Parkrun is a volunteer-based, weekly 5k that takes place all over the world, including Colorado. The main mission behind parkrun is to provide a supportive, inclusive space where community members can stay active. This week, I interviewed Kristie Metz, one of the core team members for Leakin Park parkrun in Baltimore, Maryland, to see what her experience was in helping to organize this event for her community.
- Her Campus CU Boulder: “When did you first get involved with parkrun? What about parkrun appealed to you?”
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Kristie Metz: “I first got involved with parkrun in the spring of 2017, quite by accident. parkrun was a new idea to our area, but even before parkrun, I had discovered a beautiful, enormous park close to my home that seemed to be vastly underused. When parkrun representatives came around looking for a place to host a new Baltimore-based parkrun, it seemed like a perfect match. parkrun may first come across as a means to promote running, but for me, it is much more about building community, especially in an area that is so wonderfully diverse, centered around a beautiful park, that seemed to lack a connective fiber to bring those qualities together. parkrun has done that.”
- HCCU: “What goal for the community do you hope to achieve as a parkrun core team member?”
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KM: “I am an introvert, and I keep a small social circle. Being a parkrun team member has allowed me to extend my friendships and build an extended family. That has brought me the opportunity to meet and work with amazing people whose strengths I get to watch in action in and out of parkrun. It has been a rewarding experience being a part of an effort from the ground up, wondering if it would ever really get off the ground and take hold in the community, and watching it grow into a weekly pleasure for a lot of people, and now having to wonder if we will outgrow ourselves and have to look for new ways to accommodate our popularity.”
- HCCU: “Do you have a favorite memory from your time volunteering for parkrun?”
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KM: “There is no one particular favorite memory, although I certainly will never forget almost being trapped in Leakin Park with other core team members during a flash flood as we were trying to map out an alternative course because of the damage done to our regular course as a result of the extensive rains we had had that year. As far as memories in general go, though, I adore looking back on our collections of photos. Every week we post and comment on a collection of photographs taken at that week’s parkrun, and after every Saturday week after week for a few years, that’s a lot of pictures and memories. To look back at those and see the seasons and the faces and the successes and the celebrations come back to life is inspiring every time I look back.”
- HCCU: “How has COVID-19 affected parkrun? What have you and the other coordinators had to do to overcome this?”
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KM: “Unfortunately, there is just no other way to say it, but COVID-19 has shut us down. We are a community, and the last thing we want to do is put our community at risk. We are all in a sit and wait pattern. A sit and wait, and wait, and wait, and wait . . .”
- HCCU: “Do you have any advice for people who are interested in volunteering for parkrun?”
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KM: “COME VOLUNTEER!! Don’t hesitate! It is easy. It is fun. It is rewarding. Did I mention it is easy? Everyone is welcome. Oh, and it is super easy!”
You heard her! If you are interested in trying out parkrun, check out their website to see if there is a location in your area–you might be surprised! Also, much thanks to Kristie Metz for agreeing to do this interview with me!