The millionth parkrun event was held yesterday at Bushy Park in West London, marking 22 years since the initiative began with just 13 runners and five volunteers. The gathering drew 1,667 participants, including Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes, comedian Joe Wilkinson, and parkrun founder Paul Sinton-Hewitt.

The first parkrun took place in October 2004 as a simple, timed 5km run with no marked course, where runners were instructed only to keep the trees to their left. Since then, the event has grown into a global phenomenon with more than 2,800 locations across 23 countries, attracting approximately 500,000 participants every Saturday. In the UK alone, close to 1,500 events are held weekly.

Sinton-Hewitt credited parkrun’s success to its inclusivity, simplicity, and zero cost. “Many people have been born since we started who don’t understand a world where parkrun doesn’t exist,” he said. He emphasized the importance of empowering local communities to organize events while maintaining balance in governance to avoid stifling enthusiasm.

Volunteers play a crucial role in supporting parkrun activities, handling timekeeping, scanning barcodes, and assisting runners throughout the course. Elizabeth Duggan, CEO of parkrun Global, highlighted the health benefits of volunteering and noted that parkrun appeals to a broad demographic. Participation has increased notably among younger people in their late teens and early 20s, as well as among older runners, with a 22% growth observed in the over-70 age group.

The event promotes diversity and accessibility. Participants include individuals running with pushchairs, accompanied by dogs, or visually impaired athletes paired with guides. Holmes, who holds Olympic titles in the 800m and 1500m, described parkrun as an ongoing wellbeing movement and shared how it has impacted her life positively since she began participating regularly in recent years.

The course at Bushy Park welcomed a wide range of abilities, with the first finisher completing the 5km in 15 minutes and 47 seconds, while the final runner finished in just over an hour. Duggan also conveyed plans to expand parkrun’s reach from its current 23 countries to 30 by 2030, aiming to increase global weekly participation to 750,000.

Last month, the milestone of completing 1,000 parkruns was reached by Darren Wood, illustrating the dedication many participants have for the community-driven event. Organizers and participants alike anticipate that the weekly gatherings will continue to encourage people worldwide to stay active and connected.