Park Run. Racing yourself, together.
Park Run is a free 5k every Saturday at 2,300 locations. It works because you're only ever racing yourself last week.
THE GIST ON PARK RUN: "Racing yourself, together"
What is Park Run?
A free 5k that runs every Saturday morning at 2,300 locations. Around 9 million people worldwide are registered, and it's the biggest recurring participatory sporting event on earth.
It started in Bushey Park in 2004 with Paul Sinton-Hewitt. He'd just been laid off, was injured, and wanted somewhere to see his mates. So he timed a run in the park with a stopwatch.
What is the clever trick?
Everyone turns up to a park and runs the same 5k at the same time. That's collective. But your time is only ever compared with your own last week. That's individual.
So you improve with a load of other people but never compete with them. Collectively supported, not invigilated.
Why is that rare?
Self-improvement is normally selfish. You practise the guitar alone, read the book alone, go for a run alone. Not because you want to be alone, but because there isn't a mechanism for involving others without some kind of value assessment.
Park Run cut that link. Turning up became the thing you did, and improving became the sign-up.
Why do we run faster together?
Huw says running next to other people makes you go faster than you would alone. Not because you're competing, but because presence does something effort and solitude can't.
Humans haven't evolved to try harder on our own. We've evolved to do it together.
Do you run, or do you walk?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
How many people do Park Run?
Around 9 million registered worldwide, at 2,300 locations, according to Huw.
Who started it?
Paul Sinton-Hewitt, in Bushey Park in 2004, after being laid off and injured.
Why does it work?
Everyone runs together but your time is compared only with your own last week, so you improve alongside others without competing with them.
See you on the next one.
What should the next one be? Suggest a topic for Huw to explain
The conversation
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