s wellbeing. parkrun's social impact has also recently been studied, finding that it creates regular, shared opportunities for connection that can reduce social isolation and strengthen community wellbeing regardless of location.²