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The University Health Service has partnered with local ParkRun events at Endcliffe and Hillsborough. Practice Nurse Heather Jones and GP Hannah Prosser share why they hope to encourage more colleagues and students to try ParkRun.

ParkRun is a volunteer-led 5k event which takes place at 9am every Saturday in parks across the country, indeed the world. It’s free to enter, open to all, and a community event rather than a race. Most people run or jog but there are a growing number who go to do ParkWalk.

Hannah notes that: “When I talk about physical activity I expect most patients think it's because I want to get them to lose weight and prevent them having a heart attack. Whilst those are important long term benefits, the evidence is clear that physical activity has a much broader positive effect on our health. We now know becoming more active and exercising in green spaces in particular helps people cope better with stress, lifts their mood, improves sleep, and keeps bones strong as well; it also helps us produce vitamin D which gives the immune system a boost. But physical activity can help people feel more connected to other people and nature, two things we know improve our health and general sense of wellbeing. These are health benefits I want for my patients. If it was a pill I could prescribe, I would prescribe it to everybody.”

Heather agrees with ParkRun’s potential to connect people: “I’m relatively new to 91ֱ�� and in my first few months, weekends could feel quite empty; so looking back, jogging around Endcliffe with hundreds of others on Saturdays was pretty significant. It’s definitely been one of the things that has helped me get to know people and start to feel that this is home. The UK has over 750 events but I suspect one of the reasons it thrives in 91ֱ�� is that this is a city where people do really appreciate the outdoors and there is a large, sociable and growing running community.”

Hannah is also a relative newcomer to ParkRun “ I went for the first time last year; the thing I emphasise when I’m telling others is that it doesn't feel like a competitive race. It’s about getting exercise, about running or walking socially. Yes, those up at the front might do impressive times but the majority of ParkRunners are there to achieve personal goals or to meet others for a social jog and chat. What’s more, it’s OK to come, never having done 5k before, and work towards it.”

Heather continues, “A common experience I hear from my patients is that they joined a gym but don’t use it as much as they had intended; they quickly get demotivated and guilt sets in. The great news is guilt is less of a factor if you’re not paying anything. You can dip in and out of ParkRun as often as you like, it's on nearly every Saturday and there will always be a supportive and friendly atmosphere. The motivation comes through improving your time, seeing yourParkRun attendances go up, and completing milestones. Ticking off other ParkRuns and hearing the stories of other ParkRunners can be a real inspiration too.”

And, Heather adds, “The other thing I like is that University life can be a bit of a bubble, and ParkRun offers students the opportunity to get beyond that and get to know other parts and communities of their University city.“