junior parkrun turns 15!

This Sunday, we celebrate 15 years of junior parkrun – an incredible journey from our first event, to a growing presence in multiple territories. Now 15 years old, the 2k events are older than the finishers themselves!

What started as a simple idea to get kids active, has transformed into an inclusive, fun experience for thousands of young people every Sunday around the world. As we reflect on this special anniversary, we’ll explore how junior parkrun has grown and continues to flourish across the world, inspiring children and families everywhere.

Where it all began.

The UK was the birthplace of junior parkrun, with the first event taking place at Bushy Park in 2010. Paul Graham, who had developed a love for the 5k parkrun concept, came up with the idea for the Bushy junior parkrun. He wanted to create an event specifically for children and young people. The second event, Forest of Dean junior parkrun, followed soon after, solidifying the success of the format.

junior parkrun events in England initially began monthly, but as the concept grew in popularity, events transitioned to a weekly format. Chrissie Wellington played a key role in this growth and in launching the weekly version of junior parkrun. The first weekly event began with Southampton in November 2013, followed by 70 more events in the next two years!

As junior parkrun grew across the UK, the parkrun charity was awarded £1.19 million from the London Marathon Foundation (LMF) in 2023, spread over three years, dedicated to help support 300,000 young people at junior parkrun events.

Since the partnership with the London Marathon Foundation began, there have been over 180,000 new registrations, and junior park runners have completed a 2k course over 1.6 million times – that’s 3.2 million kilometres!

Today, there are over 400 junior parkrun events across the UK, with Lyme Valley Parkway junior parkrun being the newest addition to the family. Their first event took place last month in March, with an impressive turnout of 124 children and 37 volunteers.

Thanks to our ongoing partnership with the London Marathon Foundation, junior parkrun continues to grow in numbers, bringing free, fun physical activity to more children across the UK.

Growth in Scotland

Over the past decade, junior parkrun in Scotland has made great strides since it began, steadily growing, with plenty of potential still to be unlocked.

It all began in 2014 with Helix junior parkrun, the first event in Scotland, laying the foundation for what would become a nationwide movement. Since then, more than 50,000 unique children have taken part in Scottish junior parkruns, supported by an incredible network of dedicated volunteers – an average of 17 per event – who ensure each event is safe and supportive.

As of January 2025, Scotland has 35 junior parkrun events, stretching from Eyemouth and Dumfries in the south to Thurso in the most northerly part of the mainland. The latest addition, Kings Park junior parkrun in Glasgow, launched in December 2024, marking another step forward in the slow but steady expansion of junior parkrun across the country. 

With over 380,000 finishes recorded, junior parkrun in Scotland continues to make a positive impact, providing children and young people with opportunities to be active, build confidence, and be part of a supportive community.

Looking to the future, junior parkrun in Scotland undoubtedly has huge potential to reach even more communities than it currently does. While expansion has been gradual, there is a strong drive to bring new events to areas where children can benefit from the physical activity, social connections, and sense of belonging that parkrun fosters.

The goal is for junior parkrun to become a true focal point in many local communities, helping the children and families of Scotland come together to support their mental and physical well-being for years to come.

Wales joins the junior parkrun family.

junior parkrun arrived in Wales in March 2014 with the launch of its first event in Newport. Since then, Newport junior parkrun has held over 450 events, with more than 1,000 volunteers supporting over 40,000 finishes by over 4,800 junior parkrunners. 

Our newest event, and the 25th junior parkrun in Wales, was launched in February 2025 at Cardiff Metropolitan University’s National Indoor Athletics Centre (NIAC) and has got off to a flying start with nearly 200 unique finishers having completed the on-campus junior parkrun already!

Did you know?

There are now 25 junior parkruns in Wales, which currently accounts for 30% of all parkrun events in Wales!

To date, there have been over 5,600 junior parkrun events held, which have seen nearly 32,000 children and young people complete a junior parkrun, on more than 270,000 occasions.

We’re committed to expanding junior parkrun’s reach in Wales, ensuring more children from the most deprived communities (based on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation) can take part. By working closely with schools, community groups, and local stakeholders, we aim to create more opportunities for every child in Wales to enjoy the benefits of junior parkrun!

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