GoodGym lends a hand at Hampstead Heath Parkrun

Sometimes the best things happen last-minute. On Friday afternoon I got an email from the Hampstead Heath Parkrun team—they were short on volunteers for Saturday morning. I replied, signed up, and by 9am I was at the start line, barcode scanner in hand.( my iphone!)

Well, nearly. The race director had a bit of a morning: the defibrillator and finish tokens had mysteriously gone missing. Undeterred, the team rallied. A defib was sourced from the nearby swimming ponds, and the tokens were digitised on the spot. It was impressive to see everyone pulling together to keep the event alive.

Around 500 runners gathered in the sun, and the Parkrun spirit was in full flow. One runner was concerned about her blood sugar, and when the race director asked if anyone had snacks to share—dozens of people stepped forward with drinks and food. It was a lovely moment of community in action.

I was paired with Samuel for barcode scanning—he managed the digital tokens, and I scanned the runners’ barcodes. Despite the rocky start, everything ran smoothly, and the runners were full of appreciation. At one point, the event was close to being cancelled, so it was especially rewarding to help make it happen.

I even bumped into a fellow GoodGymer, Paul, and we made plans for a celebratory swim and coffee at the ponds afterward.

If you enjoy friendly chaos, fresh air, and helping out your local community, volunteering at Parkrun is a brilliant way to start the weekend. It’s easy to sign up, and whether you’re cheering, timing, or scanning, you’ll be part of something genuinely uplifting. Come join us at Hampstead Heath sometime—or support your local Parkrun. You won’t regret it.