World Tourist Status Acheived

High above Vancouver

Last week I took a bit of a holiday adventure to travel to the Great White North. Ok, so it wasn't quite White, it was Great and North! My brother and I visited Vancouver, BC and let me tell you, it was quite the trip. We packed a lot of cool adventures in a few short days including walking from one end of Vancouver to the other (and then across a few islands), Whale Watching where I was actually sprayed by a humpback whale named, Nike, crossing a 250 ft high, 450 ft long suspension bridge, enjoying a 360 degree view of Vancouver from 553 ft up, exploring the HUGE Stanley Park and Vancouver Aquarium, and wading into the Pacific Ocean for the first time. All truly awesome experiences. 

I also got to participate in a parkrun 5K while there, one that gave me World Tourist status (meaning I have run parkruns in 4 different countries). 

parkruns are timed 5ks that take place every Saturday morning. They are free, community events where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate that is totally volunteer supported. According to website, there are over 2000 parkrun events worldwide in 22 different countries each Saturday. parkrun is positive, welcoming and inclusive, there is no time limit and no one finishes last (they have course sweepers at most events). 

I first learned about parkrun from a friend and fellow BibRave Pro (at the time) Corey in 2018. I was visiting some family that lived near him in Louisville, KY and we planned to go for a run while I was in the area. He suggested with do the parkrun 5K at Joe Creason Park. It was awesome! There were lots of friendly people who were super welcoming. 

My first ever parkrun finish!

It works basically like this:

You can search the parkrun website to find a run: https://www.parkrun.com/ If you are not yet registered, you register and are assigned a parkrun bar code. I keep mine on my phone to scan, but you can get a bracelet to bring with you to runs if you prefer. You show up to the parkrun site by 9:00 am and then run an organized, plotted out and timed 5K course. When you cross the finish, you are handed a timing chip that you bring to a volunteer to scan along with your bar code. That's it! Free, Fun and Time 5K achieved!

It was so much fun, that when I got home I looked up where I could run another one. Sad news, there was no parkrun anywhere near me. Like I live in Rock Hill, SC and the closest one was the one in KY I had just done. So I figured my parkrun days were done. 

Until last year, on a work trip to Germany, one of coworkers from the UK who also runs mentioned that we should try to find a parkrun since we were there on a Saturday. parkrun is WAY more prevalent in Europe, especially in the UK and he runs them most weekends. So we checked the website and lo and behold, there was a parkrun in Frankfurt at Nidda Park. parkrun #2 for me (and his 250th!) 

Nidda parkrun

Then in June of this year, I found myself in Italy again for work. And again, I was there over a weekend and turned out there was a parkrun about a half mile from my hotel. parkrun #3 achieved in Milano Nord Park. 

Milano Nord parkrun

That run in Italy turned out to be my coworker's 4th country that he had done a parkrun in. He had heard about the World Tourist group on Facebook where you can join after your 4th country and told me about it. I, of course, took it as a challenge. So one of the first things I did when I was planning my Canada trip was to look up the closest parkrun to where I was staying. 

Turns out it was close. As in 2 KM close! So I got up, dressed to run and walked down to the Central Park Burnaby parkrun early Saturday morning. Just as all the others, the group was super friendly and welcoming. I was the only American there but there were other parkrun tourists. I chatted with a really nice lady from Australia and a couple from the UK. This parkrun, like many others, had an after-run meet up at a local coffee shop to hang out and chat after. Like I said, super friendly!

Burnaby parkrun

And with that, I was also a WORLD TOURIST too! 

Parkrun isn't as super popular here in the USA as it is in some other parts of the world (particularly UK and Australia) but it is gaining in popularity. In fact since that very first one in 2018, there is now a parkrun near me in Charlotte! They just celebrated their 1 year anniversary at the Little Sugar Creek parkrun last month. There are now 63 events across the United States. Visit the parkrun USA site to find out if one is near you: https://www.parkrun.us/ You won't regret participating if you do go. 

Fun fact about my parkrun experience - Yes, I now have World Tourist status for running in 4 different countries, but I've only run a total of 4 parkruns. So every parkrun I have done has been in a different country! And since my only USA parkrun was in Louisville, KY, I haven't even done the one that is 20 minutes from my house (Little Sugar Creek), but I've done ones on another continent! I should probably fix that soon, lol. Though maybe my 5th parkrun should be in a 5th country... where should I go next?