Participating in parkrun has significant physical and mental health benefits according to new research from parkrun in partnership with Vhi.

  • parkrun in partnership with Vhi unveils major study into the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in free, weekly, timed, 5k events
  • More than 90% of parkrunners report a sense of personal achievement and improvements in physical health
  • Those who also volunteer, as well as walk or run, reported the greatest improvements to their happiness with 88% feeling happier due to parkrun
  • 90% of those that reported experiencing depression said that participating in parkrun improved their ability to manage their health condition

Participating in parkrun has significant benefits for your physical and mental health. Volunteering at parkrun makes you happier and is as good for you as running or walking - that’s according to a detailed study among more than 4,000 respondents who take part in the 93 weekly 5k adult parkrun events in Ireland. Those who also volunteer reported an 88% improvement to their happiness, compared to 85% for runners and walkers.

parkrun in partnership with Vhi is the biggest community-led physical activity movement in Ireland. Undertaken by Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre (AWRC), the research was commissioned to assess the health and wellbeing benefits of participating in the free, weekly, timed 5k events. The research marks parkrun’s seventh anniversary in Ireland, and Vhi’s fourth year as presenting partner of parkrun Ireland.

The 93 weekly 5k adult events held in parks around the country are organised entirely by volunteers and 88% of those who both volunteer and run or walk at parkrun reported improvements to their happiness.

90% of those surveyed reported improvements in feeling part of a community and meeting new people due to volunteering at parkrun, while 80% reported improvements in their ability to help people.  

After participating at parkrun;

  • 92% of those surveyed reported a sense of personal achievement
  • 91% reported improvements to their fitness
  • 90% reported improvements to their physical health
  • 83% reported improvements to their mental health
  • 85% reported improvements to their happiness
  • More than 33% of those surveyed reported to experience anxiety or depression however the majority of those said that parkrun had improved their ability to manage their condition

Commenting on the research Matt Shields, parkrun Ireland Country Manager said; “The findings of this research validate our assumptions about the wide-ranging physical, emotional and social health benefits of participating in parkrun. Volunteering is an incredibly positive activity in its own right, with the greatest health and wellbeing gains being seen by the thousands of people who volunteer at parkrun. parkrun has grown from strength to strength in Ireland. This month we are celebrating our seventh anniversary and more than 170,000 walkers and runners have participated in parkrun events nationwide, supported by a coalition of partners including Vhi and the Healthy Ireland who are dedicated to supporting the parkrun movement.”

John O’Dwyer, CEO, Vhi said “As Ireland’s leading health insurer Vhi actively supports our members to live longer, stronger, healthier lives. This research demonstrates that the health benefits, both physical and mental, associated with participating at parkrun are unparalleled. There is no other movement like parkrun in Ireland and Vhi is very proud to be entering our fourth year as presenting partner, supporting this wonderful initiative encouraging people of all levels and abilities to take part in free events in a fun and positive environment”. 
parkrun in partnership with Vhi supports local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5k events and 2k junior events every weekend at 117 locations all over Ireland, with more than 9,000 people of all ages and abilities taking part each week. The volunteer-led events are organised every weekend from Bere Island to Ballina to Ballinteer and people have volunteered over 73,000 times in the last 12 months. Over 170,000 registered participants have run at parkrun Ireland events since it started in Ireland in November 2012. Originally launched in the UK in 2004, parkrun now has more than six million registrants globally and over 300,000 weekly participants. Vhi is presenting partner of parkrun in Ireland and parkrun Ireland is part-funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

ENDS