One
Small Step,
authored by the founder of parkrun, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, is a book about
the building of community using running as the building blocks. It is also, and
a bonus, the autobiography of a remarkable man.
The book
is almost 300 pages long, yet it is not until you get almost to the 200th
page when Paul writes of the first ever parkrun (at the time known as
the Bushy Park Time Trial). Paul spends most of the first 200 pages writing of
his life and experiences growing up in the apartheid era in South Africa.
In many
ways it is possible to read Paul’s childhood and teenage years as difficult,
even sad and depressing years. His mother was mostly absent, both physically
and emotionally. His father was no better. He and his brother and sister spent
much of their educational years in boarding schools or orphanages. During much
of this time Paul was bullied. Running allowed Paul to find some relief from
these times. He grew to enjoy the activity.
These
experiences, as an isolated youth, and growing up in the apartheid system, left
Paul with at least two guiding values that he later brought to parkrun –
fairness and inclusivity.
That first
time trial in Bushy Park (in south-west London) had thirteen participants and
five volunteers (including Paul). Twenty-one years later this small beginning
has grown to more than 2,000 events in twenty-three countries. A total of
almost 400,000 attend these weekly events with 10 million parkrunners
being registered worldwide. Each parkrun is attended by volunteers who
marshal, give out finishing tokens, record times, and administer the background
practicalities. Each week, almost 50,000 people globally take on one or other
of these roles.
Paul’s two
values alluded to above (fairness and inclusivity) are reflected in the events.
Participation in a parkrun (no matter where in the world) is free and
no-one is turned away. Many who turn up walk the 5km route, whilst others
participate by being wheeled in their pram. Although each participant is
provided with a time, the accent is on participation rather than competition.
The smiles and laughter before and following events attest to this being a
community event, rather than a sporting event.
One
Small Step is
highly readable and engaging. Paul’s background and life experiences are
honestly, and almost painfully, revealed. By giving the reader this insight
into his life, Paul allows the reader to appreciate how this worldwide
phenomenon came about, and also why it enjoys so many enthusiastic participants
each week.
At the end
of the book Paul relates an endearing story of being a parkwalker (one
who walks as a volunteer toward the rear of the field to accompany others) and
his engagement with a 5-year-old girl and her grandmother. It was the girl’s
first ever parkrun. At the end of the 5km the grandmother said to Paul, ‘Thank
you, from all of us.’
Paul’s
reply was, ‘It’s been my pleasure. I enjoyed every step of the way.’
The reader
is left in no doubt that Paul wasn’t referring to just that parkrun on
that day.
Notes:
1. Paul
Sinton-Hewitt, One Small Step: The definitive account of a run that became a
global movement, MacMillan, London, 2025
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