What has Parkrunning ever done for us?
The Parkrun is a national phenomenon that is spreading throughout the UK and Totnes is no exception.
Particular growth has been since the pandemic when many venturing outdoors became more of a treat and the benefits of doing so became more apparent.
if physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure
For many years, wellness (and/or fitness) has become an important industry in the UK with more than 5000 gyms generating £224 billion in 2022 in what is depressingly labelled ‘Sweat Equity“. Considering how beneficial it can be, it’s good to know there are industries dedicated to making us all feel better! But there is an alternative to shelling out £38 every month to climb into a car and drive to brightly lit warehouse to work out on machines alone to techno in headphones.
It’s the ParkRun..
Engaging in physical activity can bring profound health benefits, reminding us that true health is more than simply the absence of illness. Regular exercise—especially when enjoyed outdoors and within a community—enhances wellbeing, improves quality of life, and helps social inclusion. The Parkrun provides a free, accessible, community-based event with the potential to positively influence people. It can strengthen communities, and simultaneously ease pressure on healthcare systems. By removing the barriers of cost, equipment, or special clothing, it ensures participation is open to almost everyone. Usually held once a week, parkrun creates opportunities to build social connections that can encourage ongoing activity throughout the week (coffee in the Steam Packet) and help combat loneliness.
The UK Chief Medical Officers state that ‘if physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat’
Totnes is on the case with the Sharpham Estate Parkrun who have organised hundreds of events and is volunteer led so they are on the hunt for more volunteers to marshal the course, hand out tokens, barcode scan and do timekeeping (training is given for all these roles and you will be paired with experienced volunteers). There are festive meetups arranged for Saturday 20th December, Christmas Day, Saturday 27th December & Thursday, New Years Day. They all start at 9am at the entrance to the path to Sharpham, just adjacent to the Steam Packet Inn. Joining in is free but does require registering through this page first.
If you fancy getting ahead of new years resolutions and helping out, send them an email at: Sharphamestate@parkrun.com. You can also visit their website for full details here.