Yesterday saw me walking around a parkrun course I had technically been to before, but never actually completed on a Saturday morning.
Back in 2018 I took part in the trial event before it officially launched, but somehow I never made it back once it became a regular Saturday run.
Until now.
This time the reason was simple.
I was catching up with Clint, a friend I first met through running more than ten years ago, back when Perth only had a handful of parkrun events. In those early days you would often see the same faces popping up at races, training runs, and weekend events.
Running had a way of bringing people together.
Yesterday morning Clint was the rostered run director.
As you might imagine, run directors are fairly busy before the start. Volunteers to brief, announcements to make, runners to welcome. So we had a quick chat before the event began, knowing we would catch up properly afterwards over coffee.
Alongside 172 other runners and walkers, I walked the 5 km course that nestles between Perth Stadium and the Swan River.
And it was one of those mornings that quietly reminds you why running matters.
A Walk Along the River
Walking the course gave me the chance to notice things you sometimes miss when you are focused on running.
The morning light on the river.
Volunteers standing at their posts encouraging everyone who passed by.
Groups of runners chatting as they moved along the path.
People moving at all sorts of paces. Some clearly pushing hard. Others jogging comfortably. A few walking the whole way, just like I was.
What struck me most was how relaxed the whole atmosphere felt.
No pressure.
No judgement.
Just people showing up on a Saturday morning to move their bodies and be part of something simple.
If you have ever been to a parkrun event, you will know exactly what I mean.
It is not really about the time on your watch.
It is about the feeling of being there.
The Energy of a Running Community
One of the things I have always loved about the running world is the quiet encouragement that exists within it.
Most runners know what it feels like to struggle through those first few kilometres. They remember the early days when running felt awkward or difficult.
That shared experience creates a certain kindness in the community.
You see it in the volunteers who cheer for every runner, no matter their pace.
You see it in the way people step aside to let others pass.
You see it in the conversations that happen at the finish line.
The truth is, the running community is far more welcoming than many people expect.
A lot of people who are thinking about starting running imagine it will feel intimidating. They picture experienced runners judging them or wondering what they are doing there.
In reality, most runners are simply pleased to see someone else giving it a go.
Walking counts.
Jogging slowly counts.
Showing up counts.
Coffee, Conversation, and a Bit of Nostalgia
After the event finished, Clint and I walked over to the nearby café.
We hadn’t caught up for a while, so I didn’t anticipate a super quick catch up, but was amazed how quickly an hour or more passed by!
There was a bit of nostalgia along the way.
We talked about those early parkrun days in Perth when there were only a few events across the metro area. Back then the community felt smaller and tight-knit, and you would often see the same runners week after week.
But most of the conversation was simply two friends catching up on life.
Running had been the thing that introduced us all those years ago, but the friendship that followed had grown beyond that.
It is something I have experienced many times over the years.
Running has a quiet way of bringing people into your life who you might never have met otherwise.
You share miles, races, early mornings, and the occasional tough training run. Somewhere along the way those shared experiences turn into real friendships.
And those friendships can last a long time.
Running Is More Than Running
Yesterday morning reminded me of something simple.
Running is not just about running.
It is about the moments that surround it.
The brief hello before the start line.
The encouragement along the course.
The conversations afterwards over coffee.
The friendships that grow slowly over years of showing up.
For people who are new to running, this side of the experience often stays hidden.
They see runners moving past them on the street and imagine it is a solitary activity. Something you do alone, focused on pace, distance, or performance.
But the truth is that running often becomes a doorway into community.
It introduces you to people who share a similar mindset. People who understand the effort it takes to start, to keep going, and sometimes to begin again.
And once you start noticing that side of running, you realise it is one of the most valuable parts of the journey.
A Simple Reminder
Yesterday morning did not involve a fast run.
I did not chase a personal best.
In fact, I walked the whole 5 km.
But by the time I left the café later that morning, I felt reminded of something important.
Running has given me far more than fitness.
It has given me experiences, memories, and friendships that stretch back more than a decade.
If you are thinking about starting running, or starting again after time away, remember this.
You do not have to run fast.
You do not even have to run every step.
You just have to show up.
Because once you do, you may discover that running gives you something you were not expecting.
A sense of belonging.
And that might turn out to be the most valuable part of all.
If you are looking for a place where every pace is welcome and every runner belongs, that is exactly what we are building inside the Runners Gateway community.
Your run starts here!
