It’s funny—after doing around 20 Parkruns at different courses, I’ve noticed the same mix of fanatics and lunatics (myself included) who keep showing up. And honestly, I feel proud of my progress. My time has dropped from 42 minutes to about 34. Whoa! Maybe the Olympics next year?
This time, I ran in Faskally Forest, in the Scottish Highlands, just north of Pitlochry. It’s always a great crowd. A couple of weeks ago, someone had a birthday, so naturally, they brought cake. The week before that, it was the 100th, 200th, or 400th run here; so—of course—more cake. Parkrun is very sociable like that, and it tends to get rid of my natural cynicism.
After the run, a group of us (anywhere from 10 to 30 people) headed to The Red Deer Restaurant at Pitlochry Golf Club. It’s always a good time—warm drinks, food, and conversation.
Living in a smaller community like here means you often have to create your own fun—whether it’s a Polish school, a repair café, or a weekly run like this. There’s always something happening, even midweek, which is great to see.
Parkrun itself is a relatively young idea—maybe 10 or 15 years old? The founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, was recently interviewed on the BBC. I can’t remember all the details, but he basically started that it is a casual, inclusive event where people could run or walk, with their dogs, kids, or friends. There’s even a designated tail walker to make sure no one finishes last alone.
A Small Community Creating Its Own Fun
Many people come not to set records but simply to challenge themselves and socialise. However, as with any grassroots movement, Parkrun is growing, and I’ve been getting more emails about its future in my inbox recently; whether advertising goods, or noting that they need both more volunteers and donations.
A shot of Pitlochry Golf Club
The Red Deer Restaurant, Pitlochry
The Big Question: Can It Stay Free Forever?
Even though parkrun has sponsors, each event still relies on 10 to 15 volunteers every week. Recently, the Glasgow event struggled to get enough helpers, which made me think—I should probably put my name down to volunteer soon.
But the bigger question is: how long can parkrun stay free? At some point, despite sponsorship, will they need to introduce a £5 or £10 yearly subscription? We’ll see what happens when that day comes.
For now, I’ll keep running—and, hopefully, keep eating cake afterward.
Curious Bystander 