At the start of the new year, parkrun will be launching ‘Bring a Friend to parkrun Day’ - a campaign aimed at making parkrun more welcoming to new members than ever before. 

Whether you’re cooking Christmas dinner, mingling at the office party or traipsing up and down the high street looking for last-minute gifts, the festive season has plenty of ways of keeping you on your toes - while taking a toll on your feet. 

Every seasoned runner recognises - and chases - that euphoric feeling that comes with finishing a big run. This is called a ‘runner’s high’, and for many it’s precisely the thing that makes going for a long, tiring run appealing in the first place. But what exactly is this feeling, and how does it come about?

Regular running is a great way to stay fit and healthy in body and mind, but the regularity and repetition involved does mean it can sometimes risk becoming a grind rather than a pleasure. And once running starts to feel like a chore, it becomes all the easier to fall behind - or even give up on - your routine.

The benefits of running for physical fitness and mental health are well known and well documented - but did you know that going for regular runs can also provide a boost to your immune system.

parkrun isn’t just about getting moving, it’s about being part of a movement: a global community that collectively celebrates Saturday mornings as a time for wellbeing, inclusivity and mutual support. 

Your shoes provide your feet with invaluable protection, support and comfort – assuming they fit correctly and you are wearing appropriate footwear for the occasion. Unsuitable or ill-fitting footwear, however, can actually increase your chances of blisters, discomfort and even injury.

Running is a great way to get your heart pumping, boost your mood and stay in shape – but it’s just as important you cool down after your run as it is for you to warm up beforehand.

We’re all well-aware that the aerobic exercise provided by running is a great boon for your physical health, but it’s perhaps less widely known that running has been proven to have tremendous benefits for your mental health as well. It’s always good to get out of the house and into the open air – but the positive effects of running actually go much deeper.

Modern life can often feel very sedentary; we spend a lot of time sitting looking at screens, sitting on public transport, or maybe even sitting in cars during journeys that – if we’re totally honest – may not actually have required a car.