six of his best international 5k

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What does the perfect trip to a new city include? Maybe find a good coffee, meet some locals and get some exercise while enjoying some views away from the crowded tourist traps? What if I told you that you could do all of this in about an hour? In 2,500 locations in more than 20 countries. Free.

Parkrun, the London-founded mass-participation 5K running event that turns 21 this year, is a compelling proposition for the exercise-loving but time-poor traveler. All you need is a free Saturday morning, a pair of running shoes and a phone/watch-based “barcode”, Parkrun’s system for identifying you and recording your runs, wherever you are.

Much of Parkrun’s appeal lies in the fusion of a community-led core with a warm welcome to Parkrun tourists, whose local event could be hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Parkrun, which relies strictly on volunteers for course preparation, organization and timing, insists the event will be “free forever”. When it comes to crowdsourcing events, it’s less of a “gig economy” and more of a “jog economy,” a model that has found favor with an increasingly international network of enthusiasts.

International expansion has not been without problems. In response to the invasion of Ukraine, Parkrun suspended events across Russia in 2022 (leading the Russians to create their own copycat replacement).

In France, Parkruns have also been suspended since 2022 because the French Athletics Federation requires runners participating in sporting activities to have a license or have completed an online safety course, something that parkrun says It would be impractical to apply it to your volunteer-led events.

However, international parkruns are a great way to see a different side of a city. In my experience, they tend to be smaller events than those in the UK and offer a more intimate mix of locals, expats and tourists.

In the United States, home of over 75 parkrun eventsI have continued running Roosevelt Island in Washington DC and Boston Jamaica Pondeach of them hidden far from their respective urban centers. At both venues, there was a warm welcome from locals, clearly proud of attracting visitors to their events.

While the experience was new, the logistics were reassuringly the same as at my local parkrun: a beginner’s briefing to talk about the route, a welcome from the event director at the start, and plenty of marshals to guide and encourage runners along the way. along the way. finish.

Parkrun 5k events always take place on Saturday mornings. For business travelers, if your schedule allows, it’s a great way to enjoy off-the-beaten-path sightseeing and eliminate the remnants of jet lag at the same time. Many events start at 9 a.m., although times vary internationally (hint: earlier start times generally correlate with warmer weather). Always check an event’s website in addition to the international Parkrun page. cancellation page before departure, as events may be postponed at short notice due to weather or adverse course conditions.

Remember, it’s a timed race, not a race. Some of the best parkruns are the ones where you take the time to enjoy your surroundings rather than aiming for your personal best. “Parkwalking” (completing the route with a quiet walk) is increasingly popular; in South Africa it represents almost 30 percent of those who complete the event.

Those looking for a more competitive angle will enjoy following their efforts alongside their peers. End times for all events are posted online, along with a age-graded performance score, allowing comparisons to be made between young and old.

Here are six Parkruns I chose from FT Globetrotter’s network of cities based on my own experience and enthusiastic reports from international runners.

London: Bushy Parkrun

• Nearest station: Hampton Court (National Railway)

• Typical finishers: More than 1,500

• Website

I chose the original event that started the Parkrun movement, but runners in the UK capital are spoiled for choice – there are 65 events within Greater London. Complete them all and you will have LondonDone them. Bushy Park, which hosted the first 13-runner event in 2004, saw more than 6,000 finalists for its 1,000th event in August 2024.

For many Parkrunners, completing Bushy Parkrun is a pilgrimage, as I discovered on a frosty January morning this year. I joined over 150 Bushy “newbies” in a field of 1,345 runners for an invigorating run through the park. It’s flat, fast and beautiful throughout its single long lap; Just keep an eye out for deer wandering through the park.

Frankfurt: Nidda Parkrun

Volkspark Niddatal is Frankfurt’s largest green space with plenty of trails through its open and wooded areas, making it an ideal setting for this flat and fast two-loop figure-eight course. The event is praised by Business trip parkrunners for their warm welcome and beginner’s English briefing, and then you can join the locals in trying to hunt the Mounir coffee tricycle that serves the park.

Milan: Milano Nord Parkrun

Similarly to Frankfurt, Italy’s largest Parkrun offers a largely flat two-lap course in a park on the outskirts of the city, this time all 640 hectares North Park. Parkrun tourists report a warm welcome from locals, who will be happy to chat with you over coffee at Bar Enigma on Viale Giovanni Suzzani.

Vancouver: Central Parkrun, Burnaby

• Nearest station: Patterson SkyTrain Station (Expo Line, buses 112, 125 and 129)

• Typical finishers: 100 or more

• Website

One of several Parkruns in the Greater Vancouver area. I chose this one in Burnaby because it is easily accessible by public transportation and the route in a historic forest park is adorned with tree species native to western North America, such as western hemlock and western red cedar. Another option is to go to the Spanish Banks Beach Parkrun, where a 2km walk to the start from the nearest bus station is followed by a 5km return walk on seafront gravel. . .

Melbourne: Brimbank Parkrun

Melbourne (and Australia) is packed with parkruns, so why not aim for something more adventurous? Bring your running shoes to experience the hills and bridges of Brimbank, keeping in mind that the start time is 8am Well-deserved post-run coffees are available at Lumbar and company.

Tokyo: Hikarigaoka Parkrun

This course is about 25 minutes from Tokyo Station, but please note that the start time is 8am, just like all the others. 39 runs in the park in Japan. A classic “park” route that involves a loop around a baseball field, followed by two larger loops of the park. Join the locals for a post-race coffee at the park’s charming shop/cafe.

Have you done any parkruns at home or abroad? What are your favorites? Share your tips in the comments below.

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