Japan, Singapore, even Siberia have Parkrun, why can’t Hong Kong? Six potential locations for 5km race that’s swept the world since 2004
- The weekly 5km running event, which has become a global phenomenon, encourages people of all shapes and sizes to get out and take part
- Despite Hongkongers’ love of running, there is no Parkrun in the city. But it’s only a matter of time – so we’ve scouted some possible courses
Every Saturday morning across the world, tens of thousands of people set off over 5km (3.1-mile) courses in 22 countries on five continents.
Founded in 2004 on the outskirts of London, Parkrun has become a global phenomenon, boasting 1,596 events – from Australian beaches to the Siberian tundra, and nearly everywhere in between. Parkrun expects to add 300 new events this year. Hong Kong, however, is still missing from the list.
The non-profit organisation set up by Paul Sinton-Hewitt, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this month, devised Parkrun as a free 5km time trial in his local park near Twickenham in southwest London. Ten years later, the popular event – still free for all participants – made its first step into Asia at Singapore’s East Coast Park.
Malaysia would follow in 2018, then, this April, Japan became the 21st country worldwide and the third in Asia to embrace the phenomenon with an inaugural Parkrun at Futako Tamagawa Bridge park in southern Tokyo. The country now has eight Parkruns.
Hong Kong faces a few challenges that would make bringing the event to the city difficult.
The density of urban Hong Kong means there are few locations that would be able to comfortably manage hundreds of participants charging through at once. The city’s heat and challenging topography could also pose problems, though there are Parkrun events in other locations with hilly terrain or subtropical climates.
