Why I love the parkrun app
If you’re not already aware, parkrun is a free, weekly 5km that happens every Saturday morning. People have the option to run, jog, walk or spectate. It relies on volunteers each week to ensure safety and help runners navigate the course. There are even tail walkers to make sure that nobody finishes last! With currently 2,700+ locations held across 23 countries, there’s no signs of it stopping.
Why parkrun?
Many people have different reasons for participating: to get fit, look after their mental health, to achieve a personal best or to meet new people. It’s very wholesome indeed.
Tracking data
In the world of data, it’s no surprise that people want to keep tabs on how many parkruns they do and how long it took them. To help with this, a popular third-party app called the ‘5K’ app was launched around 2019 as a hobby project and became widely used by parkrunners for stats and challenges.
In December 2025, parkrun officially took ownership of the app and began integrating it into their ecosystem. I use it to track my runs, find NENDYs (nearest event not done yet) and to see my progress in the fun challenges you don’t realise you’re participating in. My favourite one is the ‘Alphabeteer’. The aim is to visit parkrun locations beginning with the letters in the alphabet. It was brilliant to ‘get my Z parkrun’ earlier this year in the Netherlands (Zuiderpark).
App evolution for the better
Since the integration, I’m heartened to see that they haven’t changed much, apart from updating it to the parkrun branding. I remember when the news was announced as people were worried that it would lose its main essence. Some shared comments of ‘don’t change a thing’ and ‘we love it as it is’.
Feedback is a gift
parkrun asked for feedback from 2,000 users - and they listened! Some great enhancements have been made. My two favourites are:
It’s easier to access the parkrun barcode (the unique ID that is scanned once you cross the finish line to give you an official time).
There’s a milestone tracker which tells you how many more parkruns you need to complete before you unlock the next one - I’m currently working towards completing 100 parkruns.
With thoughtful updates to the app that respect what users already love, it’s clear that parkrun remains committed to enhancing the experience while staying true to its core values.
My question for you
If you use the parkrun app, what’s your favourite feature?