5 reasons you should bring a friend to parkrun

Trying to form a new healthy habit can be daunting - and so can trying to stick to it! Many parkrunners will be aware not only of how difficult it may have been to get started in the first place, but also to maintain the routine of getting out of bed and out of the front door every Saturday morning.

Bringing a friend along helps both of you to do something good for yourselves: you’re helping your friend start a great new form of sociable exercise; your friend is helping you by making you excited to share your parkrun experience with them. And, above all, you’re both helping each other with the encouragement to stay motivated and keep taking part in an invigorating morning’s exercise in nature. Motivation can be a two-way street, helping to keep each other accountable and energised about your weekly routine.

parkrun isn’t about getting your serious face on and competing to outrun everyone else. It’s a relaxed and inclusive way to exercise that leaves plenty of space for socialising as you complete your parkrun at whatever pace suits you best. Bringing a friend means you can chat, laugh and bond as you complete your weekly 5k parkrun together.

parkrun is, at its heart, a wonderfully social and community-driven event, and first-time parkrunners may be surprised by just how much of a supportive and welcoming environment it is. 

You will have the joy of introducing your friend to all the things that make parkrun so special for you, whether it’s the volunteers standing on the sidelines to cheer you on, the marshals who help set up each parkrun and ensure it all goes smoothly, or the tail walker at the back of the run who is making sure no one gets left behind and everyone feels encouraged.

Reaching milestones and achieving personal bests - at whatever speed you travel - can be all the more rewarding knowing that you have your friend to share it with. And even if you don’t necessarily run together, you can still enjoy warming up, the atmosphere at the starting line, and maybe even treating yourselves to breakfast or a coffee after you’ve finished.

Developing morning rituals with your friend not only helps build your parkruns into an even more enjoyable social event that you’re keen not to miss, but will deepen your friendship with memories that last far beyond your Saturday morning runs.

Every friend that someone brings along helps to turn parkrun into an even greater force for good. Because parkrun isn’t just about getting moving; it’s about creating a movement that inspires even more people to join in the fun, supportive atmosphere that has already encouraged hundreds of thousands of people to take part every Saturday morning. 

When you bring your friend along, you’re helping grow parkrun into a stronger, more vibrant community - and perhaps they too will invite a friend along, one day in the future!

So bring a friend to parkrun on the 10th of January, and share the community, the sense of wellbeing and the buzz you get from crossing the finish line. You might end up changing a whole lot more than just their Saturday morning.