New research published to mark parkrun’s 20th anniversary has revealed how it is worth nearly £700 million a year to the UK economy as a result of improved life satisfaction for those who take part.
The research led by Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Sheffield and based on a six-month study of newly registered parkrunners showed that life satisfaction increased after doing as few as two parkruns, with the greatest increase among those least active. Over 45,000 people who have registered for parkrun in the UK this year identified themselves as completely inactive.
The study, led by Professor Steve Haake from Sheffield Hallam University’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, highlighted that the main cause of the increase in life satisfaction was through improvements to both physical and mental health which in turn led to increased quality of life.
Source – National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine