Tattoos, 200 and a teeny, tiny hill: Parkrun at 20

Andy Collins has a running man tattoo and Carol Speight has a tattoo of the event's logo

Each week about 16,000 people across Yorkshire take part in more than 90 Parkrun events.

The global phenomenon celebrated its 20th anniversary on Saturday and the BBC met some of those who have made the weekly 5km run part of their life.

The couple

Carol Speight and Andy Collins took their first Parkrun trip to Lucca in Italy

Carol Speight met her partner Andy Collins through the 5km event, which she credits with changing her life in more than one way.

“I started in 2014-15. I was four stones (25.4kg) heavier and depressed – I had no friends and I didn’t run.

"The best thing is the social side of it, meeting people. It’s not even about the running really anymore,” she says.

Carol has now completed the Graves Park run in Sheffield more than 100 times.

She met Andy through Parkrun tourism – travelling to take part in different locations.

Since 2021 they have been to eight countries and have running-themed tattoos.

Carol says: “I’m not sure how, but I saw Andy was looking to do a city break Parkrun on Facebook and I saw it as an opportunity to go abroad.”

They began chatting and decided to meet at a run in England before their first trip to Italy.

“It just felt like I’d known him forever. I remember saying: ‘Don’t worry, I’m not a weirdo – I’m not going to marry you or anything’, but now we’re here,” she says.

The couple have been together two and half years and live together in Sheffield.

Carol is hoping for a Parkrun-themed wedding.

The ‘Gramps’

David Hawley is joined by family and friends for his 100th Parkrun

David Hawley, 88, is known as the Parkrun ‘Gramps’. He has four children, 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Saturday will be his 191st run at Endcliffe Park in Sheffield, but age has never been a barrier - his running career began aged 40.

"I did my first half marathon the year King Charles married Diana. That was the Rotherham half marathon.

"I’ve made many friends along the way. I discovered it was one of the joys of it."

He says: "I’ve never come first at anything in my life but I’m first in my age group at Parkrun – it’s a subtle sense of achievement. You can run within your abilities.

"Running is a lot about times, so Saturday afternoon {when his finish time is uploaded] is like waiting for your exam results at school."

At 100 runs, David considered retiring but now at nearly 200 he's changed his mind.

"However long I am able to keep going I will, it will just become a walk. I can’t consider retiring!" he says.

The community

Lister Park Parkrun celebrates Ukrainian Independence Day every year

Lister Park Parkrun hosts up to 400 people each week, and co-director Jon Harris says the runners reflect Bradford’s diverse population.

“We’re really proud of the community we’ve created. You get people of all ages, genders and ethnicities.

"And every week we have first timers – people are still just discovering it,” he says.

Jon began running the route in 2014 and started volunteering when he got a spinal injury.

He says: “Volunteering has become core to it for me now. It’s more important to me than the running.”

The route is known by runners for two things: its teeny, tiny hill – “not so tiny on the third round” and its commitment to community.

Every year the runners join the city’s Ukrainian community to celebrate Ukrainian Independence Day.

Jon says: “It’s not about fundraising but raising awareness and creating fellowship. The Ukrainian community volunteer with us and some run, but not always.

"It’s key to our community role.

“We also celebrate Eid and Christmas, and we raise money for charity. We’re doing a fundraiser for a foodbank at a church in Frizinghall next week.

"It’s about giving back to the community.”

The biggest

The York event is known for being fast and flat

York's run is a flat, fast course on the city's Knavesmire and follow's the city's famous racetrack.

It is Yorkshire's most popular event with more than 700 runners every week.

Race director Ian Fairlamb says the main reason for its popularity is the city's reputation as a tourist destination.

"One of the big Parkrun challenges is the alphabet challenge - and York has got a Y in it!" he says.

"Despite the big numbers it's still increasing event on event. Eventually we'll break 1,000 people."

But big numbers come with their own challenges. The event needs more than 40 volunteers every week.

"On Saturday we're expecting big numbers, with the anniversary and the weather looking good," he says.

"We have one race director and then 40 volunteers but we'll have more than that come out and help at the end, so it will probably be more like 50.

"Some of them will have volunteered more than 250 times."

Ian says despite its size, the York run still has an "amazing" community spirit.

"York is a special place.

"It wraps its arms around you and after you leave the rest of the weekend you're bouncing."

The first

Woodhouse Moor Parkrun in Leeds was Yorkshire's first event

Jaz Bangerh was on the start line at the first run in Yorkshire at Woodhouse Moor in Leeds on 6 October 2007.

By the end of this year she will have been at 700 events.

"It's become more and more popular. It's become more diverse. It has changed over the years," she explains.

"When I started, I wasn't a runner and it's not about the running for me. I do lots of volunteering. It's just really good for your health and wellbeing.

"It's one hour of your time, getting outside, getting some fresh air and away from your phone."

Jaz says the run is a "safe space", which is one of the reasons she's kept going.

"As one of the very few women of colour, I've found it a safe space to participate for exercise and community."

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