As Parkrun marks its 20th anniversary this year, we’re looking back at the phenomenon and how it has got Cumbrians pounding the pavements.


This is a collection of five-kilometre (3.1-mile) events for runners, walkers and volunteers that take place every Saturday morning at more than 2,000 locations in 22 countries across five continents.
Parkrun was founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt on October 2, 2004, at Bushy Park in London and it was originally called the Bushy Park Time Trial. It grew into a network of similar events called the UK Time Trials, before adopting the name Parkrun in 2008 and expanding into other countries.
The first event outside the United Kingdom was launched in Zimbabwe in 2007, followed by Denmark in 2009, South Africa and Australia in 2011 and the United States in 2012. Sinton-Hewitt was appointed CBE for his services to grassroots sport in 2014 and by October 2018, more than five million runners were registered worldwide.
Events take place at a range of locations including parks, stately homes, forests, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, beaches, promenades, nature reserves and even prisons.
A Parkrun milestone t-shirt is offered to volunteers and runners who have participated in a number of runs, and people can travel to and complete any Parkrun.

Tilda Hollins (left) and Ciara Edmondson on the Carlisle Junior Parkrun (Image: David Hollins) Junior Parkrunners in Bitts Park with Ben Smith (centre) who after running with the juniors, ran a marathon as part of a challengeJunior Parkrunners in Bitts Park with Ben Smith (centre) who after running with the juniors, ran a marathon as part of a challenge (Image: David Hollins) Our first series of pictures show the Carlisle Junior Parkrun, an offshoot of the original in which four to 14-year-olds ran a distance of 2k at Bitts Park. On one occasion in 2016, the junior runners were joined by Ben Smith, who went on to complete a full marathon as part of a challenge.

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)

The same year, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Parkrun UK launched a new challenge, Running Down Dementia, and Bill and Lynn Morris, of the Kenyan Schools Project, were guests at the Morton Manor Parkrun.

(Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest) (Image: Newsquest)
Representatives from Carlisle Parkrun handed over a cheque for £100 to members of the Friends of Chances Park group and runners donned fancy dress for Christmas and to mark Barrow Parkrun’s third anniversary.

(Image: Newsquest)
As part of the celebrations, the Evening Mail presented them with a cake.