Fancy swapping your usual Saturday route for somewhere new? Parkrun tourism simply means visiting a different parkrun event. It can be a short trip from home, a stop during a holiday or a way to explore a place you have never run before. You do not need an alphabet challenge or a target time to make it worthwhile: finding the start, taking in a new course and meeting another volunteer team are plenty of reasons to go.
Several Carn Runners have shared their parkrun travels, including the Webbs’ completed alphabet challenge. Those are members’ adventures, rather than club-organised events. If you would like to try a new venue yourself, a little planning leaves more room to enjoy the morning.
Choose the event, then read its course page
Start with parkrun’s UK event map. Once a location catches your eye, open that event’s own course page before deciding how to get there. Parkrun directs visitors to these pages for information about the course, the location of the start and travel arrangements. Do not assume that the start is beside the most obvious car park or that the route will feel like your regular event.
Think about what would make the outing enjoyable for you. Would you rather keep the journey short, explore a coastal setting or fit a 5K into a weekend away? Look at the course description and the journey together. An appealing route is less appealing if your travel plan leaves no time to find the start and hear the briefing.
Make the morning easy to navigate
Before setting off, note the event’s start location and how you will reach it from wherever you arrive. If you are travelling with friends, agree on a meeting point before everyone heads off in different directions. Give yourselves time to find the gathering place rather than aiming to arrive just as the event begins.
Visiting a new course is also a good reason to listen closely to the first-timers’ welcome and the main briefing. Parkrun asks participants to pay attention to the pre-event briefing; the local team can explain the route and pass on information relevant to that morning. Follow the signs and marshals on the day rather than relying on a course description you read earlier.
A tourist morning need not be a fast morning. You can walk, jog or run the 5K, leaving time to look around and enjoy the change of scene. Parkrun’s participant code of conduct asks everyone to respect other people’s right to take part in their own way and to be mindful of others using the space.
Bring your barcode if you want a recorded time
If you want your finish recorded, have your scannable parkrun barcode ready. Parkrun’s rule is straightforward: without a scannable barcode, there is no recorded time. Its app guidance says you can access your barcode as a QR code in the parkrun app. Check that you can find it before you leave home, rather than trying to sign in while the finish area is busy.
If you have never taken part in parkrun, you can register for a barcode before your first visit. At the finish, follow the local team’s instructions for collecting a finish token and having it and your barcode scanned. A quick thank-you to the volunteers is always welcome.
Check for changes before travelling
Courses and event arrangements can change, and an event may be cancelled if conditions are unsuitable or the course cannot be used. Parkrun says cancellations are shown on the affected event’s website and can sometimes happen on the morning itself. Check the event page before a longer journey and take notice of any updates from its team. That matters particularly when you are visiting somewhere unfamiliar and cannot easily switch back to your usual Saturday plan.
Visiting also gives you a chance to see how another volunteer team puts on its event. If you would rather help than complete the 5K, parkrun explains how to contact an event about volunteering. Arrange a role with the team in advance so they know you are coming.
Bring the Saturday inspiration back to Carn
A new parkrun can be a lovely change of pace, whether you travel solo or meet friends there. If it leaves you keen for more running company closer to home, have a look at our Run Schedule. Our Wednesday club night normally meets at Camborne Cricket Club at 6:30pm, though some sessions meet elsewhere, so check the schedule before travelling.
New to Carn Runners? Our Membership Application page explains how to try up to four club nights free before deciding whether to join. If you have a question about a session or your first visit, get in touch or email hello@carnrunners.co.uk. And if you enjoy hearing where other Carnies have been running, browse our Club News.
