Parkrun Christmas Bonanza

22 DEC2011

parkrun, the running phenomenon that has swept the UK, and is now making a serious global impact with events in Denmark, Australia, South Africa, Iceland and Poland is once again reversing conventional social wisdom. As much of Britain shuts down for an extended holiday break, parkrun volunteers around the country will be putting in overtime to stage nearly 50 special festive events.

December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year's Eve) fall on Saturdays, the traditional day of the free 5K timed event (9.00am start - 9.30am in Scotland). Most events will be going ahead as scheduled although it would be prudent to check individual event webpages for up-to-date information especially if the weather is problematic.

Many parkrun organisers are taking advantage of the Christmas Eve date to stage special fancy dress Santa runs - expect to see lots of red-cloaked joggers in parks in places like Sunderland, Hull, Norwich, Reading and Falkirk.

There are also lots of extra parkruns on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day - Bushy Park on December 25 is bound to be a special occasion with a bumper turnout expected at the spiritual home of parkrun.

Check out full details of festive runs at the Crispy Christmas Compendium on the parkrun website.

Christmas might come early tonight for parkrunners if one of their number - world 5,000m champion Mo Farah - lifts the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. Parkrunners, and all runners across the UK, can show their support for the remarkable Mo by calling the vote line during the show that starts tonight at 8.00pm.