New Parkrunners Are Slower and the Attendance Gender Gap Narrowing Making Parkrun More Inclusive

Coming back for more: individual participation patterns in the physical activity initiative parkrun in Australia

Most physical activity (PA) maintenance research has concerned adherence to small-scale interventions or infrequent observation in cohort studies. We analysed individual attendance trajectories and their drivers in a large-scale 'real-world' community-based weekly PA event (parkrun) cohort in Australia. Data were weekly attendance (walking/running) of 223 224 unique parkrun participants over their first 3 years of participation. An unweighted moving average of participation in the preceding 12 weeks from the 12th week since the first participation to the 156th week was calculated and submitted to a cluster analysis of attendance patterns. Association of individual- (demographic, personal parkrun performance) and site-level (aggregated site-level participant characteristics and area-level measures) covariates with cluster membership was estimated with multinomial logistic regression models. We identified four groups: Few-Timers (76.4%), Decliners (12.4%), Low Maintainers (6.9%) and High Maintainers (4.3%). In the first 12 weeks, attendances averaged 2, 6, 5 and 7.5 times for each cluster, respectively, and by 52 weeks, they were 0.17, 1.9, 3.4 and 7.6 times, respectively. Continuing participation (vs Few-Timers) was strongly associated with faster personal finish times, but slower performance at the site level. Higher running club/group membership at a participant's parkrun predicted higher odds of being a High Maintainer. Our identification of a Low Maintainer group shows a community-based initiative may sustain interest, despite not requiring continuous or near-continuous attendance. Where someone is placed 'in the pack' locally and degree of identification with others in the group may be bidirectionally associated with attendance, underscoring the importance of considering social environment of PA maintenance.

Patterns and Correlates of Participation in a Weekly Mass Participation Physical Activity Event, parkrun, in Australia, 2011-2020

BACKGROUND

Studying effective interventions already operating at scale is critical to improving physical activity intervention research translation. The free, weekly, timed 5-km run or walk parkrun represents a unique opportunity to examine successful organic dissemination. We conducted an ecological analysis to identify patterns of growth in Australian parkrun participation and their correlates from 2011 to 2020.

METHOD

Outcome variables were (1) weekly counts of walkers/runners and (2) monthly number of new parkrun registrants. We used latent class analysis to characterize growth trajectories followed by logistic regression on class membership. Covariates included parkrun course characteristics (eg, surface type and route), site-level aggregate participant profile (eg, proportion women and mean age), and surrounding area characteristics (eg, population density and physical activity norm).

RESULTS

Three hundred and sixty-three parkruns were included (n = 8,388,695 participation instances). Sixty-nine percent followed a low-growth and 31% a high-growth participation pattern. High growth was associated with greater participation by women, concrete/bitumen surface type, lower area socioeconomic status, and greater volunteer heterogeneity. Odds of being in the slow-growth class were higher if the course contained >1 km of repetition, higher average age of participants, better average parkrun performance, and higher running group membership. Two patterns of new registration were identified: high start followed by steep decline; and low start, slow decline with similar correlates to participation.

CONCLUSIONS

Parkruns with a less competitive social milieu may have more rapid dissemination. As a free and regular event, parkruns in low socioeconomic areas have the potential to improve the activity levels of those with fewer resources.

Predictors of successful return to parkrun for first-time adult participants in Scotland

Physical activity is essential for promoting good health and reducing burdens on healthcare systems. parkrun organise free weekly events where participants complete a 5km route. Studies have identified characteristics of participants associated with lower levels of participation. The aim of the study was to identify predictors of the likelihood of returning to parkrun for first-time adult participants. The return rate of adult first-time participants was determined for all 5km parkrun events in Scotland over a 1-year period from February 2019. The dataset consisted of 20,191 adult participants made up of 11,459 females and 8,732 males across 58 venues. A General Linear Mixed Model was used to identify factors associated with return rate. Return rates were negatively correlated with event size and positively correlated with the proportion of first-time adult participants at the event. Age was positively correlated with return rate and males were more likely to return. New participants that finished in a relatively slow time were disproportionately less likely to return. Return rates were positively correlated with the amount of freshwater and woodland on the route. These findings provide potential opportunities to manage events to enhance their efficacy. Specific events could be promoted as first-timer days to encourage new participants to attend together. New events could be prioritised in proximity to events that currently experience high attendances to reduce attendances locally. As the presence of freshwater and woodland are associated with higher return these habitats could play a role in generating the benefits of green exercise. If so the creation of more routes running through or alongside these habitats could be beneficial. The findings are likely to be widely applicable to other mass participation events and those interesting in understanding the mechanism by which green exercise provides its benefits.