James Ball sat down with Darren Wood after he became the first person in the world to complete 1,000 parkruns, reflecting on his personal journey, community and inclusivity, volunteering and the evolution of parkrun over more than two decades.
“I urge anyone to take that first step into attending their first parkrun. They’ll never regret it. It will change their life and potentially save their life. It’s done the same for me.”
James: I remember the excitement and emotion when I interviewed you in 2015, when you became the first person to run/walk 500 parkruns, so how does it feel to be the first person in the world to have completed this unbelievable achievement of 1,000 parkruns?
Darren: It feels a little overwhelming if I’m honest, but being presented with my 1,000 t-shirt from parkrun HQ was a fantastic moment. Followed by a 1,000th cape and certificate from the amazing team at Morden parkrun. The support and love at parkrun is what makes it all such a special place for millions of parkrunners across the world every Saturday morning.
I’ve just kept turning up week in, week out, and I feel privileged to have been there at the second-ever event at Bushy Park. From there, the rest is history. In some ways, it doesn’t feel that long ago that I did my first parkrun, so reaching 1,000 feels surreal. It’s been a long time in the making, but I hope it encourages other people to take that first step into parkrun so they can experience what I have over the past 22 years. I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet.
James: On 9 October 2004, you completed your first event — or Bushy Time Trial, as it was called then. What do you remember about it?
Darren: I heard about Bushy Time Trial through Paul Sinton-Hewitt, the founder of parkrun, who was a member of my running club. I didn’t go to the first event because I thought it would be only for fast runners, and that I wouldn’t be good enough. The phrase “time trial” sounded intimidating. But I went to the second event. There were very few of us there, and I was nervous, but how wrong I was. Paul and everyone else were so welcoming. I ran about 23 minutes, and it was all done out of the back of Paul’s car. I remember thinking, “This is different.” Nobody could have guessed, standing there at that second event, what it would become.
James: That’s a misconception some people may still have, isn’t it — that parkrun is only for “proper” runners?
Darren: Absolutely. That’s probably the biggest change I’ve seen over the years. There’s still work to do, but parkrun really is for everyone. You’re never judged. It doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are. You can run, jog, walk or volunteer. I’d urge anyone to take that first step and go to their first parkrun. It can change your life — and potentially save it. It has certainly done that for me.
James: When you think back to those early days and compare them with now — hundreds of thousands of people taking part, thousands of events worldwide, tens of thousands of volunteers — can you believe what parkrun has become?
Darren: Not really. Who would have thought it would grow like this? It’s phenomenal, and a huge credit to Paul, the team, the sponsors and, of course, the volunteers. No event happens without volunteers, and together with the sponsors they make parkrun free forever. I’d encourage anyone to volunteer too. I’ve done it myself many times and I love it. You get a different perspective on parkrun, and you become part of that community in another way.
James: What have you seen evolve most over the last 22 years?
Darren: Junior parkrun has been a massive development. The community side has grown hugely too, and with it the sense of inclusivity. I often think about the juniors and how they’re the future. If we can encourage children into junior parkrun and then into 5k parkrun, that’s amazing. I only wish it had existed when I was a child. It really does change lives.
Inclusivity has changed enormously as well. In the early days, when it was called a time trial, some people saw it as elitist. Now it’s so much more obviously about community. The concept remains the same — a free 5k in every local community that wants one — but it has become much more open and welcoming to everyone.
James: How has parkrun changed your life personally?
Darren: Parkrun has always been there for me. Over the past 22 years, it’s been the one constant in my life. I’m not afraid to say that I’ve been through serious mental health struggles, Parkrun was there through those dark times. There were moments when I was anxious about going. I’d get to a roundabout on the way and think about turning around. But once I got there, I never felt judged. I was with my parkrun family. I didn’t feel I had to hide away or be ashamed. It has probably changed — and saved — my life. I wouldn’t be the same person without it.
At my darkest times, parkrun gave me somewhere to be and people to be with. One Christmas, during my divorce, I couldn’t see my children and had no other family around me. What was there for me? parkrun on Christmas Day. So many people feel lonely and vulnerable, and parkrun can be the moment in their day when they are with others. That matters. We all go through dark times, and the important thing is talking about it — or, if you don’t want to talk, simply being part of a community where you feel accepted. I owe a lot to parkrun.
James: That sense of community is what so many people talk about — especially on days like Christmas Day.
Darren: Yes. If you do one thing, be kind. You never know what someone else is going through. It’s important to thank people, to be welcoming, to be nice. One day, you might be in exactly the same position yourself. That kindness is one of the best things about parkrun.
“If you do one thing, just be kind, you never know what someone else is going through.”
James: What’s poignant about your journey and everybody else’s journey is that park running is constant. It’s almost like the flag in your week that says, Hey, it’s the weekend. It’s always there and it won’t let you down. That’s what’s lovely about the events.
Darren: The fact that it’s always there is the key. I met a 22-year-old lady a couple of weeks ago parkrunning in Sweden. I’ve been running since before she was born but she had a great interest in what I was doing and wanted to run with me and it was lovely.
James: Did you tell her this was your 999th parkrun?
Darren: Yes and she was over the moon and wanted to take pictures of us all. I was old enough to be her dad but that just shows how it brings generations of people together.
James: When you’re at a parkrun in a place where people don’t know you’re the person that’s achieved the most parkruns in the world and someone says, “so how many park runs have you done?” and you tell them, how do they react?
Darren: They’re gobsmacked! They probably think that I’m making that up.
James: Another big change since we last spoke at your 500 in 2015 is the growth of international tourism. Has that become part of your journey?
Darren: Definitely. The last time we spoke, I’d only done UK parkruns. Now I’ve completed parkruns in seven countries and at around 120 different locations. I love travelling when I can, and parkrun has become part of that. What I enjoy is that the concept stays the same wherever you go. The setting might be different, the language might be different, and some events are much smaller, but the welcome is the same.
I was in Växjö in Sweden recently, for example, and it reminded me of the early days — a small event, a handful of volunteers, that same simple feeling of people coming together. I’ve also had experiences abroad where people have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome. In Poland, for one event, they had looked up how many parkruns I was about to complete and pinned that milestone number to everyone’s tops to celebrate my visit. That kind of generosity says everything about the parkrun spirit.
James: Parkrun has really become an international language, hasn’t it?
Darren: It has. Even if you don’t know the local language, you still understand what’s happening: the briefing, the barcode scanning, the volunteers, the rhythm of the morning. It all feels familiar, and that’s a wonderful thing.
James: Tell us a bit about your running away from parkrun. What does training look like now?
Darren: Age changes things. I still think I’m 21 or 22 sometimes, but the body reminds me otherwise. I still run five days a week and I still do marathons — I ran Seville earlier this year — but I’ve had to adapt. I do more strength training now, and that has really helped with injuries. Over the years I’ve had a lot of injuries and several operations, and one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that you’re not invincible. If I could encourage anyone to do one thing, it would be to add strength work to their routine. It really helps protect your body as you get older.
I still have goals. I’d like to get closer to 3:30 for the marathon, and I’ve got races later in the year that I’d like to target. But the priority now is staying healthy, running without pain where I can, and listening to my body.
Join us on Thursday June 4 for Part 2 of this interview where Darren talks about his motivation, his passion for volunteering and love for his parkrun family, his standout moments, the future and most importantly, his parkrun breakfast!
To celebrate Darren’s 1,000th parkrun, we are offering 15% off at Sporting feet. Use the Code PR1000 at the checkout. www.sporting-feet.com
“I have always had a very positive experience when shopping at Sporting Feet in-store. The team are very knowledgeable and have a fantastic stock of trainers. It can be a little intimidating trying to find new trainers, but not at Sporting Feet, who make you feel at ease & give great advice. To the find the perfect trainers right for you.” Darren Wood
Darren was wearing Brooks Glycerin Max 2.
Please note, Sporting Feet is not an official partner of parkrun. And we thank Darren again for talking with James, a passionate parkrunner & member of our team.