First parkun, to first half-marathon and beyond! - Kennington Junior parkrun #519 - 11/08/25

‘A journey of a thousand miles starts with a first step’ Lau Tzu. Photo credit Kennington Junior parkrun

On Sunday, I had the pleasure of tail walking at Kennington Junior parkrun located in Kennington Park in the London Borough of Lambeth. The park's oval loop makes for a wonderful tree-lined two-lap course. 

If you choose to do this role, be warned, if the last placed participant decides that they want sprint off or needs to retire, you’ll be required to catch up. Running shoes are recommended!

As Tail Walker ensures no one comes last. Photo credit Kennington Junior parkrun.

It’s wonderful to see the young people with so much enthusiasm and excitement. This week of the 27 participants, we had some seasoned attendees, with others taking their first step into the world of parkrun. 

Erin was completing her 11th Junior parkrun, which meant she was given a half-marathon blue wristband at the beginning. Her shy acceptance morphed into absolute joy bristling from ear to ear, with proud parents looking on.

Erin completing her 11th parkrun! Photo credit Kennington Junior parkrun

Often, we see recognition given for coming first, which certainly has its place. However, there is something invaluable about consistency and the compounded effects of continuing to show up.

Junior parkrunners are also presented with a green wristband when they have completed 21 events, signifying marathon status. With consistency, all junior parkrunners can become marathoners.  

Not everyone’s running journey will start at a junior parkrun, but it’s never too late to start. The day before, our friend Semsem in the VW50-55 age category, who has been living with Rheumatoid Arthritis since her 30s, completed her first parkrun at the notoriously challenging course of Sandwell Valley parkrun, a truly humbling and inspiring achievement. 

I asked Semsem how it was, and she shared ‘I still can't believe that I finished the whole thing! I definitely couldn't have done it without my two tail walkers. Obviously, I was the last one, and it was so lovely to see everybody at the end cheering and waiting for me. I definitely felt like crying, I was so happy’.  

Semsem is a very happy person and is now on her own parkrun journey! Photo credit Sharon Wallace.

I like to remember stories like this for when I do my favourite volunteer role, which is new runners welcome. You never know what it’s taken for someone to make it to the start line, and it’s important to convey the inclusivity which is at the heart of what parkrun is about. 

Today I got talking to one of the volunteers, Ruth. Ruth’s home parkrun is in Manchester, but as she was in London for the weekend, she’d decided to do a spot of junior parkrun tourism too. Today took her tally to 15 junior parkruns alongside her 197 parkruns! Ruth started her parkrun journey in 2021 and has completed events in 15 different countries!

We worked out that myself and Ruth had previously met at Burgess parkrun in October 2023 when she was visiting! Photo credit Ruth Perkins.

Semsem shared that next Saturday she will be doing the flatter Edgbaston Reservoir parkrun. Ruth will be continuing her adventuring, and Erin might take another step in her parkrun journey too.

This all proves it’s never too early or too late to start your parkrun journey; it all begins with a single step. 

Stay safe, happy running or walking, rain or shine.

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You can read about how parkrun was created by the founder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, a care leaver, in his book One Small Step: The Definitive Account of a Run That Became a Global Movement by clicking here.