This summer, as part of Brooks Running’s ongoing partnership with parkrun, brand ambassador Joe Wicks ran a nationwide tour visiting communities across the UK to get more people moving together, with no entry fee, no kit required and no experience needed.
The fitness coach and author joined participants of all ages and abilities at parkrun events from June, running alongside families, first-timers and seasoned regulars. Every parkrun is free to attend and open to everyone, whether you run, jog, walk, volunteer or simply want to show up, removing the cost and pressure that can so often put people off getting started.
Spanning six locations and eight events, the tour featured 5k parkruns along with junior parkruns, giving younger children and families their own moment in the spotlight.
The tour started in Manchester over the weekend of 20th and 21st June, with a 5k parkrun on the Saturday followed by a junior parkrun on the Sunday, before moving on to Maidenhead, Peterborough, Coventry, Scotland and London.
The tour followed a smaller-scale partnership with Joe Wicks last year with the collaboration resulting in an increase of first-timers by an average of 188% across visited events, female participation rising by 75%, and all three parkruns saw a record number of finishers. Registrations also doubled on average in the week leading up to events, highlighting the demand for more accessible and community-led ways to get active, underlining how much appetite there is for free, welcoming spaces where getting active feels genuinely within reach.
Joe Wicks said: “Last year was incredible, not just because of the number of people who turned up, but because of the mix of ages and abilities getting involved together. You don’t have to be a runner to come along. Whether you walk, jog, run, volunteer or cheer from the sidelines, it’s about getting outside, moving your body and being part of your local community.”
The biggest impact was seen at Brooklands parkrun in Weybridge, where Joe’s social content and local engagement helped drive record-breaking turnout with 980 walkers and runners and 54 volunteers. The campaign also had a notable impact among younger people and families, with participation from under 18s increasing by 99%, alongside a 57% uplift among those aged 31–50.
Carl Newman, Territory Director Northern Europe at Brooks Running said: “The response we saw last year was amazing. We saw huge increases in first-time participants, more women taking part and record attendance across every event Joe visited. Bringing the tour back on a bigger scale this summer is about helping even more people discover that movement can feel social, welcoming and genuinely enjoyable, whatever their starting point.”
Kenneth Foreman, Head of Commercial & Fundraising at parkrun UK, said:
“What makes parkrun special is that there’s no single way to take part. People can run, walk, volunteer or simply come along and be part of the atmosphere. For a lot of people, parkrun is the first time activity has ever felt like it was meant for them, and that is exactly the kind of moment we want to create more of this summer. Seeing so many first-timers and families join us last year showed the impact accessible community events can have, and we’re excited to welcome even more people this summer.”
Please see the full schedule of the tour below and links to register.
Location | Date | Event Type | Registration |
Philips Park parkrun (Manchester) | Saturday 20th June | parkrun | |
Maidenhead parkrun | Saturday 4th July | parkrun | https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/?section=form&eventName=maidenhead&e=maidenhead |
Ferry Meadows parkrun (Peterborough) | Saturday 25th July | parkrun | https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/?section=form&eventName=ferrymeadows&e=ferrymeadows |
Coventry parkrun | Saturday 8th August | parkrun | |
Lochore Meadows parkrun (Scotland) | Saturday 5th September | parkrun | https://www.parkrun.org.uk/register/?eventName=lochoremeadows |
Morden parkrun | Saturday 19th September | parkrun |
