Last week, Parkrun celebrated its 20th anniversary, marking two decades of community-driven fitness and inclusivity. What started as a small gathering in in 2004 has now grown into a global phenomenon.
What is Parkrun? you may be asking.
Parkrun is a free community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate. It covers a 5k distance and takes place every Saturday morning worldwide. So, while you’re mid-run, your friends over in Stockholm are just setting off.
Since 2004 when it first started in Teddington, UK, more than 2,200 Parkruns have been established in 23 countries, with 1,288 taking place in the UK. Today, we are shining a spotlight on just one. Harrow Parkrun has been running for just over nine years, first being set up in 2015 by Mike Lepps, the Event Director and a former Harrow Heroes nominee.
Mike wears many hats, as well as setting up, organising and volunteering at park run, he is the head coach at Harrow Athletics and an assessor for the Duke of Edinburgh awards. We caught up with him to find out more.
Tell us how it all started Mike.
“I knew about Park run as a concept as I’d taken part at the one at Gunnersbury a few times. A small group of volunteers and I approached Harrow Council for permission to start one here in Harrow, I even measured the course myself with a measuring wheel. The council were agreeable, and to get started we needed equipment, so we applied for a grant from a local health body and was successful, the rest of the money came from park run themselves.”
“We are a small to medium parkrun where we have on average 300 members, our max participants is 363 on one day. Its become a community group, its not just the fitness and health benefits, people enjoy social interaction. After the event we enjoy catching up by the clubhouse and often there are sweet treats which participants have brought in, usually to celebrate a milestone”.
Parkrun milestones are when you’ve completed 10,25,50,100 events.
“During the covid challenges and lockdown, people would say how much they missed the social interaction and cohesive nature of the event”.
“The young people working towards their bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh award will also volunteer here, or they’ll participate as part of their physical exercise.”
Harrow Recreation Ground is a nice accessible course, there are pathways which make the route accessible for anyone using wheels.
Mike went on to add, “I’d really like to say a big thank you to the volunteers that do come so often, and also the runners themselves. You know they make it happen; they make a community and there are a lot of friendships formed here.”
Something most noteworthy is the dedication of the volunteers. There is a core eight or nine who turn up each week, rain or shine and an additional seven on rotation. We spoke to core volunteers Joe Turner and Louise Lepps to ask them why they do it.
“I enjoy seeing the same people each week. Running can be difficult, but this is nice and safe environment. It’s not competitive, and you see people develop, which is nice. Its not a sacrifice to be here, its genuine smiles”, said Joe.
“I love timekeeping and shouting out the times for people and sometimes they come up to me afterwards and say, “thank you, you got me through” or “its like a lifeline for me”. Its lovely, you meet so many people. If I ever feel like I want to stay in bed when it’s cold, I never do, I always show up,” Lucy explained.
Joe has volunteered at Park run 405 times over 8 years!
So who attends?
Everyone and their dog, literally. The youngest Harrow parkrun participant is aged 6 and the eldest is 80. Participants are parents pushing along buggies, wheelchair users, people with dogs, groups of teenagers, running clubs, people on their own, vision impaired runners, anyone and everyone is welcome and doesn’t matter how fast or slow you move, some people complete the course in under 20mins, some complete it in an hour. The only competition is against yourself.
How can I join?
If you want to just show up to take part, you are more than welcome, however, if you want to register for free as a participant where you can log your times and milestones, you will need to register on the website here.
Saturdays
The meeting point is by the Clubhouse at Harrow Recreation Ground. People arrive by 8:50am for a 9am start. Further information can be found at the Harrow Parkrun Page and their official Facebook page.
How can the local community support Harrow Parkrun?
There are two ways to get involved. Volunteer – We always need people to volunteer and this is key, about 15 to make it successful. Or you can donate online to help the running costs of the movement.
Carly is a creative writer with a wide range of interests and a genuine curiosity about people and their experiences. She’s community-focused and enjoys telling real, relatable stories. When she’s not writing, she’s usually exploring something new or working on one of her many projects.
