Cancelled my gym membership and joined my local park run

[richyf]

After being talked into trying my local Parkrun by a friend, I have since cancelled my gym membership. The money saved will go directly into my FIRE fund.

My 1st park run was quite a baptism of fire (wind/rain/puddles) but the atmosphere was great and running with such a large group of people gave me the motivation to push on and finish.

As an added bonus, it motivated my girlfriend to try jogging again… we are going to do the couch to 5k program together which will act as training sessions for my weekly park run.

[Proud Foot]

That's awesome! Our local running store has group runs that usually are sponsored by a local micro-brewery who will provide beer after the run! Unfortunately my schedule hasn't allowed me to attend one yet.

[2ndTimer]

Brilliant.  Outdoor exercise really does feel better.  In addition you will get to know a bunch of other people with the same mindset and pick up all kinds of good ideas.

[UKfire]

Well done!  You might be interested in www.parkrun.org if there is a local event near you - or you could set one up.  It's completely free to participate and you can track your results against other ParkRunners.  I started doing this every Saturday at the beginning of the year.  It does only take place on Saturdays at 9am but you could always run the route on your own during the week.  I have fairly consistently improved my performance over the year.  If you're travelling you can also participate in other ParkRuns with no need for advance registration. 

[DrSweden]

Great! I also cancelled my gym membership. I now train in my garage or running in the forrest. It is good enough for me!

[Conjou]

The social factor and its benefits can't be denied either. Good for you! I will be chucking the gym as soon as my contract is up. I like it during the winter and I am glad my health plan covers 65 percent of the cost but I would definitely rather be outside!

[fitfrugalfab]

Awesome! I also cancelled my gym membership and have started H.I.I.T workouts indoors. There are so many awesome alternatives to going to workout at the gym and you def found another great alternative.

[MgoSam]

Where all are parkrun located? I've been trying to a find a local run that meets when I want and isn't insanely competitive. I just want to get back into running, maybe some day I will become competitive.

[cerat0n1a]

parkrun started out as a UK based organisation and has become pretty big in the last few years, very few towns of any size that don't have one. I've been a runner for a long time, but I love parkrun because it's got a great social element and genuinely is open to everyone. My local one regularly has people in their 80s going round (and once we had a lady on a zimmer frame doing 5k), but we've had an Olympic athlete occasionally. My kids love to do it too. Volunteering to marshall/man the timers etc. is also great fun and very sociable. It's spread from the UK to other European countries and Australia, South Africa etc.

Parkrun doesn't seem to have taken off in the USA nearly so quickly. I think part of it is that you were already pretty well served with running events and part that I think the concept of free/volunteer run events isn't so strong, mainly because of litigation/insurance concerns.

http://www.parkrun.us/ shows only 4 events running right now - and most of those don't look very big.

[MakingSenseofCents]

Awesome! I much rather prefer working out outside instead of inside.

[AlanStache]

Well done!  You might be interested in www.parkrun.org if there is a local event near you - or you could set one up.  It's completely free to participate and you can track your results against other ParkRunners.  I started doing this every Saturday at the beginning of the year.  It does only take place on Saturdays at 9am but you could always run the route on your own during the week.  I have fairly consistently improved my performance over the year.  If you're travelling you can also participate in other ParkRuns with no need for advance registration.

that link did not look right,
http://www.parkrun.us/
and
http://www.parkrun.com/
look better but I have never done anything with pr before.

[UKfire]

Thanks Alan,

My apologies, also the 'original' UK site is:

http://www.parkrun.org.uk

Regards,
Steve

[DrSweden]

Running outside is great. A picture from the forrest where I run.