six of her best international 5k’s

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What does the perfect trip to a new city entail? Maybe find a good cafe, meet some locals and a spot for gentle exercise while taking in some sights away from the overcrowded tourist traps? What if I told you that you could do all of this in about an hour? In 2500 places in more than 20 countries. Free.

Parkrun, London’s established mass participation 5k running event, which turns 21 this year, is a compelling proposition for the exercise-hungry but time-poor commuter. All you need is a spare Saturday morning, a pair of running shoes and a phone/watch-based ‘barcode’, Parkrun’s system to identify and record your runs, wherever you are.

Much of parkrun’s appeal lies in its amalgamation of a community-led core with a warm welcome to parkrun tourists whose home event may be hundreds or thousands of miles away.

Relying strictly on volunteers for course organisation, summarizing and timing, Parkrun insists the event will be “free forever”. As crowdsourced events go, it’s less “gig economy,” more “run 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 (prompting the Russians to create their copycat replacement).

In France, parkruns have also been suspended since 2022 due to the French Athletics Federation requiring runners taking part in sporting events to either be licensed or have completed an online safety course – something Parkrun says would be impractical to apply it to its 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, offering a more intimate mix of locals, expats and tourists.

In the US, home to more than 75 Parkrun events, I’ve run on Roosevelt Island in Washington DC and Boston’s Jamaica Pond, each located far from their respective city centres. In both places, there was a warm welcome from the locals, who clearly took pride in attracting visitors to their events.

While the experience was new, the logistics were reassuringly the same as at my local Parkrun: a first time briefing to speak on the route, a welcome from the event director at the start and plenty of marshals to guide and cheer runners along the route. finish.

Parkrun 5k events always take place on a Saturday morning. For business travelers, if your schedule allows, it’s a great way to sneak in some off-the-beaten-track tourism and wash off the remnants of jet lag at the same time. Many events start at 9am, although times vary internationally (given: earlier start times are usually associated with hotter climates). Always check an event’s website in addition to Parkrun’s international cancellations page before you set off as events can be postponed at short notice due to weather or adverse course conditions.

Remember, it’s a timed run, not a race. Some of the best parkruns are the ones where you take the time to enjoy the surroundings rather than chasing a personal best. The ‘walk in the park’ – completing the course at a leisurely stroll – is increasingly popular, with South Africa accounting for nearly 30 per cent of event finishers.

Those looking for a more competitive angle however will enjoy following their efforts alongside their peers. Finish times for all events are published online, along with a performance score by age, allowing comparisons between juniors and seniors.

Here are six Parkruns I’ve chosen from across the FT Globetrotter 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: 1500-plus

• Website

I’ve chosen 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 are done in LonDone. Bushy Park, which hosted the first event with 13 runners in 2004, saw over 6,000 finishers for its 1,000th event in August 2024.

For many Parkrunners, finishing Bushy Parkrun is a pilgrimage, as I found out on a cold January morning this year. I joined more than 150 Bushy “first-timers” in a field of 1,345 runners for a hard run through the park. It’s flat, fast and beautiful throughout its long lap – just be aware of the deer that wander through the park.

Frankfurt: Nidda Parkrun

Volkspark Niddatal is Frankfurt’s largest green space with an abundance of paths through its open and wooded areas, making it an ideal setting for this flat, fast two-lap figure-of-eight course. The event is praised by Parkrunners for the business trip for its warm welcome and first timer conference in English, and you can join the locals afterwards in trying to hunt down the Mounir Coffee Trike that serves the park.

Milan: Milano Nord Parkrun

In a similar fashion to Frankfurt, Italy’s largest Parkrun offers a mostly flat, two-lap course in a park on the outskirts of the city, this time the 640-hectare Parco Nord. Parkrun tourists report a warm welcome from the locals, who will happily chat with you over a 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-plus

• 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 road in a historic forest park is lined with native North American western tree species such as western hemlock and western red cedar. Another option is to head to the Bank of Spain Beach Parkrun, where a 2k walk to the start from the nearest bus stop is followed by a 5k back on the water gravel. . .

Melbourne: Brimbank Parkrun

Melbourne – and Australia – is packed with Parkruns, so why not aim for something more adventurous? Bring your trail running shoes to experience the hills and bridges of Brimbank, noting the 8am start time. Coffees earned after use are available at Lumbar & Co.

Tokyo: Hikarigaoka Parkrun

This course is about 25 minutes away from Tokyo Station, but again note that the start time is 8am, the same as all 39 other Parkruns in Japan. A classic “park” route that includes a lap around a baseball field, followed by two larger laps of the park. Join the locals for a post-drive coffee at the park’s charming shop/cafe.

Have you done any Parkruns domestically or abroad? What are your favorites? Share your tips in the comments below

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