January 11th 2025.
As I stood amidst a sea of unfamiliar faces, my nerves were on edge. My heart was racing and I could feel beads of sweat forming on my forehead. It was 2021, and I had just arrived at my very first parkrun. I hadn't even started jogging yet, but my mind was already racing. Would my fellow runners be like the sporty kids from high school, all grown up with their swishy ponytails and effortless athletic abilities? Or would the marshals be like my old PE teacher, rolling their eyes at my attempts to drag my big bum around the course?
To my relief, I quickly realized that my preconceived notions were completely wrong. Instead, I found myself surrounded by a diverse group of bodies, which made me feel right at home. For years, I had struggled with my body image, especially when it came to sports and fitness. But since getting into running and fitness in 2020, I've explored numerous routes, from city streets to country lanes, and even high-end fitness studios and budget gyms. Yet, none of these experiences had made me feel as comfortable and accepted as I did at parkrun.
On a typical Saturday morning in south London, I saw every body type imaginable - from sinewy old men to curvier women like myself, and everything in between. It was a beautiful sight to behold. You see, the reason why my heart raced when I first arrived at parkrun, was because of my past experiences with sports and body image. Sadly, my association with enjoying sports and being thin went way back to my school days. The biggest bully wasn't another student, but my PE teacher. I still remember vividly, being singled out in front of my peers and told to "go and stand at the back with the other chubby ones" when picking teams at the start of year 7.
That moment was humiliating, and it solidified the belief that sports were only for skinny girls, and the rest of us needed to hide our "imperfect" bodies. This mindset stayed with me for years, and it wasn't until I was almost 40 years old that I took up running and transformed my health. Looking back, I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if PE had been more about finding joy in movement, regardless of body type or athletic abilities. Maybe I wouldn't have waited until 2021 to join parkrun, which had been around for 20 years.
By 2021, I had completed Couch to 5K during lockdown and even earned a shiny new half marathon medal. But I was getting bored of the same old local routes. I craved a sense of community and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. So, I decided to give parkrun a try. It was the best decision I ever made. Not only was it free, but it was also open to everyone - whether you were a seasoned runner, a jogger, a walker, or someone who wanted to volunteer and cheer from the sidelines.
But what truly made parkrun special was the diverse people I encountered. Sure, the fastest runners often "looked the part," but the rest of us were a buffet of body shapes, sweating our way through the 5K course in 25, 30, 35, 40 minutes, or more. After speaking to my fellow runners and joining running communities on social media, I realized that we were all there for different reasons. Some wanted to get fit, others wanted to improve their physical and mental health, and some were simply looking for some me-time after a hectic week. As for me, it was a combination of all those things, and I always left parkrun with a spring in my step.
But what surprised me the most was the realization that some of the "sporty kids" were actually nice. The muscular guy who always completed the parkrun in 15 minutes never failed to offer words of encouragement as he lapped me. And the person scanning barcodes at the finish line always had enough breath to congratulate me, no matter how far down the finish token queue I was. At parkrun, I learned to appreciate what different people could do with their wonderfully unique bodies. And most importantly, I learned to appreciate my own body for what it could do, rather than what it looked like.
No longer did I compare myself to others or feel ashamed of my body. Instead, I embraced it and even started wearing shorts and vest tops during hot runs, instead of hiding in leggings and baggy tees. Parkrun had become my safe space, where my body was celebrated for its abilities, not judged for its appearance. And this newfound confidence didn't just stay at parkrun, it spilled over into other areas of my life, like the office, the gym, the school gates, and even the pub.
So, to anyone who thinks they don't "look like a runner," I urge you to give parkrun a try. It doesn't matter your body size, age, or fashion sense - there's a place for you in this community. And who knows, you might even find yourself accidentally swishing your ponytail in someone's face during the final sprint. After all, we're all just a diverse group of individuals, united by our love for movement and parkrun. So, come join the country's biggest running club, where everyone is welcome, and it's free to join. You only need to register once, and trust me, it's worth it.
And for those who have faced body-shaming while out running, know that you won't find that at parkrun. I've been heckled before, and it's why I started my blog, "Keep it up, fatty!" - to reclaim the hurtful words that were thrown at me. But at parkrun, I've learned that all the comparison I was doing was stealing away my joy. It's like comparing a pug to a greyhound - they're both unique and wonderful in their own ways. The same goes for humans. We come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities, and we should celebrate that diversity instead of trying to fit into one narrow definition of beauty.
Parkrun has truly opened my eyes and made me appreciate my body for all that it can do. And for that, I am forever grateful. So, whether you're a runner, a jogger, a walker, or just someone looking for a supportive community, parkrun welcomes you with open arms. And don't worry, you won't have to deal with any body-shaming or judgment here. It's all about embracing our unique bodies and finding joy in movement. So, come join us and share your story. Who knows, it might just inspire someone else to lace up their running shoes and join the parkrun community.
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