After completing 356 parkruns over 12 years, our writer reflects on the joys of being a perfectly average runner. Despite never running further than 10km and having middling times, he believes his averageness gives him a persuasive superpower: if he can do it, so can you.
First parkrun and the journey to 356
His first parkrun was in Wimbledon in November 2014, after which he told a friend "never again." That promise was broken as he went on to complete 355 more free community 5ks. The world record for running 5km while juggling ("joggling") beats his non-juggling personal best by more than eight minutes.
Tokyo parkrun experience
His most far-flung parkrun was at Futakotamagawa in Tokyo, 6,000 miles from his home course in Morden, south London. He chose Japan's inaugural parkrun for its flat course, easy Metro access, and views of Mount Fuji (though it was not a clear day). Parkruns in Japan start at 8am to compensate for extreme heat and humidity. He was the only Briton present, but there were many Australians and Americans. The briefing included familiar jokes: three laps ("you can make four – we don't care") and don't take your barcode away ("we will find you").
Race performance
Despite humidity, he ran faster than he had since before Covid, finishing 58th with a time of 25:31 – 50 seconds off his 2026 best and his fastest since February 2020. He attributed this to bouncy shoes, hearty ramen, or not wanting to look slow. After the run, he chose water over the viral high-caffeine drink Nope, described by a Redditor as "a carbonated prune juice travesty."
Why parkrun is welcoming
"Ultimately, parkrun is parkrun wherever you are in the world. If you've been tempted, it's absurdly welcoming, whatever your speed," he writes. He encourages newcomers to try it without worrying about social embarrassment or technical gear.
Additional tips and picks
The article also includes tips for sleeping in a heatwave, reviews of cooling fans and cool boxes, and suggestions for end-of-year teacher gifts based on a survey of 17 teachers. Readers are invited to share their holiday mishap stories by emailing thefilter@theguardian.com.
