Community spririt strong at Parkrun
By Shelby Brooks
New Year resolutions and community spirit are just some of the reasons why more than 1,000 people are skipping their Saturday morning lie-in each week to go for a run.
Since the new year, Clapham Common Parkrun has been attracting record numbers of participants at the free 5km run, jog or walk.
Clapham Common co-event director Adam Street said: “It isn’t just for fast runners. It’s more than just running.
“It’s about well-being, mental health and meeting friends.”
Clapham Common is usually the second or third most popular Parkrun event in London each week, ranking behind the founding location of Bushy Park.
Last weekend 1,060 people attended the 9am event at Clapham Common, of whom 275 were first-timers and 167 recorded personal bests.
Mr Street said: “Clapham is seen as a white, young area, but it’s not.
“When you look at the data, it’s more diverse than that.
“The whole ethos of Parkrun is that it’s for everyone so we’ve been pushing that- how do we make it for everyone?”
Volunteers have been engaging with diverse groups within the wider community, including refugee groups and local churches.
At the heart of Parkrun is its volunteers.
Paul Cook helped establish the Clapham Common Parkrun in 2018.
He said: “Five years later I am proudest of the 1742 volunteers who have freely helped us stage this community event every Saturday since then, apart from the Covid-19 shutdown, enabling 33,341 participants to visit Clapham Common and complete the 5K route 132,414 since then walking, jogging or running.
“Many people naturally confuse Parkrun with racing or running in a park perhaps commercially. It is not about that, rather it is about encouraging local community participation whether it be spectating, volunteering, walking, jogging or even running up to 5km.”
“I expect the huge seasonal January turnout to fade back down to a lower number by March when the New Year resolutions have mostly been forgotten.”
In November 2023, Wandsworth council backed proposals to establish Parkrun events at Battersea Park.
Mr Cook said: “When Battersea Park Parkrun launches I hope grandparents, families and their dogs will join us where they can to participate as best they can in a beautiful London Wandsworth park.”
Pictured top: Runners and volunteers after their weekly 5km at Clapham Common Parkrun (Picture: Shelby Brooks)
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