parkrun: a GP’s prescription for movement

When General Practitioner Dr Colin Chin ran his first parkrun in October 2014, it was a practical way to fit exercise into his busy schedule. More than 11 years on, he has completed his 500th parkrun and become a strong advocate for its benefits for patients and practice staff alike.  

parkrun is a free, weekly 5km event held on Saturday mornings, where people can walk, jog, run, or volunteer. It operates in 22 countries, with eight locations across Ōtautahi Christchurch. 

“There’s no membership fee, you just turn up,” Colin said. “It’s the perfect entry point to exercise. The hardest part is just doing the first one.” 

Colin regularly recommends parkrun to patients with high blood pressure, stress, or weight concerns as part of a Green Prescription, which he has set up in his PMS for easy referral.  

“A patient of mine who was overweight started coming along. He’s lost 10 kilos and now runs faster than me,” he said. 

The benefits go beyond physical activity, with the social aspect helping keep people engaged. 

“It’s a community. We have people recovering from addiction, people with mental health challenges, and people who want to meet others. It’s not about being the fastest.” 

Colin also recommends parkrun for practice teams. 

“As a busy GP, I found I was getting quite tired by the end of the week, but after doing parkrun on a Saturday morning, I felt energised,” he said. “Some Saturdays, we have many of our practice staff joining in.” 

A new parkrun practices initiative, recently launched with the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, makes it easier for practices to connect patients and staff with local events and access resources. Visit the parkrun practice website for more information or register for the programme 

Learn more about park run