Not just a run in the park: a qualitative exploration of parkrun and mental health

Objective: Parkrun is a volunteer facilitated mass participation running event, taking place in open spaces around the world. Research has identified benefits to mental health of exercise, community activity, volunteering, and outdoor activity, all of which are incorporated into parkrun. This study explores the experiences at parkrun of individuals who identified as having had current or past mental health difficulties. Method: Twenty participants, who identified themselves as having experienced mental health difficulties participated in one to one semi-structured interviews. Seven were male, and 13 were female, with a mean age of 45.2. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Three themes were identified: 'sense of achievement' referring to feelings of accomplishment; 'connecting with others' referring to a sense of belonging and community, and 'it's for everyone', referring to an equitable, welcoming and non-threatening environment. Discussion: Participants felt that parkrun benefitted their mental health. The findings suggest that there is potential to support mental health outside of traditional settings. Other clinical implications and limitations of the study are discussed and suggestions for further research are made.