This evening I saw an email from parkrun HQ reminding me that this week it will be my parkrun anniversary. It has already been 4 years since my first parkrunDay, as the 6th day of the week has been properly called since then.

parkrun anniversary

parkrun anniversary email

I guess I could take this opportunity to write (to myself mostly) about my experience over the last 4 years, but I think enough has happened since then to justify once or more dedicated posts:

  • My unexpected journey to start running, triggered by many reasons, but supported and made successful sticking consistently to the C25K programme this time
  • My first momentous parkrun at Wimbledon Common parkrun in May 2019: how scared I was before going there, how great I felt after getting into the finish funnel for the first time
  • The first official, chipped 5K in Richmond Park a few weeks after my first parkrun
  • My training from 5K to 10K to try my first official chipped 10K in Kingston that autumn
  • My training to go from 10K to HM soon thereafter, and my stupid choice of a Richmond Park 4 lapper for it… funny hill after a few times you run it
  • How parkrun helped me keeping consistency and training and how happy I was when I finished in less than 30mins the first time
  • Progress, down to sub 25
  • The sad, boring, covid months without parkrun or chipped races and the great training opportunity the offered as a silver lining
  • The discovery of tourism, with a new obsession of checking if holiday locations have a parkrun, that led me to my first event abroad at Milano Nord parkrun
  • The discovery of parkrun tourism and why it makes parkrun even more fun
  • The fun motivation that comes from parkrun challenges
  • Achieving parkrun #100

I guess this turned into a longer list than I was planning to have and most of these bullets could be inspiration for their own separate blog post. And they probably will be, eventually.

parkrun merch

However, what sparked my interest in the email from parkrun HQ about my parkrun anniversary is how unashamedly it flogs parkrun merch. And why should it be ashamed? It says profits are channeled into parkrun to keep it running and free as a unique community event that promotes social interaction and healthy exercise.

I have no reason to doubt this is the case (while at times some of the other things pushed by HQ made me raise an eyebrow), so I will help them flogging it. The parkrun shop can be found at this link.

There is nothing you NEED to buy here, but some things are kind of cool and I bought a few to support the event I enjoy most parkrunDays:

parkrun anniversary triggered a look at parkrun merchandise

There is some other weird stuff there like branded gloves, water bottles and hydration drinks, but that’s too much fanboyism even for me. The do offer a potentially interesting running buff… but for that item, I needed the one with the cow on. Another story, for another time 🙂

Be it your parkrun anniversary or just a normal day, sustaining a free initiative you like is always a good idea.

Happy parkrun anniversary, whenever you get there!