Klerksdorp Midweek, Klerksdorp - One of the best things about parkrun is that it’s always there for you - same place, same time, every Saturday (except in extreme weather conditions). But life can get busy and it can be hard to keep showing up for yourself, so here are five simple ways to help make parkrun part of your routine all year round.
Block it out in your diary
Make it a non-negotiable. See it as an hour for yourself that you commit to and block it out in the calendar every week as a little bit of protected time in your busy schedule.
Lay out your things the night before
In the chaos of everyday life sometimes just getting out of the door feels like a massive feat. One way to combat this is to lay out your parkrunning gear the night before. Make sure your barcode is saved safely on your phone or your ID band is to hand, put the trainers by the door and choose your comfiest parkrun fit. Then you’re ready and raring to go when the morning rolls around, whether you’re running, walking or volunteering!
Bring a buddy
Accountability is key! Even if you have plans with friends or family on Saturday morning, factor parkrun in and let’s all go together! Having someone else who is expecting to see you there makes it much harder to skip on – and makes it even more fun when you do get there.
Vary it up
Some days running 5k might just feel like a step too far, maybe you’ve had a busy week, a late Friday night, or a pesky injury. Or maybe you’ve got plans straight after parkrun. That’s okay! There are so many ways to stay involved in parkrun – why not parkwalk or volunteer before, during or after parkrun?
Remember your why
Whether you parkrun to reach your health goals, manage a health condition, catch up with friends, support your community, get some fresh air or build your confidence, make sure you remind yourself each week what your ‘why’ is.
Reconnecting with what motivates you can help you remember why you’ve made this commitment to yourself, and marking those small achievements is what keeps us coming back - week after week.
