In a world where “freemium” models have permeated industries from software to entertainment, parkrun emerges as a refreshingly straightforward take on the concept in the realm of running. However, unlike traditional freemium models, parkrun stays clear from any form of upselling. Over the past decade, it has become deeply embedded in Australia’s running culture—not just as an event but as a community-driven movement focused on accessibility and inclusion.
In this article (7 min read)
A unique take on free
Parkrun’s model is as simple as it is revolutionary: every Saturday morning, people of all ages and abilities gather to participate in free, timed 5 kilometre runs. There are no membership fees, no premium tiers, and no hidden costs. The entire experience—from registration to post-run camaraderie—is truly free, sustained by an army of dedicated volunteers.
“We have a clear vision and mission – a healthier and happier planet. Underpinned by our everlasting promise, our founding principles, that we will remain free, forever, for everyone”
Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Parkrun founder
This commitment to free participation has made parkrun a standout. By leveraging digital tools for registration, timing, and results, and utilising shared public spaces, parkrun keeps its operational costs minimal. Volunteers, the heart of the movement, manage logistics with efficiency and passion, ensuring that every event runs smoothly; but not needing to worry about governance like local sporting clubs traditionally do – parkrun in Australia is operated by a not-for-profit company that is a wholly owned subsidiary of a UK based charity that has regional offices around the world.
The movement started in 2004 in the UK at Bushy Park when Paul Sinton-Hewitt established a 5km time trial. The concept spread rapidly, coming to Australia less than a decade later and growing annually. There were over than 3 million finishing results last year (not unique finishers), who collectively covered a distance equivalent to running around the earth’s circumference 375 times. The millionth unique participant in Australia since inception in 2014 was recorded last year.
“We have a clear vision and mission – a healthier and happier planet. Underpinned by our everlasting promise, our founding principles, that we will remain free, forever, for everyone, Sinton-Hewitt wrote just over a year ago.
“That’s free to participate in.”
That said, with growth comes the requirement for continual change.
“Parkrun never has been, and never will be, free to put on. Especially not with our ambitious plans to make events simpler, more scalable, put them in more places that need them the most, in areas where they can truly make a difference. This requires investment, it requires resources, it requires digital transformation, it requires intervention, and it requires collaboration.”
Community at its core
While Parkrun’s delivery model is innovative, what truly sets it apart is its sense of community. “It’s not just about running; it’s about community and connecting with people,” said Sarah, a regular at Albert Melbourne Parkrun.
“I’ve made lifelong friends here, and it’s the best way to kickstart my weekend.”
This community-driven ethos is evident in every aspect of parkrun. From the volunteers who set up the course each week to the participants cheering one another across the finish line, the spirit of inclusivity and support is palpable. Volunteers are celebrated as much as the runners themselves, reinforcing the idea that everyone plays a vital role.
“Seeing everyone’s smiles as they cross the finish line makes it all worthwhile,” said Michael, a regular volunteer.
“Volunteering is as rewarding as running.”
Breaking down barriers
Parkrun’s low barrier to entry has been instrumental in its success. Registration is free and straightforward, requiring only an email address, which allows people from all walks of life to participate. This accessibility has helped draw a diverse range of participants, from competitive runners to casual walkers, and even families pushing strollers.
However, challenges remain. While parkrun’s model is designed to be inclusive, a study published in 2022 in the journal Bio Med Studies found that from a 2017-19 sample of over 600,000 registrations that 43% of individuals who registered for parkrun in Australia, UK and Ireland never actually participated and 22% participated only once.
A separate 2023 study published in Pub Med Central found that return rates for runners in Scotland – whether runners came back after their first run – was driven by a number of factors:
- Events with a higher proportion of first-time adult runners saw first-time runners more likely to return
- First-time runners in larger events were less likely to return
- Older first-time runners were more likely to return, as were males
- New participants taking longer to run 5 kilometres were less like to return
- Courses near lakes or rivers and that had woodlands on the route encouraged higher return rates
Addressing these barriers and opportunities — whether they are related to confidence, accessibility, awareness or location — remain an ongoing priority for parkrun. This has resulted in a number initiatives, not all of them universally popular, including the move last year to stop recording event records for the fastest finishers at each parkrun, to make the events less off-putting to new runners.
Parkrun Tourists
With over 500 locations across Australia most runners live locally to their parkrun, but there’s many who use parkrun as the motivation for their travels, visiting parkruns across the country and completing organic challenges, such as completing at least one event starting with each letter of the alphabet.
We caught up with Jay Grimley last year when she travelled to Melbourne in June, combining a parkrun on Saturday with the Run Melbourne event on Sunday.
“I started parkrun last year, and I got into running and it made me want to start travelling and seeing different places via parkrun,” said Grimley, who at the time had run at 28 different parkrun locations around Australia. >> Read more
Record numbers
Most parkruns in Australia have average weekly numbers of 100-200 finishers, but there are some exceptions, where the parkrun can be as large as small commercially run events.
On Saturday 18 January 2025 Albert parkrun in Melbourne had a record 1316 finishers, smashing the 1114 record for finishers set a week prior. 105 of those finishers were running their first ever parkrun, while 333 others had run a parkrun elsewhere before. The event is supported by over 40 volunteers each week and held around the Albert Park Lake, a favourite running location close to the Melbourne CBD. At the beginning of 2025 the event ticked over 50,000 unique participants who had finished it since it started in November 2011.
A vision for the future
As parkrun continues to expand, its impact extends far beyond running. The movement promotes mental well-being, community connection, and physical health, offering participants more than just a weekly run. It stands as an amazing example of how accessibility and inclusivity can drive massive engagement.
For more insights into Parkrun events across Australia, including detailed elevation maps of courses and participant stories, check out the listings on our site and stories that we’ll be publishing throughout the year. Whether you’re looking to achieve a personal best or simply enjoy a scenic route with friends, parkrun offers something for everyone.
Love your local parkrun? Add a comment to its listing to encourage others.
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Steven Albert parkrun 1316 people! Happy to be part of this record breaking effort! Well done to the volunteers for coo… Read more about this listing
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Albert Parkus Albert parkrun Always a great vibe at this parkrun. Big crowds but a fast and flat run.
If you’d like to contribute an up-to-date photo of your local parkrun to add as the cover to its listing, do so in the comments or email us at run@run2.au
