October 4th 2024.
Hermen, a 30-year-old man, had been sentenced to over seven years in prison for dealing class A drugs. Being confined to a cell for 23 hours a day gave him plenty of time to reflect on his life choices. He realized that he had taken many things for granted, like fresh air and the freedom to walk to the shop. The monotony of prison life was broken when a slip of paper was pushed under his heavy, metal cell door. It was an invitation to a parkrun event to be held at HMP Hindley on Saturday. This event was a turning point in Hermen's life.
Hermen had fallen in with the wrong crowd and started selling cannabis at the young age of 15. As he got older, he moved on to dealing harder drugs like heroin and crack cocaine. This eventually landed him in prison at the age of 22. It was during his six-and-a-half-year sentence that he had time to reflect on his actions and regret the path he had taken.
The idea of participating in the parkrun event appealed to Hermen because it was a chance to get out of his cell. He explains that being behind bars for 23 hours a day made him think about life constantly. He became emotional and questioned why he had taken time for granted. It was a dark and depressing place, and many prisoners resorted to taking their own lives. The thought of not being able to support his family or see his children was particularly difficult for Hermen.
Participating in the parkrun event in 2018 was a way for Hermen to distract himself from his thoughts and get some exercise. He had not run since his school days, but with the help of old running shoes and the support of parkrun volunteers, he came in third place out of 30 participants. The event was organized by the prison's physical education instructors and involved many laps around a confined space.
Hermen recalls the experience as humbling and positive. The volunteers were cheering and clapping for him, and it was the first time he had received such support. He also appreciated that people from different backgrounds and areas had taken their time to hold the event. It was a sense of community that he had not felt in prison before.
After that first run, Hermen signed up every week until his release. The parkrun event had a significant impact on his habits, outlook, and mentality. Instead of sleeping to pass the time, he started getting up early to exercise or participate in the run. He also read more and had a more positive mindset. Hermen compares the impact of the parkrun event to PE in school, where a boost in physical activity can have a positive effect on other aspects of life.
The first prison-based parkrun was introduced seven years ago at HMP Haverigg by supervising officer Shane Spencer. The event has since been launched in 30 other establishments across England and Wales. Shane has seen the benefits of the parkrun firsthand, with inmates reporting improvements in fitness, weight loss, and mental health. The event has also brought people together, with participants who may not usually interact in the prison setting forming camaraderie and support.
One of the success stories of HMP Haverigg's parkrun is Alfy Kirkley, a former prisoner who credits the event with saving his life. Alfy had been isolating himself in his cell, but Shane and his colleagues encouraged him to participate in the pad-to-parkrun program, a prison version of Couch-to-5k. Alfy later wrote to Shane, expressing his gratitude for introducing him to the parkrun. He credits the event with turning his life around, both physically and mentally. The first thing he did upon his release was participate in a parkrun with his daughter.
In conclusion, the parkrun event at HMP Hindley had a profound impact on Hermen, who had been serving time for drug dealing. It gave him a sense of community, purpose, and a positive outlook on life. The event has also shown positive results in other prisons, with inmates reporting improvements in their physical and mental well-being. Parkrun has proven to be a valuable activity for prisoners, providing them with a much-needed break from the monotony of prison life and a sense of hope for the future.
Hermen had been given a sentence of over seven years in prison, a long period of time for him to think about his life choices. Confined to a cell for 23 hours each day, Hermen began to reflect on all the small things he had taken for granted, like the simple pleasure of fresh air or walking to the shop. It was a difficult and lonely experience, but one day, everything changed when a slip of paper was pushed under his cell door. It was an invitation to a parkrun event being held at HMP Hindley, near Wigan, where Hermen was serving time for dealing class A drugs.
At the age of 30, Hermen had fallen in with the wrong crowd and started selling cannabis outside of school. This eventually led to him dealing harder drugs like heroin and crack cocaine, even transporting them from Manchester to Southampton. At the age of 22, he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to supply cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin, as well as money laundering. He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison, and it was during this time that he had a lot of time to think and regret his choices.
Hermen decided to participate in the parkrun event as it was a chance to get out of his cell and distract himself. Being confined to a cell for 23 hours a day, he found himself constantly thinking about life and feeling depressed. He couldn't help but wonder why he had taken so much for granted and how he had ended up in this dark place. Many others in prison had taken their own lives, and Hermen often thought about his family and friends on the outside, wishing he could support them.
The first parkrun event in 2018 was a transformative experience for Hermen. Having not run since his school's cross country days, he was loaned a pair of old trainers and surprisingly came in third place out of 30 participants. The event was organized by the prison's physical education instructors with the help of prisoners and parkrun volunteers. It followed the same style as regular parkruns, except with many laps of a confined space.
Hermen remembers the event fondly, stating that it humbled him. He also recalls how he felt a sense of community and support from the volunteers who cheered and clapped for him. It was a feeling he had never experienced before in prison, and it made him appreciate the volunteers for taking time out of their day to organize the event. It was one of the few positive experiences he had while in prison, aside from visits from family and friends.
After participating in the first parkrun, Hermen signed up for the following week and every week after until his release. It made a significant difference in his daily routine, outlook, and mindset. He started getting up earlier, either to run or exercise, and even found himself reading more. The parkrun also helped him develop a more positive mindset and gave him a sense of community and motivation.
Hermen explains that the parkrun was like a physical education class in school. Just like how a good PE session can boost confidence in other subjects, participating in the parkrun improved his overall well-being. During the run, his mind was solely focused on completing it, and he was able to forget about the stresses of prison life. It also had a positive impact on his behavior, as he had to be on his best behavior in order to be allowed to participate in the event.
As Hermen's running skills improved, he began to come in first place. However, instead of leaving after finishing, he would stay and support the slower runners, in line with the community ethos promoted by parkrun. The first prison-based parkrun was introduced seven years ago at HMP Haverigg, thanks to supervising officer Shane Spencer. He had seen the event advertised locally and pitched the idea of holding runs inside the prison to his supervisors. They gave him the green light, and since then, parkrun has been introduced in 30 other establishments across England and Wales.
Shane, who runs the gymnasium department at HMP Haverigg, has seen the positive effects of parkrun on inmates, including improvements in fitness, weight loss, and mental health. One of the success stories is Alfy Kirkley, a former prisoner who credited parkrun with saving his life. Alfy had been isolating himself in his cell, but after being coaxed out by Shane and his colleagues, he started participating in the pad-to-parkrun program, which is the prison's version of Couch-to-5k. In a letter to Shane, Alfy wrote that he was at the brink of suicide but found hope and purpose through parkrun. After his release, one of the first things he did was participate in a parkrun with his daughter.
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