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Shoulder to Shoulder: Veterans

parkrun

Magpie22Peer Guide22 July 2025, 8:25 am AEST

parkrun

Hi all

Just wondering if there are any other parkrun people in the forums?
For those who are unfamiliar, parkrun is a free community run event that happens all around the world every Saturday morning. In Australia there are several hundred different locations. It’s always 5km and it’s entirely run by volunteers.
And you don’t have to run! I generally just walk, along with many others.

I love the sense of community. Whether I am walking, “running” or volunteering it’s so welcoming. There is no pressure to be fast, but there are fun challenges people have come up with - like going to a parkrun in each state, or going to parkruns that start with all the letters of the alphabet.
Of course there are people that are really fast but it’s not ever seen as a race. It’s more about meeting your own goals. At the moment my goals are to get to 250 parkruns. I also want to get to as many different parkruns as possible. And I have ten letters to go for my alphabet.

I was always really awful at group PT while serving because I was always the slowest one, and felt so much shame. And some of the PTIs were really horrid. parkrun has helped move my thinking away from that to something that is positive.

10 replies

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In response to: parkrun

OaktreeSenior Contributor26 July 2025, 7:41 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

@Magpie22

I have been to Parkrun only once because it took me so long to walk it. Maybe I will go back and try again. I can’t run at all so I would need to walk it. I am going to do The Blackdog Institute’s One Foot Forward in October so it might be good to get a bit used to walking a good distance before then. I would have to remember my login to print my barcodes again.

In response to: Re: parkrun

OaktreeSenior Contributor26 July 2025, 7:55 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

@Magpie22

I just logged into my Parkrun account. Luckily I had an old email with my Parkrun ID number on it and then I reset my password. I just need to print my barcodes and wait a week.

In response to: Re: parkrun

OaktreeSenior Contributor26 July 2025, 8:30 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

@Magpie22

I guess I am committed now. I just ordered a plastic barcode card for $15.

In response to: Re: parkrun

Magpie22Peer Guide27 July 2025, 7:07 am AEST

Re: parkrun

Good for you @Oaktree

I think we are our own worst enemy sometimes - worrying about holding people up is something I used to worry about too, and being the slowest, most unfit, but the more I go to parkrun the more I see that most people are happy to see others enjoying it in whatever way works for them.
Make sure you let us know how you go when you next attend!

In response to: Re: parkrun

OaktreeSenior Contributor27 July 2025, 11:00 am AEST

Re: parkrun

Thanks @Magpie22

You have inspired me

In response to: Re: parkrun

OaktreeSenior Contributor02 Aug 2025, 3:38 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

Hi @Magpie22

Just an update.

I didn’t go to Parkrun today because I injured my toe while I was away on my trip. It is feeling a lot better though so hopefully I will be good for next week. I am still waiting on my barcode card to arrive as well.

In response to: Re: parkrun

OaktreeSenior Contributor23 Aug 2025, 3:33 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

@Magpie22

I finally went to Parkrun again today. So today was my second time. I did a PB beat my old time from my first Parkrun in Oct 2021 by 22 seconds. I didn't shave much time off but I am hoping if I go regularly that I will slowly improve my time. I used my fancy new barcode card as well. And I downloaded an app called 5k where you can keep track of your Parkrun info and you can add your Parkrun friends as well. My friend from Tafe does Parkrun and she put me onto it.

In response to: Re: parkrun

RachSANECEOSenior Contributor23 Aug 2025, 4:42 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

Way to go on the PB @Oaktree

In response to: Re: parkrun

Magpie22Peer Guide23 Aug 2025, 5:07 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

@RachSANECEO exactly! A PB is a PB

Well done on getting back to parkrun @Oaktree

All the rain we have been having has interrupted my park running but fingers crossed I’ll get back next week

In response to: Re: parkrun

Magpie22Peer Guide04 Sept 2025, 9:10 pm AEST

Re: parkrun

parkrun have partnered with Invictus to build veteran participation in parkrun

https://blog.parkrun.com/au/2025/08/05/invictusextension/

@RachSANECEO

@Oaktree

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