(NB: for those who don’t know what Parkruns are, they’re weekly, free, timed 5k runs in parks – so they got the name spot on. There’s bound to be one near you, so why not give it a go? Check out http://www.parkrun.org.uk/ for more information.)

I’ve been running since 2012, and managed to get countless 10ks, a few half-marathons, and a single full marathon under my belt since then. I’d overlooked the shorter distances since I always thought that if I’d spent 10 minutes warming up, I wanted to be running for at least 30 minutes. After running the Liverpool Rock n Roll Marathon in May 2014, I was a bit sick of long distances (whilst running through the Sheffield countryside can be a life-affirming, beautiful experience, 21 miles of continuous hills in the pouring rain can be soul/sole destroying). I’d read about Parkruns but they never fit into my training schedule of ‘go hard, go long, go fast’ – a mantra which I also use in other areas of my life, not always intentionally. So, after a brief break from running, I decided to try them out.

Since turning up to my first Parkrun in July 2014, paper barcode in hand, I’ve been hooked on 5ks. They’re short enough to go all out from the get go, but long enough feel a sense of accomplishment at the end/justify a strong drink afterwards (who cares if you’re finished by 9:30? Oh, my doctor…).

I’m usually at the Princes Park parkrun if I’m in Liverpool, or the Mile End parkrun if I’m in London… but after a while, I began to fancy a bit of a change. So, I’ve set myself a challenge – I have two years of my PhD left (hopefully…) and in that time I want to run all 47 of the London parkruns. This part of my blog is to chronicle that journey, provide brief friendly reviews, share my progress, and motivate me to get out despite the weather, the hangover, or the warm embrace of my bed.

List of London Parkruns

1. Ally Pally parkrun
2. Barking parkrun
3. Beckton parkrun
4. Bedfont Lakes parkrun
5. Bexley parkrun
6. Brockwell parkrun, Herne Hill
7. Bromley parkrun
8. Burgess parkrun
9. Bushy parkrun
10. Crane Park parkrun
11. Crystal Palace parkrun
12. Dulwich parkrun
13. Finsbury parkrun
14. Fulham Palace parkrun
15. Gladstone parkrun
16. Greenwich parkrun
17. Grovelands parkrun, Enfield
18. Gunnersbury parkrun
19. Gunpowder parkrun
20. Hackney Marshes parkrun
21. Hampstead Heath parkrun
22. Harrow Lodge parkrun
23. Harrow parkrun
24. Highbury Fields parkrun
25. Hilly Fields parkrun
26. Kingston parkrun
27. Lloyd parkrun, Croydon
28. Mile End parkrun
29. Nonsuch parkrun
30. Northala Fields parkrun
31. Oak Hill parkrun
32. Old Deer Park parkrun
33. Orpington parkrun
34. Osterley parkrun
35. Peckham Rye parkrun
36. Pymmes parkrun
37. Raphael parkrun
38. Richmond parkrun
39. Riddlesdown parkrun
40. Roundshaw Downs parkrun
41. South Oxhey parkrun
42. Southwark parkrun
43. Valentines parkrun
44. Walthamstow parkrun
45. Wanstead Flats parkrun
46. Wimbledon Common parkrun
47. Wormwood Scrubs parkrun