parkrun (formerly known as UK Time Trials) is the name given to a collection of weekly 5 km running events in the United Kingdom, one in Denmark and one in Zimbabwe. They are all free to take part in.^[1][2] There are currently 25 events under the parkrun umbrella. Bushy parkrun was the first to be held; it started in October 2004.

Contents 1 Events 2 History 3 Sponsors 4 Statistics 5 See also 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Events

The events are (alongside the date the particular event started):

• Albert parkrun – Middlesbrough – May 2008
• Amager Fælled parkrun – Amager Fælled, Copenhagen, Denmark – May 2009
• Banstead Woods parkrun – Coulsdon – June 2007
• Basingstoke parkrun – Basingstoke – July 2008
• Bedfont Lakes parkrun – Bedfont – May 2009
• Black Park parkrun – Slough – May 2009
• Bramhall parkrun – Stockport – April 2008
• Brighton & Hove parkrun – Brighton – June 2007
• Bromley parkrun – Bromley – August 2009
• Bushy parkrun – Teddington – October 2004
• Cardiff parkrun – Cardiff – February 2008
• Edinburgh parkrun – Edinburgh – October 2009
• Finsbury parkrun – Finsbury Park – November 2009
• Gorleston Cliffs – Gorleston, near Great Yarmouth – April 2009
• Glasgow parkrun – Glasgow – December 2008
• Heaton Park – Manchester – June 2009
• Leeds Hyde parkrun – Leeds – October 2007
• Reading parkrun – Reading – September 2009
• Richmond parkrun – Richmond upon Thames – June 2007
• Rolf Valley parkrun – Harare, Zimbabwe – September 2007
• Roundshaw Downs parkrun – South Croydon – July 2009
• South Manchester parkrun – Manchester – November 2009
• Sunderland parkrun – Sunderland – October 2009
• Wimbledon Common parkrun – Wimbledon – January 2007
• Woodbank parkrun – Stockport – August 2009

[edit] History

Founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt in 2004, the idea of parkrun grew from the initial Bushy parkrun event (originally called Bushy Park Time Trial). parkrun supports volunteer teams to organise weekly 5 km runs around the UK (as well as Denmark and Zimbabwe). Sinton-Hewitt was presented the Runners World 'Heroes of Running' award ^[3] for philanthropy for his work with parkrun in 2009.

[edit] Sponsors

parkrun is currently sponsored by:

• Sweatshop, a chain of running clothing shops.
• Lucozade Sport, a sports drink manufacturer.
• Nike, a sports clothing manufacturer.

[edit] Statistics

As of 28 September 2009, combined statistics for all events:^[4]

• Number of events: 1,349
• Number of athletes: 28,278
• Number of runs completed: 170,678
• Average number of athletes per event: 126.5
• Average number of runs per athlete: 6
• Total distance completed: 853390 km
• Total number of clubs attended: 781
• Fastest man: Craig Mottram – 00:14:00 (10 June 2006)
• Fastest woman: Katrina Wootton – 00:16:20 (3 January 2009)

[edit] See also

• Bushy parkrun

[edit] References

1. ^ "TimeOut – Bushy Park Time Trial". http://www.timeout.com/london/sport/events/642554/bushy_park_time_trial_5k.html. Retrieved 2008-04-21. 
2. ^ Reuters' article about parkrun
3. ^ Runners World - Heroes of Running
4. ^ "parkrun website – Home". http://www.parkrun.com/home.aspx. Retrieved 2009-08-22. 

[edit] External links

• Official parkrun website