A runner from Carshalton, south London, has become the first person in the world to complete 1,000 parkruns, reaching the landmark on a warm, sunny morning at Morden parkrun surrounded by friends, family and fellow members of Sutton Runners.
Darren Wood, 43, was given a guard of honour as he approached the finish line and was later presented with a yellow 1,000 parkrun T-shirt, a cape and a crown, with well-wishers dubbing him “the king of parkrun”. A stream of supporters took turns to congratulate him and have photographs taken before and after the event.
Mr Wood first took part in a parkrun in October 2004, just a fortnight after the very first event. That inaugural run – then called the Bushy Park Time Trial – was organised by runner Paul Sinton-Hewitt while he was recovering from injury. Only 13 runners and five volunteers took part. Mr Wood, like Mr Sinton-Hewitt, was a member of south-west London running club Ranelagh Harriers, but he skipped the first event because he thought he was not fast enough to take part in a time trial. He joined the following Saturday and has not stopped since.
His journey to 1,000 runs has taken him to 119 different parkrun locations across seven countries. He has also volunteered 415 times at either the 5k event or the 2k junior parkrun. He is currently 36 parkruns ahead of his closest rival.
Mr Wood described the attention around the milestone as “a little bit overwhelming” but insisted the achievement was about more than himself. “It’s just a nice celebration,” he told the Press Association. “I don’t want the limelight. This is about a celebration of parkrun. Just because I’ve been the first person to get there, it could have been anyone.” He added: “This milestone isn’t about me, it’s about the parkrun community and what parkrun is doing for everyone.”
For Mr Wood, parkrun is not simply a habit – it is something he credits with saving his life. He has spoken candidly about struggling with his mental health and self-harming after his marriage ended, while also facing debt and problems at work. When he went to parkrun, he said, “everything felt normal. I wasn’t judged any more, I could just be me and I could talk to people and explain how I was feeling.”
He is now using the platform created by his milestone run to encourage others who are struggling to seek support. “I’m doing this to hopefully save a life,” he said. “If I can save somebody else’s life, that’s all I want out of this.” He stressed the importance of talking without fear of judgment, saying: “I felt hopeless but I came across as being the happiest person around. We are all very good at hiding how we feel. If there’s one thing, be kind because you never know what somebody else is going through.”
Research involving tens of thousands of UK parkrunners has underlined the mental health benefits of the event. Studies found that 74% of participants reported improved life satisfaction from running or walking, and 73% from volunteering. The greatest increases in life satisfaction were seen among individuals who initially rated their health as “very bad”. Key drivers of improvement included happiness, general mental wellbeing, feelings of personal achievement and the opportunity to have fun. parkrun is regarded as a cost-effective public health initiative, with potential savings for the NHS through preventative mental health benefits.
The parkrun community: from 13 runners to a global movement
parkrun started on Saturday 2 October 2004 as the Bushy Park Time Trial, with 13 runners and five volunteers. It was founded by Paul Sinton-Hewitt, who was later appointed a CBE for his services to grassroots sport. The event was designed as a free, timed 5k run – not a race but a participation event. The early days were basic: results were recorded manually and finish tokens were simple washers. As technology evolved, online registration and barcode scanning were introduced. The event was renamed parkrun in 2008 and expanded internationally.
Today there are 913 different parkrun locations in 23 countries, and more than four million people have taken part. (Other figures, from late 2024 and early 2025, indicate more than 2,000 locations and over 10 million registered runners globally.) Junior parkruns for children take place on Sundays in the UK, Ireland and Australia.
The inclusivity of parkrun is central to its ethos. The average finish time has increased over the years as more people of all abilities, ages and backgrounds have joined. Roles such as ‘parkwalker’ and ‘tail walker’ were introduced to ensure no one finishes last. Mr Wood emphasised that message: “Parkrun is inclusive for everyone. Everyone is welcome and it will change and save lives if we can get more and more people involved. Go and try it, you will not come away disappointed. Understand that you will not be judged, everyone is welcome, it doesn’t matter how fast or slow you are. There’s always a first timers briefing so if you don’t know the course, you’re made to feel welcome. That’s the nice thing about parkrun – you’ve got the tailwalker so nobody’s going to come last.”
Mr Wood’s own shift from a focus on speed to community is emblematic of the event’s wider appeal. He initially was drawn to improving his personal best, but over time the social aspect became paramount. He recalled running a parkrun on crutches after foot surgery, supported by a friend, and has been involved in setting up Edenbrook parkrun and working with parkruns in prisons, noting the positive impact on participants’ sense of belonging.
For Mr Wood, the milestone is not the end. He plans to continue his parkrun habit and is aiming high. “I’m going to aim big, I’m aiming for 2,000 in another 20 years,” he said, laughing. “Aim high, you’ve got to be positive, you’ve got to have big dreams. Whether I get there or not is another matter, but aim big. Tour a little bit more, get round a few other places, enjoy it, go on lots of adventures, this is what it’s all about. About giving back as well, getting up to 500 volunteers – I’d love to do more volunteering.”
